Click to Download PowerPoint Presentation - PBS

Nielsen Schmielsen: 

Everybody’s Watchin’ at 

Me ... or Are They 

Mark Ficco 

Paul Mears 

Nielsen Media Research

Agenda 

• Nielsen Media Research 

Overview 

• Nielsen Metering Systems 

• Nielsen Encoding

Nielsen Media Research 

The US Business 

105 million television households 

7 broadcast networks 

60+ measured cable networks 

100+ syndicators 

100 national ad agencies

Nielsen Media Research 

The US Business 

1,500 local television stations 

3,000 local ad agencies 

12,000+ local cable head-ends 

3 Hispanic television networks

Nielsen Media Research’s Role 

• Provide independent, unbiased, and 

accurate media exposure/usage 

measurement and reports for the media 

industry 

–Our role for over 50 years 

• Measurement is an indispensable part of 

the fabric of the entire media industry

Nielsen Media Research’s Role 

• Measurement ( “TV Ratings”) influences: 

– Program carriage 

– Program line-ups 

– Program ratings 

– Advertisements 

–Scripts 

– Talent selections 

– Sports coverage

Who Depends On Measurement 

• National Networks 

• Cable Networks 

• Local Stations 

• Cable and Satellite Distributors

Who Depends On Measurement 

• Programmers 

• Content Creators 

• Advertisers 

Creators, Buyers, Sellers, & 

Distributors of Television

How Does Nielsen Measure 

• Sampling and Recruitment 

• Meters and Diaries 

• Ratings and Data 

www.nielsen.com

Sampling and Recruitment 

• Scientifically select a group of households 

that mirrors the population at large 

–Nielsen TV families are a cross-section 

of households from all over the US 

–We carefully create samples so every 

American household with a television 

has an equal chance of being selected

Sampling and Recruitment 

• Recruiting Nielsen Families 

• We recruit and gain the cooperation of the 

initially selected sample households to 

ensure accuracy of our samples

Meters and Diaries 

• Installing and Monitoring Meters 

– Our field representatives install metering 

equipment in Nielsen family households. 

– The meters send data back to Nielsen each 

night via phone or cellular. 

– We carefully monitor data collection from 

households. 

• We also use Paper Diaries in smaller markets

Meters and Diaries 

• Challenges 

– Our field representatives encounter 

thousands of types of TV’s plus a wide 

variety of consumer electronics devices in 

Nielsen family households. 

– For every new technology introduced in the 

home, we invent/develop/test/prove/deploy a 

measurement solution.

Ratings and Data 

• Collecting and Processing the Data 

– We collect viewing information for both 

national and local programs. 

– We collect not only what is being viewed 

(viewing data), but also the composition of the 

audience (demographic data). 

– 25 Terabytes per day!

Ratings and Data 

• Producing and Delivering the Ratings 

– We deliver data to our clients in a variety of 

ways: 

• Hard-copy reports 

• CD’s 

• Wide array of software applications 

– In addition, we offer custom research 

services to help clients answer more detailed 

questions.

Nielsen Metering Systems 

• Two major metering systems in 

production 

–Mark II 

–A/P (Active/Passive)

Nielsen Metering Systems 

• What do our meters do 

– Accurately measure ALL activity on the TV 

• Tuning, VCR, Game Consoles, DVD’s, 

etc… 

– Send data to Nielsen every evening 

– Operate reliably, without affecting panel 

members 

– Pass independent E&Y audits and industry 

scrutiny

Mark II – Nielsen’s Channel-Based 

Metering System 

• In production 20+ years 

• Measures frequency/channel 

• Extended through the years via numerous 

attachments 

• Being replaced by the newer A/P system

A/P – Nielsen’s New Metering System 

• Production deployment started in 2005 

• Meters both current and future television 

viewing systems 

• The first redundant metering system! 

– Utilizes Codes Actively inserted in television 

signals 

– Utilizes Signatures Passively extracted from 

television signals

A/P – Nielsen’s New Metering System 

• Both Active and Passive data from 

households compared with data from 

reference sites to measure viewing. 

