Wonder why you see so many commercials on TV about upcoming stories in newscasts?
Noticed that Grey's Anatomy is finally "all new" tonight?
It's not a coincidence. It's ratings, or as we know it in the business, "the book." (That's because in the old days, ratings would come to TV stations in the form of a book. At least that's what I'm told.)
Now we get the results the next morning. And in really large TV markets, like Atlanta, we're actually in a ratings period 24-7. Still, the big push comes in November, February and May.
Today on WSB at 5, consumer investigator Jim Strickland is doing a story on a local pharmacy chain that got in trouble with the state. At 6, anchor John Pruitt reports on food from China in our supermarkets. I bring this up because they're both consumer related, and I thought you might want to know.
Why should you care about ratings? Because you're the boss of what TV stations put on TV. If you see what we call a "tease" for an upcoming story in the newscast, and you want to see it, stay tuned. If you see something you don't like, change the channel! Ratings are broken down in 15 minute increments, so believe me, TV stations watch the tune-in and tune-out factor. So boss us around and let us know what you want!
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