What if you had better insight into why viewers watch and what they tell their friends about their favorite programs, celebrities, characters, episodes, and networks? What if you had a better way to determine how viewers choose among the many entertainment options that are increasingly available to them…and how your particular brand of entertainment stacks up?

The Nielsen BuzzMetrics Television Industry Practice enables television executives, networks, producers, studios and advertisers to examine and understand many of the factors that drive and influence television-viewer involvement, preferences and choices. Its analyses and findings complement existing ratings research to produce an unprecedented view of viewer involvement.

How? It puts at your disposal a huge reservoir of previously overlooked insight—unsolicited, online conversations by and among viewers—to present a more comprehensive view of what’s really happening on the other side of the screen. Nielsen BuzzMetrics uses three major approaches to deliver data to clients:

• TV/Program Measurement and Monitoring: Track, measure and analyze the “buzz” about TV programs by episode, season-to-season, by character, by plot and by any parameter you’d like to explore
• Network Brand Tracking: Gauge how viewers (and non-viewers) talk, think and feel about your network as a brand. Are they tuned in or turned off? Offering any ideas about how you can make them even happier (or win back their favor)? How is your network stacking up against competitors?
• Special-Issue Reporting/Rapid Reaction Briefs: Learn how quickly evolving technologies are changing the TV/entertainment landscape.

By leveraging its affiliation with Nielsen Media Research and other VNU properties, Nielsen BuzzMetrics can provide quick-hit information on how changing patterns in content distribution, new technologies, online video services, social networks and other innovations are impacting the TV industry—and what new opportunities exist.

Television/Entertainment*BuzzMetrics: Powered By BrandPulse®

More media choices, new technologies and concurrent media consumption have stiffened competition for viewers’ attention. The Nielsen BuzzMetrics Television Practice helps you keep track of emerging trends in several ways.

BrandPulse Internet monitoring provides ongoing tracking and analysis of TV-related buzz. From your desktop, plug into the millions of TV viewers who talk to each other over the Internet in online discussions and user groups, on message boards, in fan forums and blogs.

BrandPulse Insight reports provide in-depth data on specific issues that are pertinent to the television and entertainment industries—new television technologies, specific demographic or ethnic markets, children’s issues, FCC regulations, television enthusiasts, niche-market programs, ad-skipping behavior among DVR/digital cable users and more.

What’s the Buzz?

BrandPulse channels naturally occurring commentary into usable data and reports to help you better understand the ties between your programs and their viewers and to help solve key challenges:

• Measure the buzz on your programming. Is it growing or shrinking? Negative or positive (or neutral)? What is its trend over time?
• Identify which programs are your most-cited competitors.
• Based on buzz, gauge how your program ranks.
• Determine which underrated shows nevertheless have high buzz ratings.
• Gain access to specific analysis available by show, genre, daypart and more.
• What qualitative themes influence buzz about your show?
• Identify which characters/celebrities viewers mention the most, and which they mention the least.
• Zero in on the plot, episode and spin-off suggestions made by viewers.
• Adjust schedules to mesh with the “buzz” that exists among key viewers.
• Learn which emerging forms of content distribution and new products viewers are discussing. What is the impact of new technologies and platforms, such as Video On Demand, DVDs, DVRs, online video sources and mobile devices?
• Locate the sources where viewers congregate online to discuss your program, network or corporation.
• Identify your most vocal supporters and detractors, and leverage their influence.
• Determine whether your promotional campaigns are as effective as they could be. Can certain elements be leveraged for even greater buzz-building?
• Gauge whether viewers are discussing advertising campaigns or commercials, and in what context.