In older technology, Nielsen also makes assumptions when diary data does not match up with metered data. This is the “zero-cell” phenomenon. They have somehow sold their customers on the idea that for zero-cells, it’s OK to assume that the Zero-Cell Viewer behaved the same as the majority of viewers, in the same demographic, who correctly matched their meters to their diaries. People Meters are supposed to eliminate this concern as they eliminate a lot of paper diary work.

I think that that very point will be the deathnell for the show.

If Michael and co. do get the 6th card and Scylla then there has to be some unnecessary twist to maintain the story for 5 more hours. The only thing I can think of is that they don’t get it, and this means further problems. It’ll look like a stalling tactic and they could potenitally lose more of their audience.

Of course we’ll have to wait and see, but still, I think the show is about to make another big drop.

I have learned one factor regarding a boycott of any network: If Show X is canceled because of low Nielsen ratings, and Show X’s viewers boycott the network, then the network will not notice because not many boycotters were Nielsen households. If more viewers of Show X were Nielsen families, then Show X would have had high ratings to begin with, and may not have been canceled.

Even assuming that Nielsen ratings are accurate, low-rated shows don’t have enough fans to make a boycott matter. For the boycott to matter, viewers of Show X must by default be viewers of other CBS shows in the first place – what if the only show they watched on CBS was Show X anyway?

I’m confused though. Prison Break 2 hour finale? Why have a finale midseason?… I thought it was going to continue in March and then finish the series?

One of the writers was kind enough to address the situation.

“The situation is still in flux, but the decision to air a big two hour Prison Break finale forced us to stop at 12 episodes instead of 13 and move one of the first 13 into the back part of the season. So instead of ending our run at 12 and depriving people of the episode that was designed as a finale to the first chunk of the season (Earthlings), we’re opting to move the mostly standalone “Alpine” into the back part of the season– probably between episode 13, “The Good Wound,” and 14, “Desert Cantos.” This is actually a place that works pretty darn well for “Alpine Fields,” actually. So while you’ll have to wait until after the holidays to see it, it won’t be too long of a wait”

http://tsccsociety.proboards52.com/index.cgi?board=spoilers&action=display&thread=1083&page=2

And on a slightly different subject, albeit one mentioned here in a roundabout way. Ya’ll were talking about Kathy Cox who won the million on “Smarter than a 5th Grader”, well check this out … http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/2008/11/22/kathy_cox_bankruptcy.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab.

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/11/19/cbs-abc-fox-continue-with-season-to-date-honors/8415
vs.
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2007/11/20/season-to-date-broadcast-net-ratings-924-1118/1839

Sure, you could say that it’s all due to the competition’s more significant declines, but in a shrinking market (broadcast prime-time) it’s all about taking share away from the other guys.

I think CBS does well with the geriatric crew no matter what night a procedural in airing.

The TV demo is not in on the weekends, so the other networks suffer as a result.

Somebody did win the million dollar prize on Smarter than a 5th grader.

It was a few weeks back in I believe this season’s opener.

Her name was Kathy Cox and she is reportedly donating all her winnings to the public school in Georgia.

http://gameshows.about.com/od/photogalleries/ig/5th-Grader-Season-3/Kathy-Cox-large.htm