Dish forges agreement with Nielsen

[Scott Greczkowski]

DISH NETWORK FORGES AGREEMENT

WITH NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH


ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 4, 2005 – EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) and its DISH Network satellite TV service today announced that it has signed an agreement with Nielsen Media Research for national TV ratings service.

Nielsen, the leading provider of television and audience measurement services, measures the viewing habits of TV homes including DISH Network’s estimated 11.4 million customers. The deal will allow DISH Network to use Nielsen Media Research data for marketing, programming and sales research purposes. DISH Network can use the data from Nielsen to guarantee advertisers a specific number of viewers for their advertisements.

“We’re committed to delivering an accountable platform for advertisers,” said Susan Arnold, vice president of Programming for DISH Network. “This agreement, which allows DISH Network to measure its audience with the same system used by broadcast networks, is just a first step for us.”

“We are thrilled to have this new relationship with DISH Network, and that DISH Network recognizes how important audience measurement and research is to their advertisers,” said Sara Erichson, general manager of national services for Nielsen Media Research.

Turner Advertising Group, a third party advertising agent for DISH Network, will continue to represent DISH Network’s advertising sales initiatives using the new data provided by Nielsen.

“Nielsen’s data about DISH Network viewers should be welcome news to advertisers,” said Patrick Ivers, president of Turner Advertising Group. “It makes advertisers aware of what they are getting for their money in both traditional advertising and emerging media such as interactive TV.”

About EchoStar

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) serves more than 11.4 million satellite TV customers through its DISH NetworkÔ, the fastest growing U.S. provider of advanced digital television services in the last five years. DISH Network offers hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).



About Nielsen Media Research

Nielsen Media Research is the world's leading provider of television audience measurement and advertising information services. In the United States, Nielsen's National People Meter service provides audience estimates for all national program sources, including broadcast networks, Spanish language networks, and national syndicators. Local ratings estimates are produced in each of the 210 television markets in the U.S., including electronic metered service in 56 markets. Nielsen Media Research is part of VNU Media Measurement & Information, a global leader in information services for the media and entertainment industries. VNU is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in Harlem, the Netherlands and New York, USA. VNU is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam (ASE: VNU) stock exchange. For more information, please visit the VNU website at www.vnu.com .



Media Contacts:



Kelley Baca

EchoStar’s DISH Network

720-514-5351

kelley.baca@echostar.com



Karen Gyimesi

Nielsen Media Research

646.654.8358

Karen.gyimesi@nielsenmedia.com

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Not sure I like this.

Looks like big brother will be watching...

 

[Curtis0620]

I remember everyone complaining that TiVo does this. Well, welcome to the club. It was only a matter of time before this came to E*.

 

[Sapient]

But is Neilson actually collecting data from Dish's equipment, or are they just doing what they always do and have their own box in a certain number of homes?

 

[THUNDERJETT922]

They (NIELSEN) do not actually "watch what you are watching " , they will send out diarys to customers to log their television watching habits (and pay you a small fee), if you dont want to participate return the money and diary and ask to be removed from their list

 

[Juan]

They (NIELSEN) do not actually "watch what you are watching " , they will send out diarys to customers to log their television watching habits (and pay you a small fee), if you dont want to participate return the money and diary and ask to be removed from their list

uhh noooo they hook a "black box" in some instances to the back of your tv..its called a "people meter"

 

[Juan]

link to "people meter" http://www.nielsenmedia.com/

 

[Sapient]

But they only do it with your agreement.

 

[THUNDERJETT922]

uhh noooo they hook a "black box" in some instances to the back of your tv..its called a "people meter"

uhhhhhhh Yessss . Over the past 5 years ive recived 12 or so diarys form nielson to log my familys tv watching habbits

 

[THUNDERJETT922]

not once have i been asked to install a box on my set to allow monitoring

 

[Juan]

uhhhhhhh Yessss . Over the past 5 years ive recived 12 or so diarys form nielson to log my familys tv watching habbits

read the link under technologies used You are not wrong..they just use more than on system to gage what tv viewers watch

In 56 of the largest markets in the U.S., a different metering system provides TV ratings information on a daily basis. This information is used by local television stations, local cable systems, advertisers and their agencies to make programming decisions as well as to buy and sell commercial advertising. In each of these markets, approximately 400-500 households are recruited (not the same homes as the national People Meter sample), and electronic meters are attached to each TV set in the sample home. Homes recruited for local samples are not equipped with People Meters, so the information is limited to "set tuning" information from which Nielsen Media Research can determine which channel the TV set is tuned. This information is augmented at least four months a year with demographic viewing data which are collected from separate samples of households which each maintain a paper viewing diary for one week. Household members are asked to write down what programs they and their guests watch in their home over the course of that week. Standard reports which combine the meter and diary data are issued regularly.In 56 of the largest markets in the U.S., a different metering system provides TV ratings information on a daily basis. This information is used by local television stations, local cable systems, advertisers and their agencies to make programming decisions as well as to buy and sell commercial advertising. In each of these markets, approximately 400-500 households are recruited (not the same homes as the national People Meter sample), and electronic meters are attached to each TV set in the sample home. Homes recruited for local samples are not equipped with People Meters, so the information is limited to "set tuning" information from which Nielsen Media Research can determine which channel the TV set is tuned. This information is augmented at least four months a year with demographic viewing data which are collected from separate samples of households which each maintain a paper viewing diary for one week. Household members are asked to write down what programs they and their guests watch in their home over the course of that week. Standard reports which combine the meter and diary data are issued regularly.

 

[THUNDERJETT922]

I know Im not wrong

 

[Juan]

I know Im not wrong

niether was I

 

[riffjim4069]

Why install a black box or pay subscribers to file viewing logs forms when they can just retrieve the data from some of the receivers? Perhaps the recent software releases had a few more features than were advertised.

 

[Juan]

Why install a black box or pay subscribers to file viewing logs forms when they can just retrieve the data from some of the receivers? Perhaps the recent software releases had a few more features than were advertised.

absolutely

 

[HokieEngineer]

Well until they figure out how to hook a dish box to my cell phone, they wont be getting any data from me, period

 

[techdood]

They did, just in time for Halloween too. Neilson colored the box Purple, put an infared eye for remote control, a horn, and a set of wings so it can fly back to the research center.

One eyed, One horn, Flying Purple People Meter.

 

[Juan]

Well until they figure out how to hook a dish box to my cell phone, they wont be getting any data from me, period

Now you know what the 2 way internet dish is gonna be for

 

[datwell]

They did, just in time for Halloween too. Neilson colored the box Purple, put an infared eye for remote control, a horn, and a set of wings so it can fly back to the research center.

One eyed, One horn, Flying Purple People Meter.

You must be kidding me!! I've finally someone with a sense of humor even more strange than my own!!



--Doug

 

[long_time_DNC]

I have often wondered over the years what the receivers send out via the phone connection. Guess a little software mod could easily send out viewing info as well...

I'm not too sure I like it either.