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| February Sweeps in March in 2009; Due To DTV-Transition | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 30 2008, 06:53 PM (1,781 Views) | |
| Miss Rhi | Dec 30 2008, 06:53 PM Post #1 |
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From: We Love Soaps Nielsen is moving the February 2009 sweeps to March to avoid the "potential disruptions" associated with the switch to digital on February 17th. "February" sweeps will actually take place March 5 - April 1, 2009. In a memo to clients, Nielsen told them of those and other plans it is undertaking to "ensure the accuracy of television-audience estimates throughout the DTV-transition period." TV stations use sweeps numbers to set rates for advertisers going forward. Nielsen will continue to provide overnight ratings in metered markets as usual for February 2009 and anticipates no changes to national ratings reporting. Nielsen's action plan for rating station signals is geared toward two constituencies: homes in its sample that make changes to TV equipment, such as buying new sets or converter boxes; and TV stations "changing their signal distributions," which essentially means all of them. Nielsen said it cannot "proactively" raise the topic of the DTV transition with its panel households, since the sample is supposed to be representative of the general population. But field representatives will be trained to answer questions about the transition if panelists raise them on their own. |
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| Alin89 | Dec 30 2008, 09:18 PM Post #2 |
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that sucks |
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| King | Dec 31 2008, 01:15 AM Post #3 |
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Very, very interesting......... Looks like soaps might have to up their ante for March for ONCE. March always blows! Haha. Not like soaps even do anything for sweeps anymore... |
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| DrewHamilton | Dec 31 2008, 01:17 AM Post #4 |
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Maybe DAYS may actually do well with sweeps this year then. They're famous for sucking during the sweeps month and then having a rather well done month afterwards. But with our luck, April will be the month that DAYS does well. |
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| bellcurve | Dec 31 2008, 01:20 AM Post #5 |
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The government should have done a much better job explaining the digital conversion in their ads. Most people think they need to buy cable or satellite to get DTV and this will affect the people who watch TV the MOST: the older audience. The ones they covet, the ones that will always watch their programs no matter how fickle the female 18-49 is, the ones who watch Jay Leno before bed. I doubt this will put a dent in shows that do good with the demos, the younger audience. Doubt it will put a dent in those elitist comedies on NBC. The conversion will really hurt older-skewing programs(i.e. syndie champs Wheel and Jeopardy, daytime soaps, Price is Right, and other syndicated programming). I expect to see some numbers drop, but I think the conversion will really hurt those shows that rely heavily on their older audiences. And, to be quite frank, I don't think it's audience they will ever see again. That audience will focus more on reading the paper, enjoying their retirement and "watching them DVDs." Another thing Nielsen didn't factor into their ratings: The time change happens in March, right? The numbers the last year and year before that took a considerable hit because people were spending more time outside in the daylight instead of inside watching TV. There were several articles written about it. But Nielsen is in a lose/lose situation. Do they do the ratings during the switch, or do they wait and hope every home has bought a box, cable, or satellite in 10-15 days? Either way, the networks are screwed. |
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| PhoenixRising05 | Dec 31 2008, 02:59 AM Post #6 |
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I was just about to say the same thing LOL. Other then last Feburary, Days has always been better the month after sweeps. So, this year, if they follow that trend, they are golden LOL. I don't think this makes a lick of difference because most soaps, other then OLTL and Y&R, don;'t do shit for sweeps anymore. If anything, it may mean March is not as boring and maybe April too since May sweeps will be right after that. So, we trade February for March LOL. |
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| Rick | Dec 31 2008, 03:27 AM Post #7 |
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Dreamlander
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I've been wondering about that as well? How many people actually still use rabbit ears to watch TV though? |
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| PhoenixRising05 | Dec 31 2008, 03:39 AM Post #8 |
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More then I thought myself LOL. Actually, alot of people in nursing homes and rehab center do, at least in my area. When my grandmother was in and out of those places, we had to bring a TV for her and there was no cable, at least in the ones we saw. Those places will be particularly affected. I recall talking to one of the nurses during summer and they were hoping to be able to hook up cable to most of the rooms but weren't sure they could. |
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| bellcurve | Dec 31 2008, 04:12 AM Post #9 |
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I do, but I am young, cheap, and very unique. :D Someone on another board quoted a study that said 1 in 10 people were not ready for the transition to digital TV. In an age of declining ratings, that is a staggering number. |
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| Rick | Dec 31 2008, 04:32 AM Post #10 |
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Dreamlander
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See, maybe it's just WV but the only channel we can pick up here with rabbit ears is PBS lol |
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| bellcurve | Dec 31 2008, 06:16 AM Post #11 |
