<b>I was looking through CNN.com and I came across this article. I generally dont give a floppy shiznit about this kind of stuff but…
look at this and hopefully you can answer my question</b>
BOX OFFICE TOP 10
Prime-time ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research for January 27 - February 2.
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” 16.6 million homes
“Friends,” 16.3 million homes
“American Idol-Wednesday, (tied)” 14.3 million homes
“ER, (tied)” 14.3 million homes
“American Idol-Tuesday,” 13.7 million homes
“Joe Millionaire,” 12.1 million homes
“CSI: Miami,” 11.2 million homes
“Everybody Loves Raymond, (tied)” 11.1 million homes
“Scrubs, (tied)” 11.1 million homes
“Without a Trace,” 10.8 million homes.
How do they determine the ratings? Does your cable box actually send a signal back to your cable company telling them what you are watching? I dont see how privacy acts would allow that. I dont think they use poll, because it would be insanely inaccurate.
I dunno if you know please let me know I am curious
I <i>think</i> [SIZE=1]and don’t quote me on this[/SIZE] that a certain number of selected people have a box attached to their TV, which is monitored. Each one box represents about 1000 or so people. They get the figures from that. Allegedly.
They have a ton of people with them and then they just average out the ratings. Thing is - I have never met anyone with one of those boxes… or maybe I have and it just hasnt come up in coversation - I just dont know