How do you feel about the accuracy of Nielsen ratings, Julie?

Well, it is sort of a catch 22. Do I think that using one house, chosen by a computer, to reflect an entire neighborhood is ridiculous?? Yes. I can guarantee on any given night I am not watching what my neighbors are. Do I think an 8,000 home sample for 109 million homes is too small? Hell yes. Do I doubt a method(people meters) requiring extra effort on the part of the user can ever be completely accurate? Yep. But do I think suing Nielsen's will help? Nope.

It's supply v demand. Advertisers buy adds based on nielsen rating pts, a certain price per rating pt. Network ad sales have no choice but to use it. Until there's a radical shift in this thinking, it won't change. It's better to hope that nielsen wises up and starts trying something else. But I will say this, they have developed several methods of getting data directly from user's TV's, there are many different things they have in the works. But there is a huge backlash from test groups over privacy. so maybe this is one case where solving privacy issues with better tech will solve the problem.

But I am STRONGLY against networks basing their decisions to cancel or keep a show based solely on ratings. Though, if they can't get advertisers, they can't make money. And that's where I think internet programs like SECT (shameless plug :) ) that try to help the advertisers connect with the fans and create a two-way community, are the next steps....especially for low ratings "cult" hits.