Coding errors cost networks
Some networks are dropping the ball when it comes to coding their programmes correctly with OzTAM.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
Maybe it’s a summer staffing issue but some networks are dropping the ball when it comes to coding their programmes correctly with OzTAM.
Last week it took TEN until Thursday to address a coding problem for Neighbours, which saw a morning repeat drag down the numbers for a 6:30pm premiere episode.
On Monday Neighbours “averaged” just 139,000 viewers. By the end of the week when TEN had sorted its act, they managed to lift to 250,000 for the Thursday episode with 31,00 for an old replay.
Networks are responsible for their own coding issues with OzTAM.
Nine faced a similar problem in relation to Today, showing an average for the full 5:30 – 9am slot this week rather than the 7am – 9am average which is the traditional snapshot. That meant their numbers were down by about 40,000.
As a result, yesterday the Daily Telegraph ran a story trumpeting the Sunrise start to the year at the expense of Today.
Executive Producer Neil Breen told News Limited, “I think Seven have played it well. They had Mel Doyle on air right up to Christmas and then they brought David Koch back right after that … they’ve done the hard yards over the summer.
“Channel 9 has made the decision to let Karl and Lisa have a break. I’ve been on the job for five weeks and in that time Karl hasn’t been on air at all.”
Timing….
It might have also helped if it had also been pointed out there was a coding error on Nine’s behalf.
That said, even with the extra 40,000, Seven is still some 60,000 – 80,000 in front because Nine is trailing in Adelaide and Perth.
“They have won every year for a decade for a reason. They are good,” Breen said.
I also note The Project has finally returned to a single figure for the coding of its show.
Let’s hope this continues when survey resumes because I don’t subscribe to publishing split figures for single programmes, except in the case of an event / finale. Just sayin…..’
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- Tagged with Neighbours, Sunrise, The Project, Today
12 Responses
In regards to Today, I must admit they were all over the shop in the absence of Karl & Lisa different fill-ins all the time and I don’t know it was quite dull and boring. Richard Wilkins is always good as usual but it semt like he was doing everything. Anyways can’t wait for the regular crew to be back on Today. Didn’t switch over to Sunrise they all annoy me there for some reason-I prefer watching Today.
@jimbo k – OzTAM do collect and record the ratings. The networks are responsible for coding their programs and since that info is embedded in the data stream they have to be the one’s to do it.
You would think that would be 101, its their bread and butter
I agree with that Oztam should be the ones collecting the ratings themeselves, not the networks.
I didn’t like single programs splitting their shows (like The Project, The Apprentice) for the benefit of ratings. But do understand why Reality Finales and some Sporting Events (usually the Finals) split their ratings. But they need to be revised a little this year so thery don’t clutter too much into the ratings.
Getting of the subject. The fill-in’s on the Today show are just awful. David Campbell is very dominate and love’s himself. I flicked over Friday when Wilkins announced his concern for Doc Neeson and his recent health set back.Straight after saying this, the large man who is filling for the sports started laughing inappropriately about another subject but it was awkward for Richard and stupid for this man to do it.Richard is the only person who can pull off the charm of Today when Karl is away and respect him but other one doing sports needs to go,
@Brekkie
The “non ratings period” is an antiquated notion and it’s about time OzTam dropped it. The networks are now mostly programming as if the Christmas and Easter periods mattered. So why not just include all the ratings, all year round?
What J Bar said.
@tezza1972 – the reporting has to be the same for all programs, otherwise you can’t compare the data. Ratings aren’t for our benefit anyway and advertisers who subscribe will use the minute by minute data to inform their purchasing decisions.
The daily top twenty totals that we see are for headlines and people who like to say “my program beat your program” or who like to have their decision to watch something validated by seeing that lots of others did too.
so how did the prime time episode of Neighbors rate this week? im a little confused
Personally, I think ‘reach’ would be a much better figure to report for shows like Today and Sunrise, where people are watching in ‘bite-size’ segments. No one sits through an entire episode of these programs, so to report the ‘average’ over the entire show (or at least the 7am – 9am part of it) dramatically drags down the actual number of people who tune into part of it. Reporting the ‘reach’ for each show would give a better snapshot of the total number of people watching at least part of the program.
Even event or finale shows shouldn’t have their ratings split. They can report those separately if they wish but they shouldn’t be used as an official ratings result for these shows.
Surely if it’s “non ratings” it shouldn’t matter. And surely OZTAM should be taking ratings for the slot the show is in, not allowing stations to code it in a way that benefits them.
I also think to eliminate the need for your Late List that unless it’s due to a genuine live overrun for every minute a show isn’t airing in it’s advertised slot that minute should be counted as 0 viewers.
Executive Producer Neil Breen told News Limited, ”I think Seven have played it well. They had Mel Doyle on air right up to Christmas and then they brought David Koch back right after that … they’ve done the hard yards over the summer.
What the……”hard yards” So Kochie still managed a few weeks break and Mel gets the same….What the hell is so flaming hard about that?