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See, I'm kinda like you. I was only able to get my ABC affiliate and PBS pre-Converter Box. And a fuzzy MyNetworkTV. Now, at it's peak, I can get CBS/Local News Channel, ABC/CW, NBC/FOX. Stations, right now, are broadcasting half-digital, half-analog. Some low-power stations are only broadcasting in analog and will broadcast in digital when the conversion takes place. Once the conversion takes place, I fully expect for the signal to get better AND to get PBS and MyNetworkTV, as well as other channels. Free Digital TV is badass and more than pays for itself, if you're on a budget and only watch network television. |
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| ladyofthelake | Dec 31 2008, 12:38 PM Post #12 |
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Professor-in-training
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If people have been paying attention, they would have known. The ads I've seen have been pretty clear on this. Good grief, we've known about this for what? A year? I've seen it several times on the news, on advertisements, in magazines......we can't coddle every person who decides to not educate themselves before falling into a panic over things. Good grief, my college kid, who is usually oblivious to everything technical if it's not spoonfed to her, already has her converter box and did the research on it. |
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| ladyofthelake | Dec 31 2008, 12:39 PM Post #13 |
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Professor-in-training
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But, the kicker is.......don't TELL Days sweeps have been moved! :D |
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| ladyofthelake | Dec 31 2008, 12:44 PM Post #14 |
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Professor-in-training
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Gads, no kidding? People really haven't been paying attention to this? I guess I'll take back what I said. That's just sad, sad. |
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| FanODays | Dec 31 2008, 12:58 PM Post #15 |
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I wonder if they told the networks in advance enough so that shows could be reworked. Primetime and daytime often write so that they will have big events or plot points revealed during sweeps. |
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| bellcurve | Dec 31 2008, 01:19 PM Post #16 |
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LOL. I read both of your posts, Lady, and ITA with you to a certain extent. But the ads are still very confusing. I had to do some research myself on how the coupon program worked and how digital TV works. Also, keep in mind how often people fast-forward through commercial or run to grab food during downtime. When I got my converter box, I saw how awesome the picture clarity was and how many more channels you can get with a box vs. analog. I was so excited, I kind of spread the word about it and I got three or four people signed up for converter box coupons. I even bought one and gave it to a non-cable/satellite relative because he was thinking of getting cable when all he watches is news and local sports. It sounds kind of dorky, but hell, those people could be chosen as Nielsen Families. LOL. And eventually, the box will pay for itself until you can afford to get cable or even a digital television. |
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| bellcurve | Dec 31 2008, 01:21 PM Post #17 |
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If soaps and primetime were good ALL the time, there would be no need to "up the ante" during sweeps. One thing I miss about Jim Reilly and those before them is how they rarely wrote sweeps stories. The shows were just good all the time. Deidre Hall once said in Digest something about how the show always ran on "white heat" or some adjective she used to describe the show circa 1995-96. |
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| PhoenixRising05 | Jan 1 2009, 02:59 AM Post #18 |
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AMEN!! Remember the days when there was no such thing as sweeps stories? Sure, soaps would bring out big events but they came from within the stories. There was planning involved. Stories were mapped out and timed perfectly. Now, they force everything. They think, "Oh, it's sweeps, let's do this." No long-term planning at all. Someone needs to tell these morons there is 12 months in a year, not 3. |
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| Miss Rhi | Jan 1 2009, 03:07 AM Post #19 |
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I can see how some people could get confused concerning the initials they've used DTV, because that's also a nickname for Directv. Even though we already have Directv we still get snail mail advertisements from them saying they can help with the Digital TV conversion, it seems like they are also trying to confuse people in an attempt to get them to sign up. It kinda reminds me of all those poor people who are locked into Directv contracts for another year or more because they signed up just to see Passions..... |
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| PhoenixRising05 | Jan 1 2009, 03:14 AM Post #20 |
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That was such a scam. I nearly did it too. Now I'm glad I didn't. They cancelled Passions as soon as it got settled in. That made me feel horrible. Not just for the show but for those that wasted money to be able to watch it. Ugh. What is wrong with these people. There is a dispute in our area right now with Time Warner Cable and Viacom. Viacom is threatening to pull 18 channels (including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, etc) if Time Warner doesn't raise rates. Viacome claims their channels are undervalued by Time Warner and are watched by like 20-25% of their customers. They claim it will only result in an extra 25 cents a month on the cable bill. Midnight was the deadline and we still have the channels so no clue what is going on but it just reminds me of how greedy people are. All these strikes and disputes in a bad economy. This is why I can't feel bad for these moguls and people in the entertainment industry. There are so many people struggling far worse that are barely making it and working several jobs and then I have to listen to bitching from actors and atheltes taking cuts after years of fantastic salaries and writers, producers, etc bitching about things. Sorry to be harsh but in these times we are in, it's hard to sympathize. It really is. Ok. End of rant. This is what happens when I have a glass of champagne :laugh:. (And I only had one glass LOL). |
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