AUDIENCE STUDIES

RATINGS PROJECT

Introduction

In this project, you will gather ratings and shares data for a particular network and time period, and analyze audience-generating strategies employed by the networks.

Purpose

The goal of this project is to both familiarize you with the Nielsen NTI service as reported in trade publications, and to give you an opportunity to apply audience theory from earlier in this semester.

Assignment

For the network and time period to which you are assigned, do the following:

1. Locate (in zap2it.com, Broadcasting & Cable magazine, or other credible source) the

NTI ratings and shares over a four-week period beginning with the start of the fall

television season next week.

1. Also locate the ratings and shares over the same time period for the other major English-

language broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and CW).

1. And, locate the ratings and shares for each program for the entire evening on your

network over the same period.

Include each in your report. Now, you are prepared to address the following items:

1. What is the target audience demographic for your time period and network? Document

this target by examining characters in series, story lines, and advertisers. Are there other

networks completing for this same audience during your time period?

1. Examine the entire prime time schedule for your network that evening. Are there any

strategies designed to enhance inheritance effects evident? How does the programming

in your time period on your network compare to the lead-in and lead-out?

1. Examine the ratings/shares trend over the four weeks for which you have data. Are the

ratings consistent, or is there a trend? Offer an explanation for trends or anomalies.

Submission

This project will be due Wednesday, March 17. It may be submitted through the dropbox in Canvas.