TV ratings question

[bananiem]

OK, lame question, but I'm curious.
When they say a show got a whatever-number share, does just having my cable box turned on to a particular channel (but the tv off) give them part of that share? I just realized if that's how it works I've been inadvertantly giving 700 Club a share!!! I usually turn off the tv after the Today Show and local weather but leave the cable box on.

 

[Mr. Malaprop]

Here's some info on how TV ratings are calculated:

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question433.htm

 

[bicker]

Ratings are generally based on a sampling -- you'd know if your cable box was being used to gather data for the ratings. (My TiVo is.) Otherwise, what you're watching won't affect the ratings.

I believe, in order for something to "count" on my TiVo, I have to be watching it for at least five minutes within a half-hour.