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Changes for Nielsen ratings

by Brett Love, posted Jan 30th 2007 8:58AM

Drawn TogetherNielsen Media Research is making a change to their television ratings. In the past, children of a Nielsen family that were away at college were not factored into the numbers. After doing some research, sponsored by Turner, WB, CBS, MTV, Fox, and ESPN, those college kids will now count in the regular Nielsen ratings.

The NY Times article (possible login) points to America's Next Top Model, Family Guy, Ugly Betty, and [adult swim] as programming that should see a boost in their ratings. Disturbingly, it also mentions that in a test done last November the most popular show among college men was Drawn Together. The audience for the Comedy Central cartoon jumped from 272,000 to 435,000. What are they teaching our youth on these campuses?

This certainly isn't the final answer in the ratings question. There are still plenty of problems and issues with the system, but it is a positive change. Especially so if it gives a much needed boost to the struggling Veronica Mars numbers.

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Shrike

This article has been showing up places:

http://www.merryweatherjones.com/content.php?id=140



February 04 2007 at 10:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rick

Does it strike anyone else as odd that this is JUST NOW happening? Isn't this suppose to be the most coveted audience in all of television? It's laughable that the company never thought they might find a lot of college kids in, say, A COLLEGE. To think of all the great shows that have been canceled over the years...

January 30 2007 at 3:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brett Love

Katie, and Bill, it's not that I have anything against Drawn Together. I've watched it, and it certainly has its funny moments. The Jeff Probst episode comes to mind.

I say it's disturbing because the article didn't just say Drawn Together gained a lot of viewers, or that it was the most popular Comedy Central show. Not even that it was the most popular animated show. It was the most popular show, of all the shows available to watch, among college men. That's crazy. Even for stoned college guys.

January 30 2007 at 12:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BillS

Yeah, I'm with Katie. Drawn Together is like South Park with all the intelligent parts taken out. Stupid, offensive, but sometimes pretty funny. And college students are often high, so I'm guessing that makes it even funnier.

January 30 2007 at 11:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Katie

What do you have against Drawn Together? It's a humorous, sometimes raunchy, adult-oriented cartoon. That's what college guys like. That, and sports

January 30 2007 at 10:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
TimUF

Im guessing The Daily Show and The Colbert Report will also get significant jumps.

January 30 2007 at 10:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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