Nielsen, a renowned media conglomerate recognized for measuring TV viewership, has added another feather to its cap. It has come up with a novel solution to refine the process of counting TV viewers, thanks to its recently published patent titled "Methods and apparatus to detect a presence status" (Patent number: US11812104B2).
TV viewership measurement is undoubtedly an uphill task. The precise count of TV viewers falls through the cracks due to the active people meter's dependence on audience compliance. The meter prompts TV viewers to input information for viewer identification, which can easily go wrong. A miscommunication can lead the viewers to enter incorrect information or completely miss the messages for data verification. Thus, the gulf between accurate data collection and maintaining audience compliance is noticeably wide.
The Nielsen Company has unveiled a tool in its revolutionary patent that could bridge this gap. The tool is a sound-based device, capable of detecting the presence of the audience in front of the TV set. It works on the simple idea of matching sounds from the TV set with that from a small carried device, indicative of an audience's presence. This information is then relayed to a computer that measures the count of the TV audience.
If this technology is fully realized, getting the correct estimate of television audiences will no longer be a wild goose chase. Nielsen's sound-based device will lead to more accurate television ratings, enhancing our consumption and understanding of TV content.
Imagine a world where television content is produced and aired based on precise viewership data. It will lead to more curated and targeted content according to viewers' preferences, addressing the audience's interests more accurately. As a result, TV station holders can modify their broadcasting strategies according to real-time data, akin to online platforms.
However, we must bear in mind that despite the ground-breaking potential, this technology still stands at the patent stage. There's no guarantee it will soon hit the market, heralding a new era in TV viewership measurement. Yet, the sheer ingenuity of the patent promises a marvel in television broadcasting and viewership statistics, playing a pivotal role in amending the TV content landscape to align with viewer preferences.
P.S. – This piece is based on information from Nielsen's patent and there's no assurance that the technology will appear in the market.