an electronic device that records the television viewing habits in a small number of homes. per inquiry: also known as PI. The practice of primarily smaller, weaker stations and cable networks of accepting DRTV commercial media payment in the form of a percentage of sales. The stations/networks essentially become the direct marketers partner and receive 20 to 35% of total sales generated from the telecasts. A common practice until DRTV time became tight in the 1980's.
An attachment to a TV that measures the consumer broadcast preferences, viewer frequencies and habits.
An electronic metering device attached to a TV set to measure tuning status (set on/off, channel, time, and duration of tuning) as well as demographic data (who is watching). Household members and their guests push buttons to identify themselves. The People Meter is used by Nielsen Media Research to measure nationwide audience measurement in the U.S. and Canada. (See also, Audimeter)
A small box on all the television sets installed by A.C. Nielsen in about 5,000 homes that it has chosen as a representative sample of the population. The meter holds a pre-assigned code for every individual in the home, even visitors. The research firm asks each viewer to push his or her button at the start and end of viewing. These individual actions are transmitted to Nielsen computers through television lines. They are the basis for the firmÍs conclusions about national viewing habits.
Device attached to the television set to electronically measure individual viewing patterns.
The People Meter is a device and system designed by Nielsen Media Research to allow a relatively passive measurement of the viewing habits of TV and cable audiences.