Rating the Audience

Knowing measuring and understanding media audiences have become a multi-billion dollar business. But the convention that underpins that business audience ratings is in crisis. <i>Rating the Audience</i> is the first book to show why and how audience ratings research became a <i>convention</i> an agreement and the first to interrogate the ways that agreement is now under threat. <br/><br/>Taking a historical approach the book looks at the evolution of audience ratings and the survey industry. It goes on to analyse today's media environment looking at the role of the internet and the increased difficulties it presents for measuring audiences. The book covers all the major players and controversies such as Facebook's privacy rulings and Google's alliance with Nielsen. <br/><br/>Offering the first real comparative study it will be critical for media students and professionals.<br/>