So, we were recently selected to be a Nielsen family for a week. I don’t know how the selected us, but N. received a phone call asking him if we’d be willing to record our TV viewing for a week. Nielsen said we’d even get paid $30. We’re both kind of suckers for surveys and so N. agreed to do it. A couple of weeks later a envelope showed up containing a paper diary, instructions, and $30 in cash. We were both surprised when the $10 and $20 bills fluttered out of the envelope and onto the table. It just seemed odd–I thought they would send a check or send us the money after they received the journal. Nielsen: proud supporters of the honor system!
I sadly neglected to scan or take photos of the TV diary before we had to send it back. But this guy has scans of the diary if you’re interested. It was all very retro feeling. You’re supposed to write down the channel or call letters of the station you’re watching, the name of the program, and which members of the household are watching/listening to the show. The diary tracks things in by 15-minute increments. If you’re watching something that you recorded on a DVR, then you also have to write down when it originally aired. Yeah, it was kind of a pain.
LOL nothing wrong with the Dog Whisperer, my boss was listening to him in his car and we all had to listen to it once on our way to sushi for lunch. Wow you guys are so good about doing stuff like this, I’d start complaining on day 2… although the $30 cash sounds VERY appetizing!!