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CBS Exec Wants Combined TV, Internet Ratings.

publications.mediapost.com — The combined rating would provide media buyers with a cross-platform option that's simpler and more detailed in terms of data, because of online metrics.

Who dugg this? Made popular Mar 18, 2008

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  • jjones07, on 03/18/2008, -0/+35CBS, could you make this happen, take this into account before you lay down the decision on Jericho? (Welcome2CHO)
  • judist63, on 03/18/2008, -3/+37When are they gonna listen.....we are here and watching....what is it going to take to get thru to the networks that we aren't going to change the way we view television for them, they need to change the way they interpret the numbers for us....we are their bread and butter! Not the other way around!
  • azlady, on 03/18/2008, -0/+32Sounds like at least one person at CBS is seeing the light. Hopefully more of them are following. It sounds like Jericho is their poster child. Definitely encouraging for Jericho's future.
  • MikesMom7, on 03/18/2008, -1/+32I'm glad to hear a voice of CBS speaking on behalf of this issue along with the desire to get the ball rolling on making this change. Time will only complicate this issue further, now is the time to start making these changes with how viewers are counted.
  • mpbnice, on 03/18/2008, -0/+24If CBS doesn't want to be left in the dust, they have to count all ways of viewing. They're after the younger demographic, and the younger demographic is online.
  • Saitekc, on 03/18/2008, -0/+21I'm glad they are finally doing this
  • jhawkmamax2, on 03/18/2008, -0/+21The time has come to count this valuable audience when making the decision to keep a show. When I watch Jericho (again, since I am making sure to watch the broadcast as Ms. Tassler has asked) online, that advertiser's ad is in front of my face for 10 minutes. If I like what I see (and I often do), I can click through to the advertiser's site for more information. Is that not worth more than a 30-second commercial on traditional delivery? And because there is just one ad at a time, I am more likely to sit through it than go get a drink or put in a load of laundry. Be bold CBS, Jericho is gaining momentum--don't cut the legs out from under it!
  • karinchu, on 03/18/2008, -0/+21Hey, they are trying, they are looking and maybe just maybe they will see the value in maintaining this poster child!!!
  • SaveJake, on 03/18/2008, -0/+19I think CBS is listening. I believe they will do what's best for them...Which is Jericho Season 3.
    Long Live Jericho!!!
  • JerichoSam, on 03/18/2008, -0/+18I agree: It's good to hear someone at CBS point out that there's a more accurate way to measure total viewership. It's not right for CBS to cultivate a market on alternate platforms and then neglect to count those viewers. Just doesn't make sense.
  • aircat, on 03/18/2008, -0/+18Last summer I helped keep track of ads during the reruns of JERICHO's first season and it was interesting. Interesting because of the sheer volume and because it was so hard to keep my mind on what was being peddled. I've paid more attention since to product placements and the ads accompanying the online offerings, than what was aired on broadcast TV. It's time to change the way the numbers are figured.
  • osufan1963, on 03/18/2008, -0/+18I guess we'll see if CBS is listening if they keep Jericho. If not, then they don't have a clue, which will be too bad for them (and us unfortunately).
  • Kamiki, on 03/18/2008, -0/+18CBS has an amazing opportunity here to really be the frontier network for alternate TV delivery! Let's hope they take it a run - giving Jericho its 3rd season and proving ratings are only ONE aspect of a TV shows success
  • Deb63, on 03/18/2008, -0/+17When are advertisers going to figure out that it's not about how many people are watching the show, it's about how many watch the ads? There are so many ads in any one break that most people I know leave the room and do other things rather than sit through the ads. Online ads, on the other hand, are few and short and don't give enough time to leave the computer without missing the show. They also don't allow fast-forwarding through. Online viewing is delivering a truly captive audience to advertisers which is both highly engaged and actually watching the commercials. Contrast that to live broadcast viewing where the commercial breaks are long and give viewers ample time to do other things rather than actually watch the ads. I would think advertisers ought to be drooling over the online audience where their messages are really getting through to the viewers.
  • nhampshiresu, on 03/18/2008, -0/+17Good for CBS and hopefully good for Jericho which is far too great a show to let go!
  • artzylady, on 03/18/2008, -0/+17This could be a definite step in the right direction for CBS, and I'm hoping they will choose to make some ratings history with Jericho as a premise for increased view ship with the cross platform boost.
  • cubfan12, on 03/18/2008, -0/+17Finally it sounds like CBS is getting a clue. I hope it's not to late.

