From Mediaweek, by Katy Bachman

NMR to Report HDTV UEs

Nielsen Media Research told clients Thursday it would begin reporting universe estimates for high definition TV for the U.S. and its local people meter markets, beginning Nov. 2007. HDTV UEs for meter markets and diary-only markets will be reported in Jan. 2008.

It's the third new set of universe estimates Nielsen will report. On Wednesday, Nielsen said it would begin reporting universe estimates for households with digital video recorders (now at 17.2 percent of U.S. homes) and digital cable, beginning May 2007.

Nielsen still has to decide on the definition of an HDTV home before it can report the HDTV UEs. The ratings firm is discussing two definitions with its clients. The first would count HD-capable homes that are equipped with an HD TV set and an HD tuner capable of receiving signals. The second definition would count a home that is equipped with both HD TV and tuner and is receiving at least one HD network.

Prior to reporting the HDTV UEs, Nielsen will release in August sample composition information from its national people meter sample and local people markets.

What is a Universe Estimate?

Universe estimates are the estimated number of actual households or people from which the sample will be taken and to which data from the sample will be projected.

How do you determine the Universe Estimates?

Nielsen Media Research creates our Universe Estimates using a variety of sources. Data from Claritas, Inc. and Public Use Files from Federal surveys, as well as our own Nielsen Media Research home-by-home and person-by-person records, which we’ve been collecting since the 1940’s.

According to these estimates there are 102,200,000 TV homes in the U.S. for the 2000-2001 season. There are 12,260,000 African-American TV homes and 8,940,000 Hispanic-American TV homes. This makes up 12 and 9 percent of the total household population.

Looking at our National Sample of 5,000 TV homes, there is roughly the same breakdown. Approximately 12 percent of the sample is African-American and approximately 9 percent of the sample will be Hispanic-American.

http://www.nielsenmedia.com/FAQ/universe_estimates.html

We are one step closer to measuring the importance of HD content to a network.

Alas, finally to be counted.

[ahh...well...estimated anyway]

The estimate's importance can't be overestimated. :) Nielsen was late to the high-def party but this will help validate the industry. Good for advertisers. Good for programmers, etc.

Unfortunately, I believe this will show networks that we really are too small a number to worry about at this point.

Hopefully I am wrong, but the success of non-HD reality shows in the ratings doesn't seem to indicate that HD is a big factor.

Unfortunately, I believe this will show networks that we really are too small a number to worry about at this point.

Hopefully I am wrong, but the success of non-HD reality shows in the ratings doesn't seem to indicate that HD is a big factor.

A very good point!! But I'm still glad that this happening, because it may turn out to be a good thing for HD. Although as you stated it may just confirm how really small we really are, and the investment just isn't worth the time at the moment.

I expect most reality shows to remain SD for many more years.