How are Ratings Calculated??

[JoeFromTomsRiver]

I've never understood this and I hope someone can explain it to me. How are the ratings calculated? I've heard about these "diaries" or whatever and I find it hard to believe that the success of a radio show can be based on what people are writing on sheets of paper and sending back to Arbitron. If this really is how ratings are determined, it seems pretty primitive. For one, who are these people filling out the "diaries"?? I personally don't know ANYONE who has done this. I've never gotten something in the mail, or seen anything on television, or heard ANYTHING about being a part of the ratings calculations. ???

 

[cawasinnj]

Yes, there are representative samples from various demographic groups that are contacted to participate int he manner you described.

 

[amfmsw]

Dear Joe,

Please note that you can't spell Arbitron without "arbitrary".

there's a lot of voodo and rules they have to credit the stations with listenership. If someone in Monmouth County returns a diary that just says "Magic" from 9am to 5pm, they'll split the credit 50/50 between WMGK and WMGQ. "Oldies 98 FM" entry will be split between WOGL and WTKU, even if it's in Strathmere, where 98.3 broadcasts and 98.1 is non-existant! Credit is given to which slogans the stations registered. It's why I believe any radio station is best served by sticking with call letters and frequency instead of a stupid image name. There's hundreds of "Lite Rocks", but only 1 96.9 WFPG in the nation. No confusion, accurate credit for listening.

And a stations success or failure is tied to who the diaries were sent geographically, and who returns the books. A small station at the shore will show poorly if the diaries were sent to inland communities where their signal is weak, or if the shore folk fail to return them.