Exercising My Rights To Watch Out-Of-Home TV

by Wayne Friedman, Aug 24, 2011, 10:45 AM

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One guy in my gym keeps pulling the plug of the TV set out of the wall in the men's locker room, according to the club manager. No one knows why.

Maybe he's read that report saying television can cut years off one's estimated lifespan. So after doing his workout -- which should add years to his life -- he's only even.

But I'm wondering about the health of the TV industry. Are CNN, CNBC, Fox News or other networks upset that around the country similar stuff and more are going on. Those networks were maybe missing key viewers in my gym who probably would have wanted to know there was a 5.9 earthquake in Virginia or that the Dow Jones rocketed back by adding some 320 points.

It's not just a matter of access. Even with a TV set in place, out-of-home television ratings points can still be elusive. This fall, even if the big TV networks' NFL and college football games get shown in bars, restaurants and other places, they won't really get credit.

Future NFL watchers might scan their tablets and smartphones in bars and other places, enabling some new technology to, in theory, count those viewers.

Right now advertisers are still not fully compensating networks for out-of-home viewing -- even when the networks have worked out special or custom rating arrangements. Arbitron has done some custom work with its portable people meters that can pick up viewing by detecting audio if it is coded in content. NBC used Arbitron for such out-of-home viewing measurement of the 2010 Olympics.

Still, Arbitron and others want to start a more regular service -- which can bring more regular interest and credibility for advertisers.

Right now, I'm just looking for any news service -- CNN, Fox News, CNBC,or otherwise. -- to watch while putting on my workout gloves. I'll even consider carefully examining advertising offers to buy gold, admission to a vocational school, or rent some office furniture.

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0 comments on "Exercising My Rights To Watch Out-Of-Home TV ".

1. Douglas Ferguson from College of Charleston
   

   commented on: August 24, 2011 at 11:02 a.m.

   It's a puzzle indeed if you think news is neutral, but maybe the unplugger doesn't like what he perceives as the cheerleading nature of cable news. Unlike 20 years ago, we have choices now for cable news and the choices look very different.

2. Robert Schoenbacher from Metrosuburbia
   

   commented on: August 24, 2011 at 11:19 a.m.

   my experience with out of home TV viewing is that in noisy bars or restaurants all I am able to see is the video, audio not so! And when the commercials come on we drink, eat, and chat.

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