TiVo's Hot 100
Great to see TiVo exposing all the data they collect into something useful: TiVo's Hot 100 lists the one hundred most popular season passes programmed by users. In a few years, this will easily replace the outdated Nielsen ratings system.
People used to say TiVo owners were mostly nerds with specific viewing habits that differed greatly from normal shows, but although I count myself as a member of that group I see only about 8-10 of my season passes in the entire top 100, and only one in the top 20 is on my season pass list.
Unfortunately, it looks like reality-based TV shows no signs of going away. [via waxy]
I don't think that the Top 100 is a good reflection of what gets watched most. There are several programs that are on my Season Pass list because I heard some hype or someone recommended the show, but I often don't get around to watching that show. That is how I would explain the persistence of Queer Eye so high on the list. Same with Desperate Housewives, which we have given a season pass because of the hype.
It is a fun list, but Nielsen isn't going anywhere.
Posted by: Pheo | November 01, 2004 at 10:48 AM
Okay, so it looks like the Top 25 is more useful (and that I was wrong about Desperate Housewives).
Posted by: Pheo | November 01, 2004 at 10:51 AM
All those people with 24 on their list still have a couple of months to wait.
Posted by: Michael | November 01, 2004 at 01:27 PM
As it happens, Nielsen are starting to measure TiVo usage.
Posted by: ferg | November 01, 2004 at 07:59 PM
What about those of us that _want_ to record desparate housewives but do not for fear of getting slapped by our wives?
-p-
Posted by: P | November 01, 2004 at 10:34 PM
Trust me, Desperate Housewives is meant for the wives. Record away.
Posted by: Pheo | November 02, 2004 at 01:49 AM
Is it wrong that I have 20 out of the 100 as season passes? Maybe. Do I watch all of them? No. Do I watch a lot of them? Yes. All the law shows and spin offs are more filler than anything else as most of them rarely have a story line that carries through all season.
Reality tv while some do not like, I enjoy as it is always new. Then there are shows that are good and original, Dead Like Me and Desperate Housewives. Yeah, yeah, give me some crap for that, but the show is amazing.
Posted by: Brent | November 02, 2004 at 09:18 AM
I'd love to see greater demographic breakdowns: age, sex etc.
Also, I'd like to see what shows were instantly deleted tallied across everyone...and a "favorite" show.
Posted by: Jeff | November 02, 2004 at 11:30 AM
It appears that one of the shows at 97 can be deleted now.
Posted by: Michael | November 02, 2004 at 02:52 PM
Woo hoo! West Wing made the Top 10! Frankly I'm surprised it did. I feel it's a very intellectual show, and there seems to be a shortage of that in the States, seeing as how you guys got Bush a second term.
But perhaps it's because TiVo hasn't penetrated much of the South and the Midwest, cuz then we'd be seeing "Cletus's Happy Hour" and "Desperate Cousins" on the Top10. ;-)
Posted by: Sum Yung Gai | November 04, 2004 at 07:24 AM
Actually, Michael, I live in Austin, Texas and I love the West Wing; so does my whole family. we also like the daily show and real time with Bill Maher.
I'd also like to point out that we all voted for Kerry (I honestly don't think he was the best that the DNC had, but we gotta stop this madness).
Posted by: Adam | September 16, 2005 at 01:46 PM