twits twats tweets and TV

[PhoenixHope]

New Study Confirms Correlation Between Twitter and TV Ratings

How well does Twitter align with TV program ratings? The recent Nielsen/SocialGuide study confirmed that increases in Twitter volume correlate to increases in TV ratings for varying age groups, revealing a stronger correlation for younger audiences. Specifically, the study found that for 18-34 year olds, an 8.5% increase in Twitter volume corresponds to a 1% increase in TV ratings for premiere episodes, and a 4.2% increase in Twitter volume corresponds with a 1% increase in ratings for midseason episodes. Additionally, a 14.0% increase in Twitter volume is associated with a 1% increase in TV program ratings for 35-49 year olds, reflecting a stronger relationship between Twitter and TV for younger audiences.

<snip>

Further, the study found that the correlation between Tweets and TV ratings strengthens for midseason episodes for both age groups. An increase in Twitter volume of 4.2% and 8.4% is associated with a 1% increase in ratings for 18-34 year olds and 35-49 year olds, respectively. Moreover, by midseason Twitter was responsible for more of the variance in ratings for 18-34 year olds than advertising spend.

This seems like a way to blow smoke up Twitters ass. Of course, more popular shows (or rather shows with rabid fans, because the higher rated shows on TV - NCIS and so on don't actually get that much online attention) get tweeted about more. But Tweets only help a show if the tweeter watches live on TV. Now to be fair this does indicate that Twitter might help get shows sampled, but again it only counts if you then also watch the show live on TV - online viewing will not save a show, and certainly twitting about it won't save it unless that actually gets people to start watching said show live on TV.

Yes, that could maybe change in the future, but right now while online viewing is counted by networks (if it's legal viewing anyway) it's still the advertisers that support TV - meaning that the best way to get a show renewed is still watching it live on TV while also watching the ads live on TV.

[PhoenixHope]

For example, according to GetGlue if Twitter was truly reflective of the ratings the top twenty rated shows on TV for the past two weeks would've been the following:

March 10-17

The Walking Dead - 143,308
Once Upon A Time - 55,477
The Vampire Diaries - 47,079
Glee - 43,806
The Big Bang Theory - 43,763
The Following - 43,363
Pretty Little Liars - 35,656
Grimm - 31,859
Revenge - 30,311
Grey's Anatomy - 29,453
Dallas - 28,762
Beauty and the Beast - 25,900
Psych - 25,146
Girls - 21,975
Supernatural - 21,811
Being Human - 19,911
Shameless - 18,431
The Americans - 17,171
Justified - 16,359
Spartacus - 16,112

March 4-10

The Walking Dead - 147,187
Once Upon A Time - 91,283
Grimm - 72,078
Dallas - 44,438
The Big Bang Theory - 37,857
The Following - 37,308
Glee - 32,897
Pretty Little Liars - 28,605
Bones - 26,807
Revenge - 25,431
The Vampire Diaries - 23,693
Psych - 21,467
White Collar - 19,677
Girls - 19,150
Community - 18,619
Shameless - 17,985
Supernatural - 17,978
Being Human - 16,936
Spartacus - 16,763
The Americans - 14,965

So, yes, there is some correlation, but it's not truly reflective of ratings, because if it was The Walking Dead would still be number one, but The Big Bang Theory would be higher on the list and NCIS would actually be on the list. Not to mention that if reruns of Supernatural actually rated as well as they online-d then Supernatural would be renewed season after season on it's rerun ratings alone.

[RJDiogenes]

Not to mention Grimm being pretty high up there.

They also don't seem to take into account the content of the tweets-- what if they all say, "This show sucks!"

[PhoenixHope]

True. But you can't go by that, not really. I remember a study or report years ago about the Howard Stern show. People that loved it actually watched/listened less then people who hated it. So even if someone hates a show that doesn't mean they're going to stop watching it.

I mostly just find it a little weird that some of the higher rated (and I mean higher rated in A18-49 not just overall viewers) CBS shows on TV just can't compete with other shows from lower (CW) to slightly lower (ABC) rated overall networks. I mean, yes, I know CBS has the rep as the old folks network, but lots of young folks do actually watch CBS and it's just interesting to me that apparently even though young folks do watch shows like NCIS and Criminal Minds they just don't talk about them online.

But, yeah, I remember seeing something about how outside cable ABC and CW seem to have the most "social media" friendly shows. But then I see plenty of online activity (fanfic, etc.) for shows like NCIS, Criminal Minds, CSI, and so on, but I guess they just for whatever reason don't have a large Twitter/Tumbler fanbase.

[RJDiogenes]

Maybe it's skewed because Twitter and Tumblr are trendy with a certain demographic to begin with.

[PhoenixHope]

No, I'm a-not gonna do this every week, but since this topic is still somewhat fresh I thought I'd do it one more time:

GetGlue March 18-24

The Walking Dead - 136,838
Once Upon A Time - 63,095
Bates Motel - 54,087
Supernatural - 51,075
The Vampire Diaries - 48,980
The Following - 44,634
Pretty Little Liars - 43,561
Glee - 40,583
Arrow - 38,819
Bones - 30,091
New Girl - 30,930
Grey's Anatomy - 30,130
Grimm - 30,129
Shameless - 25,687
Psych - 24,319
Being Human - 19,301
Spartacus - 17,966
Justified - 17,855
Dallas - 16,772
The Americans - 15,982

[RJDiogenes]

Wow. Quite a jump from second to first.

[PhoenixHope]

Okay, fine, one more time:

GetGlue March 25-31

The Walking Dead
353,038
Game of Thrones
324,377
Doctor Who
226,531
Psych
55,472
Supernatural
50,409
Revolution
44,999
The Vampire Diaries
43,296
The Following
41,954
Bates Motel
38,540
Arrow
35,325
Bones
34,388
Grimm
32,650
Grey's Anatomy
30,236
Revenge
30,234
Beauty and the Beast
27,711
Orphan Black
23,099
Spartacus
20,436
Shameless
20,090
Being Human
18,553
Dallas
15,563

[RJDiogenes]

More bad news for Being Human, I guess.