    CBS - COUNT ME
  • PlatPat, on 03/18/2008, -0/+17Does CBS Dare?

    N2N2
  • inactive, on 03/18/2008, -0/+16About time. If they want to track what people are watching, at least have the common sense to look at HOW people are watching.
  • Bombwatcher, on 03/18/2008, -0/+16We've hung by no thread before - we can get through!!
  • crjunk, on 03/18/2008, -0/+15I love Jericho, but hardly ever have the time to watch it on tv. I've probably watched over 70% of the episodes online. Several months ago , I found out that networks were not taking into consideration online viewing when computing ratings. My heart plunged. Gland to see that CBS is trying to do something about it.
  • nightbird47, on 03/18/2008, -0/+14My CBS wake up to this before it is too late for Jericho. We have a huge online presence and it continues to grow. Some of us do not even have tv reception but are still loyal viewers. Some of us are considering dropping cable as overly expensive to watch a few shows since we can see them online. Jericho is the perfect poster child for the new frontier of entertainment, and CBS has the chance to grab the future and run with it.
  • sigmagoose, on 03/18/2008, -1/+15It is about time that CBS gets a clue...this show is worth saving. If given a better time slot and a better lead in, Jericho would soar!
  • phogasmic, on 03/18/2008, -0/+14Duh Hoy... They are finally getting this. I hardly ever watch TV shows when they are scheduled. I watch them on my own time. If the TV studios recognized this, great shows like The Wire, Terminator, and Jericho wouldn't have to struggle to stay on. Not only to these shows have faithful dedicated audiences... but the demographic is probably affluent and more willing to buy new gadgets.
  • LutherMac, on 03/18/2008, -0/+14I'm wondering if this includes iTunes purchases as well. While not directly related to advertising (since they are commercial free), those downloads are direct revenue streams for CBS. I've personally made it a point to watch both the broadcast as well as downloading the episode in order to boost support.
  • StinkyWizlteats, on 03/18/2008, -0/+14CBC in Canada is doing great things as well. The problem is always tracking usage, which is so funny because at least online you can get actual numbers of downloads. TV ratings are a giant lie based on interviewing a small fraction of people. It's all a giant bogus system, and if they really found out how few people were watching, it would collapse as advertisers run for the doors.
  • nicko68, on 03/18/2008, -1/+14They need to count Bittorrent downloads. :)
  • inactive, on 03/18/2008, -0/+13This is probably related to Jericho getting canceled because everyone watches it on the internet

    ... It's on tonight at 11 btw -- watch!
  • jerichos1fan, on 03/18/2008, -0/+12Most Tuesday nights I am unable to watch Jericho as it airs on TV. My DVR isn't working, so I have been watching the episodes online. Online viewership should be a high priority for networks and their advertisers. As another poster mentioned, I am MUCH more likely to watch a 15- or 30-second advertisement online vs. two minutes on television. I can't tell you how many times I catch myself throughout the day thinking of the Hunt's tomatoes jingle! :o)
  • terocious, on 03/18/2008, -0/+12I agree that time will complicate this and it will probably take a lot of trial and error to come up with new systems for measuring audience. All the more reason to get started. I would imagine the networks have an immense amount of data at their disposal from which to form some initial ad sale guidelines.
  • drguerra, on 03/18/2008, -0/+12Very good innovation on CBS's part. I just hope this happens in time to save Jericho.
  • DEIx15x8, on 03/18/2008, -0/+11Wouldn't this add a point to every show thus canceling it out? They currently have there TV ratings to sell to TV advertisers and they have their web view count to sell to the people advertising on the site. Why would you combine them. It doesn't help for advertising and the point of increasing ratings to save shows would all cancel each other. Good to see an exec understanding the power of the internet but a pointless request.
  • supermanred, on 03/18/2008, -2/+12Hey Networks,

    When you finally start counting the billions of torrent downloads and even your ***** web-based viewer figures can you please uncancel the following shows:

    - Terminator Sarah Connor series
    - Firefly
    - JPod
    - Journeyman


    etc etc etc

    Once the networks realize that "the kids nowadays" are using "the torrent tubes" maybe they will see that shows they have cancelled actually had MILLIONS of viewers.

