CIMM is taking a pro-active role in advancing new media nomenclature and processes with both its Lexicon(terms and definitions associated with Set-Top-Box data measurement) and Asset Identification Primer (glossary of asset terms). These documents form the basis of this column, which offers a common language for Set-Top-Box nomenclature that can expedite the rollout of the data for its many industry applications. While viewer exposure to a commercial is vital to an advertiser, the recognition, remembrance and resonance of the message is arguably even more important. Here are terms associated with viewer retention and ad retention measurement. Commercial …

One of the most important media trends of the past 40 years has been the fragmentation of the television audience into niches and sub-categories, to the point where a top-rated show today would barely crack the top ten programs of the 1970s. Pro football has been the one great exception. Year after year, the majority of the most-watched shows are football games, with the Super Bowl the most-watched broadcast of the year.

Today, for the second time in four months, a highly distinctive broadcast television institution that has entertained tens of millions of people for more than four decades will come to an end, cancelled to make room for a cheaper-to-produce reality program, the likes of which can be accessed on a number of basic cable and digital channels at any time.

The ability to accurately measure usage from STB data rests not just on the data but also the content and line-up logs to which the data is matched. There are generally two categories of logs: As Scheduled logs and As Run logs. Scheduling logs are created before the fact and are often used to determine which string of data correctly corresponds to a specific program or advertisement. But changes to the line-up leading up to air are sometimes not reflected in these pre-to-air logs. Did a program actually run at its anticipated scheduled? Was anything pre-empted or moved? That is …

Harvey Kent, Chief Media Strategist for Donovan Systems, was one of the early pioneers in standardizing media pre-buying and Buy / Sell IT systems. And he has helped the industry adapt to the changing landscape in processing media data from its many sources to its many users. In this interview, Harvey talks about Donovan and MediaOcean, the introduction of Set Top Box Data into Donovan, media measurement and upcoming trends in the media landscape.

After last week's Iowa caucuses, some television commentators were surprisingly caught off-guard by Mitt Romney's hairs-breadth victory over Rick Santorum. But why the shock? Watching Santorum on the Sunday-morning circuit two weeks ago, I saw him point out that he was the only candidate who hadn't yet had a chance to run the gauntlet. Romney had held steady with 25% of the vote for six months or so, with Bachmann, Perry, Cain, and Gingrich all taking turns as the lead contender. Iowa came, and Santorum was up. And why not?

Television critics started compiling year-end top-10 lists back when there were only three networks. Aren't longer lists called for by now? Allow me to break with time-honored tradition by offering my choices for the twelve best series of the year, plus eight very deserving runners-up.

The act of commercial avoidance via fast-forwarding is an example of time-shifting behavior. More common however, is program time-shifting for viewing at one's convenience at a later time. The ability to time-shift has been a boon to viewers but a challenge to content providers, advertisers and researchers who have struggled to find the most significant and accurate metrics to reflect time-shifting behavior. C3 ratings was one agreed-upon standard metric to reflect commercial viewership plus three days of playback. There are also metrics to measure any content playback within the same day and any playback within the same week.

The beginning of any new year is not only a time of looking forward and making annual resolutions, it is also a time of looking back. With both of those ideas in mind, I was curious to measure the prescience of some of the executives I interviewed back in 2009.

Just when you think the influence of television can't get any more central to the political process, it does. Today's Iowa Caucuses end the first phase of the presidential campaign -- and so far television has been a more significant player than ever before.