[mikestanley]

Received a call this morning from Nielsen. Had to answer a TON of questions about my TVs, Tivo, AV Equipment, ages of people in the house, income range, cable company, cable package we have, etc.

After it was done the lady said we'd receive an agreement soon in the mail that we needed to sign and return to them.

Looks like we'll be one of the new Tivo/Nielsen families soon.

Has anyone else gotten this call - and if so, how far has the process proceeded?

 

[nealm]

I also got the call and answered the questions. I am waiting for the agreement in the mail. I am curious to read this very closely to see exactly what is collected.

I guess I better stop watching so much late night cinemax... I am now being watched.

Will keep everyone posted on the experience.

 

[hc130radio]

sounds like 1984 to me.

 

[TheNumberSix]

Not to derail the thread, but there's nothing 1984-ish about it.

This is a private party (not a gov't entity) entering into a contract for a service that's rendered.

If I pay money to watch a game of football, is that 1984-ish? Nope. It's a straight up deal. I pay for a ticket, I get to watch the game.

If Neilsen wants to pay someone to record what they watch on TV, it's not really any different.

*shrug*

 

[Marat]

Uhhh....what exactly are we talking about here, you guys received phone calls from who and why?

 

[midas]

I got the call yesterday (Saturday) too. I'm not real clear on the whole thing though. I would be very excited to be a true Nielsen family. I would love to have my viewing habits count towards the TV ratings. However this didn't really sound like what is happening. It was more like they were studying how Tivo users use them. I just don't think it's going to have a bearing on the ratings.

 

[mikestanley]

Some of us had a Tivo menu item a while back asking if we wanted to be part of a Tivo/Nielsen study on the use of Tivo by Nielsen (at least that's how I interpreted it). I said yes and was told on the Tivo I'd be contacted in 4-6 weeks if we were selected.

So I assume the call was from Nielsen or some company they've paid to do the phone questionnaire.

This may not be the same thing as being a "Nielsen Family" - I'm not sure. But from the questions they asked me it sure sounded like it would be similar. And if its not determining ratings but is instead determining how people use PVR units (they asked how many Tivo or other PVRs I had - I told them 3, 2 Tivo, 1 non-Tivo) - I still want to participate.

 

[nealm]

I don't agree with the 1984 interpretation. It's no different than a family agreeing to be part of the Neilsen ratings. They have a box watching what they do.

Also, ANY tivo captures every press of your remote. Hence, they know how many people rewound to look at Janet Jackson's boob (guilty as charged).

However, the info captured for your plain vanilla tivo user is aggregated into groups. I think it is only specific as far as your zipcode. The Neilsen stuff IS individualized, but voluntary, so I am OK with it.

All that being said, if there is anything TOO scary in the written agreement they send, I won't hesitate to opt out.

 

[cwerdna]

I got the call last night myself. It came from an 813 # and showed up as "Nielsen Ratings" on my caller id. I'm definitely going to participate.

I figure it'll improve the chances that what I watch won't be cancelled and that there will be more of what I like. My TV tastes aren't inline w/a lot of mainstream shows w/high Nielsen ratings.

I'm already opted-in on both my Tivos for the Hotline2Hollywood thingy.

 

[Stanley Rohner]

The police told me this is the latest scam going around. The people that called you want to know your TV watching habits so they'll know the best possible time to break in and rob your house.

 

[Ziggie]

We too received a call telling us "Congratulations.. you've been accepted into the TiVo Nielsen Family".

I want to address the comment someone made about the TiVo Nielsen thing being different than the "box" type Nielsen family (that we're all familiar with).

You're correct.. they are not the same thing. This study concentrates more on TiVo's involvement in your viewing habits. It does not affect program ratings.

 

[simonalope]

I just got the call as well - wheee! From what others have said on the boards, it sounds like it's currently impossible to be a "real" Nielsen Family (the people who actually determine ratings) as a TiVo user - they just don't have the hardware set up for TiVo yet. I am guessing this TiVo-Nielsen partnership will, among other goals, help them figure out how to include DVR users in the Nielsen ratings.
I have a feeling I was one of the simpler phone surveys to do - one person in the household, one TV, one TiVo/DVD combo, one cable provider, and that's it.

 

[Ziggie]

Originally posted by simonalope
I just got the call as well - wheee! From what others have said on the boards, it sounds like it's currently impossible to be a "real" Nielsen Family (the people who actually determine ratings) as a TiVo user - they just don't have the hardware set up for TiVo yet. I am guessing this TiVo-Nielsen partnership will, among other goals, help them figure out how to include DVR users in the Nielsen ratings.
I have a feeling I was one of the simpler phone surveys to do - one person in the household, one TV, one TiVo/DVD combo, one cable provider, and that's it.

When I lived in Chicago we had several friends that used to work at Nielsen's headquarters. We were told that you could never "ask and/or apply" to be a member of the Nielsen family (the ones with the box that affect ratings). You had to be chosen from some pool that the company used.

I have to admit I'm curious to see what the "agreement" says

 

[Poogie]

Too funny. Just minutes after reading this thread, the phone rang. It was Nielsen. I'm gonna be part of the TiVo Nielsen Family, too!

 

[Ziggie]

Originally posted by Poogie
Too funny. Just minutes after reading this thread, the phone rang. It was Nielsen. I'm gonna be part of the TiVo Nielsen Family, too!

:up:

 

[midas]

One more piece of information. It appears that this is at least the 2nd time that they have done this. The person that called me mentioned that it's been a few months since they contacted Tivo people. So it was done at least once in the past.

 

[cwoody222]

Originally posted by simonalope
I just got the call as well - wheee! From what others have said on the boards, it sounds like it's currently impossible to be a "real" Nielsen Family (the people who actually determine ratings) as a TiVo user - they just don't have the hardware set up for TiVo yet.

This is correct.

I got a call that had nothing to do with TiVo asking me to be a Nielsen Family (hooking up the hardware in my house, not just a weekly diary) a few weeks ago.

Once I told them I use TiVo, I was out. They can't measure TiVo yet.

 

[hc130radio]

Originally posted by TheNumberSix
Not to derail the thread, but there's nothing 1984-ish about it.

This is a private party (not a gov't entity) entering into a contract for a service that's rendered.

If I pay money to watch a game of football, is that 1984-ish? Nope. It's a straight up deal. I pay for a ticket, I get to watch the game.

If Neilsen wants to pay someone to record what they watch on TV, it's not really any different.

*shrug*

lol...

 

[ufo4sale]

Originally posted by cwoody222
This is correct.

I got a call that had nothing to do with TiVo asking me to be a Nielsen Family (hooking up the hardware in my house, not just a weekly diary) a few weeks ago.

Once I told them I use TiVo, I was out. They can't measure TiVo yet.

But TiVo can meausre TiVo's data.

 

[bitTraveler]

Originally posted by midas
One more piece of information. It appears that this is at least the 2nd time that they have done this. The person that called me mentioned that it's been a few months since they contacted Tivo people. So it was done at least once in the past.

Correct....

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=158334&perpage=20

I'd be curious how people alter their viewing habits knowing that they're being watched by Nielsen. Less porn? Recording shows you don't really intend to watch? Etc...

I imagine I'll have to remain curious since I assume someone revealing their participation would involve some kind of NDA violation.

bit