    ALL YOU IDIOTS HAVE TO DO IS PROVIDE THE SHOW IN HIGH QUALITY AS A TORRENT, WITH COMMERCIALS INTACT and we will download those LEGALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

    "Friggin idiots" - Napoleon Dynamite
  • mrno, on 03/18/2008, -0/+9TV revenue = ADs. Advertisers don't care about the torrent downloads. No ad money = no tv shows. Internet rating can only work if they can sell ad spaces. Advertisers wouldn't care if 10 million torrent viewers are watching people's favorite tv shows. That is why TV networks better hurry up and make everything online before slowly go away like the music industry. They also need to work on flash plugins for mythtv, itv, mce2005, and other various media center if they want the torrent downloads to stop. Only able to view tv contents through a web browser will not work. Another option is go video podcast and use text ads like Google is doing in the bottom screen.
    Yahoo's approach of buying Meedio and converted into Yahoo's Media Center miserably failed. I think it was 12 million dollar investment and failed within two weeks of the release. I think people want Flash plugins for their existing systems. There is a better revenue model for this in the future. Only way for contents to survive in internet is no drm and figure out the best way to stream contents to their existing systems, and make the advertisers flip the bill for the content creators. If they can't, you know people will illegally download. They need to stop making the same mistakes like the music industry. We all know the music industry is almost dead.
  • dylangaine, on 03/18/2008, -1/+9putting it in perspective, he was speaking at an Online Media conference, so of course he will say what they all want to hear, that the online measurements are crucial. Not to say he doesn't mean what he says, it's just that in the scope of things, especially for Jericho, it does little to save the show.
  • TrevorBelmont, on 03/18/2008, -0/+8Advertisers need to know whether I'm going to cut out their ads with AdBlock or TiVo.
  • Veretax, on 03/18/2008, -1/+8Firefly is gone get over it, besides you couldn't bring back the Sarah Connor Chroniciles and have Firefly running at the same time.
  • flutterby10, on 03/18/2008, -0/+7CBS------I'm going to watch Jericho tonight, but I'm not Nielson, so you won't count me.I will also watch it again online----you say you don't use those numbers either. How many others will you also miss??? We're out there.......COUNT US ALL. Without the true numbers, how on earth can you judge the value of a show?
  • newstereo, on 03/18/2008, -0/+7It seems like this has all happened way faster then they would have imagined but kudos to them for trying to keep up here.
  • azbmr, on 03/18/2008, -1/+8I was watching MacGyver Season 1 on CBS.com and a graphic popped during up one of the shows asking if I'd take a survey. The survey questions were about ads as well as how I get my TV shows (TV or Websites) and which sites I watch videos on. CBS seems to be on the ball here.
  • Azriel7, on 03/18/2008, -1/+7All they have to do is go to a popular torrent site and see how many people are downloading a show. I have seen shows with horrible TV ratings have HUGE number of downloads. They cannot use the old fashioned way for judging a shows popularity.
  • MikesMom7, on 03/18/2008, -0/+6I'm just happy to see this subject being discussed in detail at an event that has the ears that need to hear it, the decision makers.
  • sotopheavy, on 03/18/2008, -0/+6Their TV numbers are dropping and their internet numbers are growing. They don't want their shareholders to see this. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
  • fadetoone, on 03/18/2008, -0/+5I think at this point we can only hope they let Jericho continue on CW or Sci-Fi.

    Jericho would easily be one of the highest rated shows on the CW.
  • MikesMom7, on 03/18/2008, -0/+5Its related to any television program whose success is based solely on Nielsen numbers. With more and more networks making online viewing and other means available, viewership is not being accurately accounted for as its not taking these numbers into consideration. It's the ad dollars that will speak loudy to this.
  • aircat, on 03/18/2008, -0/+5I really hope they will!
  • fadetoone, on 03/18/2008, -0/+5Where do you live that it's on at 11? It's on at 9 or 10 in most places that I know of.
  • Mswldflwr, on 03/18/2008, -0/+4They're the ones that gave us alternate methods of viewing and then they punish us for it. Makes sense to me -- NOT.
  • KW223, on 03/19/2008, -1/+5As a media buyer, our clients are asking for cross-platform campaigns - so why shouldn't they all be counted? We have rationalize our media buys and these numbers would give us the ammo we need to get more advertisers on board.
  • sonyabrady1971, on 03/19/2008, -0/+2I believe Terminator has alreay been renewed.
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