Cable Entries

How should I record cable TV viewing in the diary?
Be sure to answer the cable question in the front of the diary and write in the name of your cable company.  When making entries in the "Chan. No." column, please write in the cable channel number.  Enter the rest of the viewing information as shown in the diary instructions.


Why does Nielsen need to know that I subscribe to cable?
The cable information helps us to properly credit the channel and program that you watched and wrote in your diary.


How do I indicate cable installation in the middle of the diary week?
Even though you may not have received cable programming the entire diary week, check the "Yes" box for the question, "Is this TV connected to a cable TV service?", which is in the front section of the diary.  Write in the cable company name and the date installed in the space provided in the Cable TV service question.  Please attach a list or write in the channels that the TV set now receives on the page for Step 2.  See the next question for instructions.


Should I write in the diary (Step 2) a station that is received only sporadically?
Yes.  If you know what channels or stations that each set receives, please list them in the diary.  If you do not know all of them, please list those that you do know.  Whatever information you can supply in the diary will help us to identify and give credit to any channel or station that you have written in the diary pages during your diary week.  You may also use a cable channel listing or channel guide from a newspaper, if available.  Please review the list to make sure it is accurate and that no channels have changed.  Cross out any channels you do not subscribe to or receive.  If some have changed, please try to correct them right on the channel list itself.  This will help us when we receive the diary back.


Satellite ID, Dish, Antenna, etc.

I receive TV programs from a satellite.  How do I enter the satellite information in the diary?
Please answer the satellite questions in the front of the diary and when entering viewing:
If you have a large dish satellite:

• Under the "Station or Channel Name" column, enter the broadcast station or channel name.

• Under the "Chan. No." column, enter the satellite number and transponder number, if known, and channel number.  If you do not know the satellite number, transponder number, or channel number, write, "receive channels from satellite."

If you have a small dish satellite:

• Under the "Station or Channel Name" column, enter the broadcast station or channel name.

• Under the "Chan. No." column, enter the satellite channel number.
  
   

My household has both cable and satellite dish.  How do I record this in the diary?
Answer both the satellite and cable questions in the front of the diary.

Satellite instructions             Cable instructions

Should entries be made for programs listened to on a radio with TV bands (but not watched on TV)?
No.  Enter in your diary only those programs that are shown on TV.


My satellite receives over 100 channels; how do I enter this information in the diary?
If you have a single sheet listing of the satellite channels that your TV receives available, please include this list with the diary.   If you do not have a list, write in the channels that you know you receive on the Channel Receivable List, or if there is not enough room, at least list all the channels you watch.


What if I do not know some of my satellite information?
Please include as much information as you know about the program, such as station or channel name (or call letters), channel or satellite number and/or transponder number, and program name.  If you do not know this information, please write "SAT" in these columns. 

                                               See the satellite instructions above.

What if I am employed in the TV/Radio industry?
If any household member is employed by, or a principal owner in the television or media industry, our guidelines prohibit us from including that household in our survey. If that is the case, please accept our thanks for your interest and your understanding and answer 'Yes' to question #11, the TV/Radio employment question, in each diary. Return all the diaries at your convenience so that we know that you are a member of the media. If you are unsure please call 1-800-237-8611 for more detailed information. A helpful person is waiting to answer any questions you may have.