– 671 reference sites monitor 3722 television 

signals, 24x365

A/P System Diagram 

198 01/11/00 12:32:04 

Satellite Uplink 

Broadcast/Cable Networks 

Audio/Video Encode 

Stations 

Audio/Video Encode 

A/P Meter 

Media Monitoring Site 

198 01/11/03 12:32:04 

2857 05/11/04 10:00:08 

Oldsmar Facility 

Credits Tuning 

Florida Processing 

198 01/11/03 12:32:04 

2857 05/11/04 10:00:08

A/P Active Codes 

Content producers and distributors utilize 

Nielsen encoders to add watermarks to content. 

+ = 

SID: 1044 

Time: 6/10/2005 

2:35:57

A/P Passive Signatures 

Passive signatures provide 

redundant measurement 

solution. Audio signatures 

collected in households and 

compared versus reference data.

What Can A/P Measure 

• All forms of Analog and Digital television 

including: 

– Cable 

– Satellite 

– Over-The-Air 

– Live Viewing 

– Time-Shifted Viewing 

– Video On 

Demand 

– IPTV 

– Internet 

Streaming 

– etc…

Nielsen Encoding

Nielsen Audio Encoding 

• We’ve been working with the industry to 

embed data in TV signals for decades 

• Code helps the industry in multiple ways 

–Program Verification 

–Content Verification 

–Commercial Verification 

–Program Ratings (A/P)

Nielsen Audio Encoding 

• Two forms: Video Code 

• Embedded in the analog Vertical Blanking 

Interval (VBI) 

• Audio Code 

• Inaudible data embedded in the audio

Video Code 

Three formats of code (specifications 

available) 

–AMOL1 on Lines 20 and 22 

–AMOL2 on Lines 20 and 22 

–AMOL XDS on Line 21

Video Code 

Multiple copies improve code survival 

Data includes (multiple levels): 

SID – Numeric Source Identifier 

TimeStamp – Time of encoding or TIC 

Video Code may appear on other VBI lines

Video Code Survival Recommendations 

Preserve VBI Line 20 

Preserve VBI Line 21, Field 2 

Preserve VBI Line 22 

Other companies (e.g. TVGuide) also 

use VBI data

Audio Code 

NAES II (Nielsen Audio Encoding System) 

–Introduced to ensure embedded 

codes survive industry transition to 

digital 

–Complements video code

Audio Code 

Details 

– Not audible. Psycho-acoustic model 

similar to that used in audio 

compression. 

– Redundancy and error correction 

– No code inserted during silence 

– Code inserted in 4.5 - 6.3 Khz band 

– Insertion rate – once per 2 seconds 

(multiple levels)

Audio Code Survival Recommendations 

Dolby AC3 Stereo - 192 Kb/second or higher 

Dolby AC3 5.1 - 384 Kb/second or higher 

Enhanced Dolby AC3 - 192 Kb/second or 

higher 

MPEG2 Audio - 192 Kb/second or higher 

MPEG4 AAC Audio - 192 Kb/second or higher

Encoding Solutions 

1. Uncompressed Digital Encoder (Norpak) 

• NAVE (Nielsen Audio Video Encoder) 

– First Generation Audio Watermarking 

Encoder 

– Introduced in 2000 

• NAVE II 


– Successor to NAVE


2. ATSC Compressed Digital Encoder (Wegener) 

• NAVE IIc 


– Models available to support both SMPTE 310 or 

DVB-ASI configurations


3. VOD Software Encoder (Anystream, 

Nielsen)

Encoder Comparison Chart 

NAVE 

No Longer Available for 

Purchase 

NAVE II 

NAVE IIc 

Encoding 

Uncompressed 

(Audio/Video) 

Uncompressed 

(Audio/Video) 

Compressed (ATSC) 

Standard Definition Video Yes Yes Yes 

High Definition Video No Yes Yes 

Audio Coding Yes Yes Yes 

Surround Sound Audio No – Stereo Only Yes – 5.1 Channel Yes – 5.1 Channel 

Encode Multiple Programs 

with One Encoder 

No No Yes 

AMOL Video Coding Yes Yes No

Encoder Best Practices Publication 

• Tool for Engineers to aid in the selection of the 

best Encoder solution for a plant’s configuration 

• Practical guidelines for common Encoder 

installations 

• Identify installation considerations to optimize 

system performance 

• Electronic and Hardcopies are available upon 

request

Encoder Installation 

Considerations Highlights 

• Select the appropriate Encoder solution 

for your particular plant configuration. 

