How do US TV ratings work?

[zeebre12]

When UK TV shows like Coronation Street get- 6.30m (35.4%). This shows the % of people who are watching TV and are watching Coronation Street. What would the % be for some US shows as some of the big shows seem to have low ratings for the size of the country compared to the UK (how many people in total are watching TV)
Like last night for BBC One:
Pointless Celebrities: 5.23m (29.5%)
Strictly Come Dancing: 10.32m (49.2%)
Michael McIntyre's Big Show: 5.74m (26.6%)
Casualty: 3.95m (19.9%)

 

[Juan]

We have more channels and mo re choices

 

[zeebre12]

But the other channels don't rate that big either. Only a few cable/satellite channels get 1 million+ viewers in prime time? I' say the UK actually has more channels.

 

[navychop]

More, counting OTA and FTA? Any cable?

 

[osu1991]

Once again someone is comparing apples to oranges.

The UK has something like 20 million pay tv subs. The US over 100 Million

US has over 200 subscription channels putting out over 40000 hrs of original programming (most of which sucks). UK puts out around 25000hr

 

[harshness]

But the other channels don't rate that big either.

It gets spread pretty thin.

I' say the UK actually has more channels.

You would be wrong.

Remember that in the UK, you have to pay an annual tax to have a TV so there's probably a situation where a household doesn't have several televisions and they watch different types of television for that reason.

Perhaps you would be better served by visiting the UK and see for yourself. Understand that most of us aren't all that familiar with the current state of television on the other side of the pond.

 

[boba]

It gets spread pretty thin.You would be wrong.

Remember that in the UK, you have to pay an annual tax to have a TV so there's probably a situation where a household doesn't have several televisions and they watch different types of television for that reason.

Perhaps you would be better served by visiting the UK and see for yourself. Understand that most of us aren't all that familiar with the current state of television on the other side of the pond.

And don't really care seeing we live in the United States of America. If you miss UK programming so much go back you won't hurt our feelings.

 

[Derwin0]

Remember that in the UK, you have to pay an annual tax to have a TV so there's probably a situation where a household doesn't have several televisions and they watch different types of television for that reason.

The License Fee (aka TV Tax) is per household, not per TV. So that wouldn't affect the number of TV's in a household.

But the real difference is the number of choices. Here in the US we have 4 big broadcast channels along with the CW, any number of independents depending on the market, plus a plethora of cable channels, many of which show original programming.

 

[harshness]

The License Fee (aka TV Tax) is per household, not per TV.

It was determined in 2016 that it is indeed a tax.

There are different licenses depending on what you want to do and how old you are (those over 75 get a free license). If you're in a house where you rent a room, you probably need your own license.

There's lots of gotchas and more than a few exceptions and it is an environment like that that makes things complicated.

 

[Derwin0]

It was determined in 2016 that it is indeed a tax.

There are different licenses depending on what you want to do and how old you are (those over 75 get a free license). If you're in a house where you rent a room, you probably need your own license.

There's lots of gotchas and more than a few exceptions and it is an environment like that that makes things complicated.

I know that it's a tax, I just used it's official name in my post, in case anyone wanted to look it up.

It also has a different price based on if you have a color TV or just B&W. You can also be exempted from it if you don't use live TV.

 

[navychop]

A stupid tax. Their studies show getting rid of it would benefit the economy more than the tax brings in.

 

[Derwin0]

A stupid tax. Their studies show getting rid of it would benefit the economy more than the tax brings in.

The only reason it still exists, is because the BBC would go bankrupt without it.

 

[navychop]

Direct grant. Or x% fee on all commercial stations to maintain them.

 

[Jimbo]

I know that it's a tax, I just used it's official name in my post, in case anyone wanted to look it up.

It also has a different price based on if you have a color TV or just B&W. You can also be exempted from it if you don't use live TV.

Is the tax different between HD and SD as well ? 4k, 1080 ?

 

[Derwin0]

Is the tax different between HD and SD as well ? 4k, 1080 ?

I don't believe so, I only remember reading about the b&w being cheaper, but now days I doubt anyone has one of those anymore.

 

[Juan]

Is the tax different between HD and SD as well ? 4k, 1080 ?

It's a license fee..for bbc programming includes all platforms (phones laptops, on demand)..only for the bbc..not itv or the rest of the channels

 

[harshness]

It's a license fee..

No, it is a tax.

Taxes are gubmint mandated. Fees are something that a vendor chooses to charge.

The evil part is when a fee is portrayed as a tax (i.e. cost recovery).