Any Nielsen Families out there?

[wld]

Seems I may have seen a thread like this awhile ago but the search is disabled. We got a post card in the mail that said to expect a "long distance phone call" about it. Why long distance cracks me up. So I won't talk too long? Anyway, think we might do it depending on what is involved, think they need at least 1 family that doesn't watch all those reality shows!!

So anyone been a Nielsen family? Was it very involved or do you just sit back and watch?

 

[CEDmom]

We did this a few years ago. They send you a calendar type book with 15 minute time blocks for each day. If you're watching TV you need to indicate what you're watching during the 15 minute period. When they call I think they'll ask how much TV you watch each day and how many people are in your family. Just basic stuff. It was pretty easy. We just kept the book on the coffee table so we'd remember to record the information.

 

[LJC1861]

It is a really neat experience so far. Now it is done electronically. Each TV in the household is wired into a central data collection location. Each TV has a " People Meter" box on it. Each member of your household is assigned a number and when you are watching you need to make sure your light on the box is lit. When you change channels you need to make sure that you hit another button on the box. Then once each day the information is sent via telephone lines into the office.

When they wired our home it took a full day to do all 3 TV's, VCR's and DVD players and the men doing the work couldn't have been nicer. They gave us a crash course in working the people meters and said they would call if we weren't doing it right. We must be doing well because they haven't called.

We also did it because we watch a lot of BBCAmerica, Food Channel and other such shows and not mainstream TV. They stress not to change your TV watching habits just because you are a Neilsen Family.

I say give it a try. If you find it is too much for your family you can withdraw from the program any time. I think the time committment vaires, we have signed on for 2 years, but again you can withraw at any time.

Linda

 

[Mary Ellen]

There are (at least) 2 types of Nielsen families. The more common are the 1-week 'booklet' types (we've done this twice).

The 'electronic' type, as LJC1861, is far fewer families. I understand it is more accurate, but I imagine it is much more expensive to set up.