Reply #7: I have a Tivo and I was specifically contacted by Nielsen -- would not collect data w/o my signature [View All]

[emulatorloo]

Basically there was an announcement in the Tivo message area that said if you want to be a TIvo Nielsen Household, contact Nielsen.

Nielsen then sent me paperwork, which included a survey and a "contract" that I had to sign saying it was ok with me to collect my data for the Nielsen ratings.

In otherwords, my signature was required. I had to sign and return paperwork to become a Nielsen household. (I was too lazy to do)

So, at least from my experience, I think you do actually have to sign up w Nielsen to have your Tivo data count in the Nielsen ratings.

OTOH Tivo is pretty upfront that they do collect data for inhouse use, but that it 1) is generalized (in otherwords they don't attach your name to it and 2) it is used for Tivo's own marketing purposes.

They are vague as to what those "marketing purposes" are, but it you have a Tivo, you know that there is a section of the menu where you can watch ads that Tivo has sold -- for example, infomercials for new movies, car commercials, Sony DV-cam, etc etc.

So I don't think Tivo is selling the data that they collect to Nielsen.