I got a phone call about a month ago asking if I would be willing to take part in the Nielsen television ratings. I figured, what else am I doing? Besides, this was a way to let my voice be heard and help keep my favorite programs on the air.
When I finally got the TV diary, all my favorite programs had finished their season, so I was done watching them.
The first thing I had to do was list all the channels we receive in our home. Had I known about this, I wouldn't have volunteered in the first place. We have Direct TV. I can't tell you how tired I got of writing down channels I didn't know we even had, and had never heard of. Oh, and I did not even write down all the stupid music channels I never listen to.
If they want to make my choices null and void for this decision, so be it.
If we watched something on the DVR, we had to enter when it originally aired AND when we watched it. Pain in the neck indeed.
I will tell you that Judge Judy got a wonderful rating from us, because I lied and said I watched her for an hour each day, and if I watched it on DVR, I didn't say so because it was too much trouble. So now you know just how accurate those ratings really are.
So if you get a phone call asking you to participate in the Nielsen survey, you know what you are up against.
My advice? DON'T DO IT!
Here's their stupid website.
Oh, on a positive note? With my TV diary, I received a crisp, new one-dollar bill.
I almost felt insulted.
I got two bucks when I did it back in the 80's. Guess they never heard of inflation. Oh - and I got a total of four channels back then, so it wasn't a pain to fill out.
ReplyDeleteOne dollar? For all that work? pfftt
ReplyDeleteI always wondered how all that worked. Kinda makes you wonder how realistic those numbers are.
ReplyDeleteI've done it half a dozen times over the years. It's alot of work, for sure. And the CRISP dollar bill is a thank you I do not need. No to look a gift horse in the mouth???? My question to them the last time I did it was, why don't you do this online and automate it??? be alot easier, don't you think???
ReplyDeleteI have never done one and will remember now that I never want to either. Thanks for the warning.
ReplyDeleteI did that a few years back. I didn't care about the money. It was fun. Have fun doing it.
ReplyDeleteI'd be tempted to put in all sorts of silly things. Nothing but Cartoon Kaboom and the Playboy Channel for 24 hours.
ReplyDeleteI have wondered about those things. Glad you got that whole $1 bill for your trouble.. LOL I won't be volunteering! LOL
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered how good those rating things were. If it is that detailed, my guess is it is not good at all.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the commenter who said it should be online. That would make it much easier!
I did it once, too, and will pass if I am ever asked again.
ReplyDelete