CNBC execs "are pleading" with Nielsen Media Research
to "find a way to measure out-of-home viewing," according to
David Bauder of the N.Y. POST. Nielsen said it "will count
this audience on a regular basis if someone pays for it, but
no one is writing any checks yet." Nielsen estimates that
each week 25.7 million people watch TV outside of their
homes -- in bars, clubs and other public places -- up from
23 million in '94. ABC cites the high numbers of viewers
watching "Monday Night Football" in bars, and Nielsen
"concedes that counting these viewers would likely add a
full rating point to the telecast each week." Nielsen
spokesperson Jack Loftus: "We do not measure, nor do we
claim to measure, viewers outside of the house in these
ratings. Could we? Sure. Would we? Yes, if the industry
ever decided to support the measurements." But Bauder
wrote, "The bottom line: Don't count on these viewers being
counted anytime soon" (David Bauder, N.Y. POST, 5/16).
SEIN-ING OFF: The series finale of NBC's "Seinfeld"
drew an estimated 108 million viewers, according to NBC
Research Department projections. The number is based on
Nielsen's projection of 90 million in-home viewers and NBC's
estimate of 18 million out-of-home viewers (NBC)....MLB
attendance on Thursday night was not affected by the show,
as attendance Wednesday in 10 MLB cities was 246,243.
Thursday, those same cities drew 247,480 (HARTFORD COURANT,
5/17)....Despite not breaking the ratings of the "Cheers" or
"MASH" finales, the "Seinfeld" episode "still played in the
same league as the Super Bowl." Excluding Super Bowls,
"Seinfeld" was seen by more people than any entertainment
show on TV in the past five years (N.Y. TIMES, 5/16)....In
St. Louis, "Seinfeld" topped the Blues-Red Wings Game Four
on KPLR-TV 48.6 to 9.6 (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 5/16). But
in Detroit, the Red Wings proved a worthy draw, earning a
22.2/30 for Game Four on UPN-50 (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/17).
