How are TV viewing figures calculated?

Just like a giant episode of Gogglebox, UK television viewing figures are calculated by watching the watchers.


Asked by: Joao Santa-Clara, York

TV ratings are compiled daily by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. BARB recruits 12,000 people across 5,100 households representative of the overall UK viewing public. As well as demography and geography the panel is selected according to platform, whether the TV set or via desktop, laptop or tablet. The devices themselves log data about who in the household is viewing and what they are watching. BARB computers rush the figures out to the broadcasters within hours.

Read more:

Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.