Other poster: These [syndicated game show] ratings are steady compared to GSN. Back in the summer, you would have Lingo (8pm) have 450,000 viewers one day and 250K another day. Big difference.
All sorts of things here.
First, the syndie ratings are weekly averages across all showings on the five weekdays. Nielsen's sample is much more consistent when you average together a lot of days instead of looking at day-to-day fluctuations. Lingo does not vary in its weekly average from 450K to 250K. In its current midnight slot, for instance, the show's weekly averages have been consistent in approximately the 200K-250K range.
Second, GSN is out in the long tail of smaller networks, unlike the broadcast outlets that carry the syndies. This is where Nielsen's sample can get skittish from day to day, and where set top box data might be a useful supplement. Nielsen is using some STB data on an experimental basis. And Rentrak has emerged as the first plausible competitor to Nielsen in a long time by using STB data for local market measurement. STB data is no panacea, though. There are serious issues with its reliability, representative quality, and lack of demo information.
Hey, you can be grateful you're not me! Anyway, The Price is Right ratings are hard to come by on the free Internet. Once in a while TV by the Numbers will print these ABC press releases that give a few TPiR numbers. And Soap Opera Network sometimes publishes pretty complete information for all daytime shows including TPiR and Let's Make a Deal. Like this.
Thanks for today's TVBTN link. I've now posted it in the sidebar on the blog for broadcast and cable game show ratings.
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