The most important thing when it comes to TV ratings is the audience. A larger audience means there will be more commercials. But, viewers are not an indicator of the show's quality. There are numerous other factors to consider when judging a television program, including the genre of the show, its rating, and the quality of the presentation.
Nielsen is a prominent provider of statistical sampling and television audience measurement. It measures television viewing habits through panels of panelists, which include households. This information is given to broadcast networks and advertisers. They can, for example, determine the best time to air a new series. They can also gauge how often a show is watched and how long it's been watched.
Nielsen uses statistical sampling to create its estimates. It does not attempt to estimate how many viewers are using every digital antenna and cable box in the country. It uses a representative sample, which is usually a group consisting of approximately 20,000 households. Sometimes, special tests are performed to confirm its accuracy.
While viewers are the best way to launch a television program, it is not as important as the number spent on advertising. This is because a higher rating gives a network a better chance of recouping their investment in the programming. A higher rating can also mean more advertising revenue. Producing a show with a good rating is the best way to get in the door.
A good example is the Big Bang Theory. TBS makes a lot from it, even though it's a sitcom. Other successful shows include ABC’s The Office; Fox's Felicity; and UPN’s Smackdown.
The NCAA gymnastics championships are another notable example. They have reached a new viewing height. Although this is a modest accomplishment, NBC's Sunday shows are among the most watched prime-time programming for women between 18 and 34. Despite the popularity of basketball and hockey, NBC had a streak of six games last season with fewer than one million viewers.
It is clear that television is a popular medium of entertainment. For instance, there are 121 million homes with TVs in the U.S. Nielsen estimates that women account for 60% of broadcast viewers. Their purchasing power accounts for over half of all consumer purchase. Networks are constantly looking for shows that will boost their ratings.
Like any other industry, there is intense competition for viewers. In fact, there are a few shows that have skewed their audiences in the wrong direction. The Wild-Blues saw its ratings rise from 0.43 to 0.41. ABC's Hockey Saturday, which has been on for seven seasons, has seen its numbers increase to a record.