How do Nielsen ratings work?

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/question433.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielsen_Ratings
http://www.helium.com/items/990477-how-nielsen-tv-ratings-work

They don’t work.

have you seen the crap they have on tv

Input and Averages

They send out a big survey & instructions on how to fill it out. A couple years ago, we got one & I thought ooh, this is going to be fun. Then when I got into, it was a great big pain in the ass. Writing it down the way they want it, it’s hard to keep track. Then if you miss a day, you’re screwed! I’d never do it again. I hated it.

They’ve updated it some—they still send out surveys (I actually had a LOT of fun with mine, including this super long rant at the end about how I’d watch 10 minutes of something but it was totally an accident and it was hands down the WORST thing I’d ever seen on TV and I could feel my brain ROTTING while watching it), but they also send boxes that record what you watch and when.

@EmpressPixie See, I was surprised when we got that survey. I also thought that it was a box attached to your TV. That wouldn’t be so bad.