Comments on: The Apprentice – Looks Like Channel Nine Are Getting It Right

By: dmc

dmc — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:24:16 +0000

I agree that the boardroom is getting better. At work we are currently analysing the boardroom scenes of the Apprentice UK and we are finding that there is a lot of interaction, provocation and humour. Sir Alan is actually really funny! Ideally I’d like a bit more of that in the boardroom here (and maybe we’ll get it…).

By: sourkraut

sourkraut — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:31:11 +0000

Scott
Thanks for that. Very Interesting.
Kinda reminds me of a book I studied at uni 100 years ago called “Lies, damned Lies and Statistics”. As you correctly point out, the numbers due to the variance are dodgey at best, but i guess it gives the great god advertising companys some idea of where they get the “best bang for their buck”……….PITY!

By: Reality Raver

Reality Raver — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:15:32 +0000

Scott it looks like I won’t be getting a job at Oztam any time soon.

DMC – I thought the board room was better this week. They appeared to be getting the hang of it. The pleading from Gavin was particularly entertaining.

By: dmc

dmc — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:52:29 +0000

The show is getting better. In fact, I think the editing during the tasks is quite snappy. I’m still a bit underwhelmed in the boardroom though and would like some more fire and brimstone. But overall, good job.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:16:44 +0000

sourkrout:
From what I have learnt from the OzTAM website, this is how I believe it works. They use a sampling technique. There are about 3000 peoplemeters out there (all states, all demographics) that record who is watching what (apparently they record tv watching every minute, every day). They then send that info back to the oztam head office who create an average audiance for each channel for each minute. They then sum up the total for say “The apprentice” (sum those that watched Ch9 between 9:30 Pm to 10:30 PM for at least a minute divided by 60 minutes). So if 20 people watched for the full 60 minutes, the equation would be 20*60/60 = 20 people. If 10 watched for 20 minutes and 10 watched for 60 minutes, it would be ((10*20)+(10*60))/60 = 13.33 people. In that way they get the percentages right. They then extrapolate that (based on the demographic data) and apply it to all those in Australia who have a TV…It creates the figures that are then published. Of course, because it is a sample, there is a sample variance (or error) which is conveniently left off the figures (dodgy).
Apparently, they are going to start with Timeshift reporting soon, which tries to pick up people who have recorded shows via PVR’s to watch later…they are left off the figures at the moment. Will be a little more accurate.

RealityRaver: Beware of PR flacks offering ratings data. If you are going to get into research, the key is no stats without sources.

By: CG

CG — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:18:42 +0000

RR: given Ch10 is doing the best job of integrating/optimising reality shows and internet/multi-media..why not take a chance, contact whomever is responsible for Ch10′s internet/multimedia strategy and ask them to sponsor you for the scholarship? you’ve got nothing to lose. and doesn’t cost Ch10 anything to sponsor you (I assume) – and they could benefit from getting the results of your work first and/or to use their shows and platforms as your case study..? a win-win!!

By: sourkraut

sourkraut — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:17:50 +0000

Scott
wot do the statisticians do if some cad stops watching the show half way through? does it then become 950000.5?
I find the accuracy of the figures quoted in various mags quite amusing

By: Reality Raver

Reality Raver — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:27:15 +0000

David Rose and Scott the irony is I usually get the stats from Crikey, but wanted them a bit earlier today, so todays figures verbally from Nine. Maybe I misheard. LOL.

Werstsemmel and Sourkraut thanks for the good wishes, but it will be a very small chance of getting it as they 1000′s of applications. Also you need a good project referee, which most of the time is someone’s boss who is in the industry. But with blogging there are no bosses, nor do I work in the TV industry.
So I am going to have to be think about that one.

Anyway glad to pump up The Apprentice ratings. I better rectify the error.

By: Wurstsemmel

Wurstsemmel — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:20:50 +0000

Good luck with the scholarship application!

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:31:33 +0000

I have different figures. Crikey publish the tv figures (from the official record, OZTam) every day and they report an average of 823,000 for The Apprentice on Monday night (it still won the timeslot however). No improvement from last week (but improvement from the two episodes before that)
Also the figures from “Ladette to Lady” were reported as 693,000, not over 900,000.
The SMH today publish a viewer figure of 950,000 for “The Apprentice” on Monday night (with no comment on the source of these figures). Be nice to know where everyone got their stats from.