Ratings Firm Nielsen to Measure DVR Usage

By Geoff Duncan December 22, 2005

Nielsen Media Research has announced it will begin offering national TV audience estimates next week which include data from shows viewed using digital video recorders (DVRs).

Beginning December 26, programs and networks will receive three separate ratings:

Live Ratings: Programs viewed at time of broadcast, excluding any DVR playback.
Live+Same Day Ratings: Including viewers who watched programming live and those who played back the program using a DVR on the same day of the initial airing.
Live+7 Day Ratings: Viewers watching live, as well as those who played back the program up to a week after initial airing.

The first weekly program rankings with DVR viewing included will be released January 6, 2006.

Nielsen’s move both responds to broadcaster and studio concerns about how DVR use and timeshifting technology is either eroding or adding to viewership from different sorts of programming. Nielsen’s findings will eventually be fodder between networks and advertisers as the data are applied to negotiations for advertising rates and placement. However, neither Nielsen nor the advertising community think the data will be anything more than a curiosity at first, given that current estimates place DVRs in only about 6 to 8 percent of U.S. television households. Advertisers also aren’t sold on the idea that timeshifted playback of programming is as valuable to them as viewership of live broadcasts, since it’s not clear what proportions of DVR viewers use the technology to avoid commercials.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Virtual Reality

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Audio / Video

Best Bluetooth speaker deals: Save on Bose, Sonos, JBL, and more

The JBL Boombox 3 Bluetooth speaker, placed outdoors.

If you want some serious audio power for your home theater you need to check out some things like soundbar deals and subwoofer deals, but if you’re looking for a simpler, more portable audio option, a Bluetooth speaker is where you should turn. Many of the best Bluetooth speakers offer up some great savings, with top audio brands like Sonos, Bose, and JBL regularly seeing discounts on Bluetooth speaker models. If you’re looking for a way to take some music on the road, to the campground, or simply out onto the patio, you’ll find all of the best Bluetooth speaker deals going on right now below. You can also shop phone deals, tablet deals, and laptop deals if you’re looking for a great device to pair your new Bluetooth speaker with.
JBL Charge 5 — $140, was $180

This is the fifth generation of JBL’s popular Charge lineup. People love this little speaker because of its portability and quality audio. It has JBL Original Pro Sound technology, which packs some punch despite the small size of this speaker. The speaker can also get up to 20 hours of playback on a single battery charge, allowing you to take the party with you without the need to charge up until you get back home. This makes it great for hikes, overnight camping trips, and days at the beach, in addition to being a nice addition around the house.

Audio / Video

Best Bose deals: Save on soundbars, headphones, and earbuds

A woman in a park wearing Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth wireless noise canceling headphones.

Bose is a great brand to turn to if you want premium audio quality paired with features and pricing geared a little more toward the masses. While Bose products are often in contention to be among the best speakers, best wireless headphones, and best Bluetooth speakers among other things, they also regularly offer some of the best headphone deals, best Bluetooth speaker deals, and even some of the best soundbar deals you can shop. So if you’ve got an ear out for something made by Bose, we’ve rounded up all of the best Bose deals currently available below. Read onward for all of the details on how to save, and if you’re looking for the right piece of tech to pair something by Bose with you can also shop the current TV deals, phone deals, tablet deals, and laptop deals.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra wireless earbuds — $249, was $299

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are often recognized as some of the best wireless earbuds on the market. They have great noise-cancellation capability, which makes getting your work done at the office a less distracting endeavor, and which makes taking in movies on your laptop or home theater a more immersive experience. They also have a feature known as Aware Mode, which allows you to hear both your music and your surroundings at the same time. This makes them a safe option for daily commuters, fitness nuts, and bicyclists as well. Spatial Audio, a long lasting battery, and easy phone call controls round out the top features of the QuietComfort Ultra wireless earbuds.

Audio / Video

Orange’s new Pyramid Audio System is a slice of psychedelia

The Orange Pyramid Audio System.

Britain's Orange Amplification is well-known for providing legendary rockers from Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, and Rage Against the Machine to Oasis and even Bruno Mars with its classic bright-orange guitar amps and cabinets. Now the company is stepping into the hi-fi world with the launch of its first mini system, the trippy-looking speaker-amplifier combo Pyramid Audio System.

Like its classic rival, Marshall, Orange has expanded its product range into Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and more, as well. The Pyramid Audio System, however, represents a further expansion into consumer integrated amp setups.