[Insert obvious Charlie Sheen is “Winning” at ratings comment here.]
Ha! But really, it looks like he is. The Nielsen rating system has gotten an update (though, we think the whole system isn’t the best way to gauge what people are watching. You’d think with new digital tech it’d be easy to figure out almost exactly how many people are watching what.) and it now includes multiple viewings and DVR viewings!
Here’s how it works:
Previously if someone in a Nielsen household watched Judge Judy the first time it aired and then watched the same episode later in the day, both times counted in the GAA numbers, but only one viewing counted in the average audience measure. Now both viewings would count in the average audience number.
Which means that shows that only get aired once kinda get screwed at chances for higher numbers. The system does try and show what’s in syndication and what isn’t, so this hopefully won’t happen often.
Which THEN means that shows like Judge Judy and Two and a Half Men are killing it in ratings, surpassing Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!
There’s gotta be a better way than this system to more accurately reflect what’s going on. We’d rather not leave it up to a select few to represent all of us when it comes to shows like Firefly and Arrested Development being in the balance. We all know how those ended.
How do U feel about the Nielsen system??
[Image via WENN.]