Subject: Re: Unfair TV Ratings - Lousy choices
From: rjg@umnstat.stat.umn.edu (Robert J. Granvin)
Date: 1991-08-30, 10:56
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv,alt.tv.twin-peaks

|> With the networks using these ratings to generate advertising dollars based
|> upon the statistically perceived viewers of shows, they should realize their
|> invalidity based on one fact. They have experienced a major loss of market
|> share to the pay cable channels due to the fact they are not delivering the
|> shows people really want to watch. The cable channels have stepped up to the
|> challenge by televising to viewers in the niche markets which has caused this
|> erosion of network market share. Otherwise, why would people pay $20 for cable
|> plus the charges for the "premium" channels if the networks were delivering
|> the shows people were willing to watch.

Perhaps, but it appears to take 40 cable channels to siphon off viewers 
from 3 (and a half :-) networks.

Are there any individual cable channels that are actually "larger" than 
any of the commercial networks?  (I mean this as a genuine question...)

-- Robert J. Granvin School of Statistics rjg@umnstat.stat.umn.edu University of Minnesota