• Backup distribution paths should also 

include an Encoder to ensure continued 

coding operation when the primary path is 

interrupted due to fault or maintenance.


Considerations Highlights (cont.) 

• Identify the best location in the distribution path to 

install the Encoder. 

• NAVE II Encoders should be inserted downstream 

of all switchers, routers and processing equipment 

but prior to any compression encoders (MPEG-2, 

DOLBY AC-3, or Dolby “E”). 

• The Encoder should also be downstream of 

equipment that may strip or modify the VBI or 

ancillary data.

Typical Encoder Installations 

TV Station Air Chain – Analog Plant

Typical Encoder Installations 

TV Station Air Chain – Analog Plant

Typical Encoder Installations (cont.) 

TV Station Air Chain – DTV SD Plant


TV Station Air Chain – DTV SD Plant


TV Station Air Chain – DTV HD Plant


NAVE IIc Installation Examples 

Example 1


NAVE IIc Installation Examples 

Example 2


Combination NAVE II & NAVE IIc Installation



• The NAVE II requires serial digital video 

(SMPTE 259M or SMPTE 292) input to be 

present on both the main and bypass inputs. 

• Audio must be present in embedded or 

discrete form. 

• The NAVE IIc requires a compressed ATSC 

transport stream (SMPTE 310 or DVB-ASI) 

input.



• The NAVE II is sensitive to asynchronous AES 

switching and non-insertion of muted audio 

on audio channels that are switched in and 

out (i.e., switching from AES 5.1 to stereo 

audio). These conditions must be avoided. 

• All encoding clients are asked to encode their 

SAP (Second Audio Program) streams.



• The encoding process inserts two primary pieces 

of information: SID (Source ID) and a timestamp. 

• The timestamp is an important element that aids 

Nielsen in the ability to track and credit timeshifted 

viewing. 

• Therefore, it is important that the Encoder’s 

internal clock be synchronized and maintained to a 

reference standard.

Monitoring of Encoded Data 

• An optional, but recommended 

practice is the internal monitoring for 

the presence of Nielsen codes on the 

output side of the Encoder.

Monitoring of Encoded Data 

• Two solutions available: 

–The Nielsen Universal Reader (NUR) – 

rack mountable hardware solution for 

decoding both audio and video codes. 

–Nielsen Audio Code Analysis Tool 

(NACAT) – Microsoft Windows based 

software tool for monitoring audio 

coding only.

Code Detection Examples 

• Multilevel coding allows 

tracking of both program 

origination and final 

distributor paths. 

• Example here shows 

decoding of PBS Network 

content (SID 189) that is 

airing on Tampa Bay PBS 

channel WEDU (SID 

2777).


• Additional example 

showing multilevel 

coding allows tracking of 

both program origination 

and final distributor 

paths.


• Encoding separate 

distribution paths allows 

for separate tracking of 

analog vs. digital viewing 

habits for an individual 

station. 

– VIACOM content (SID 

240) 

– WTVT analog (SID 

1060) 

– WTVT-HD (SID 2730)

Encoding Last Thoughts 

• Proven technology 

• Presently there are 1,500+ Encoders 

installed and operating 24/7 

• Nielsen and its Manufacturing partners 

Norpak Corporation and Wegener 

Communications are happy to assist you 

with any Encoder questions or needs

Encoder Support 

Device Company Name Phone Number Web Page Address Mail Address 

NAVE and 

NAVE II 

NAVE IIc 

Norpak 

Corporation 

Wegener 

Communications 

(613)-592-4164 http://www.norpak.ca 10 Hearst Way 

Kanata, ON K2L 2P4 

Canada 

(770)-814-4040 http://www.wegener.co 

m 

Technology Park/ Johns 

Creek 

11350 Technology Circle 

Duluth, GA. 30097 

Encoder 

Nielsen (800)-537-4872 

http://www.nielsen.com 

501 Brooker Creek Blvd. 

Support 

Or email at: 

Oldsmar, FL. 34677 

Group 

amol@nielsenme 

dia.com

And… 

• Thanks for your attention from 

the folks at Nielsen (Schmielsen)!

Click to Download PowerPoint Presentation - PBS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?