Is Nielsen THAT Important?

[Paden]

I'm a newbie here and I see many mentions about whether a store reports to Nielsen or not all the time. And that's fine as this is one way for the industry to share sales numbers with the public and gives everyone an idea of what the sales of each format are, comparatively. But really, don't you think that the real #'s for sales are relatively available to the execs at each company. The Nielsen numbers are more like the Dow Jones Industrial Average, giving a snapshot of what's going on. I think the decision makers at WB and Fox, etc all prefer knowing what the sales numbers are internally when looking at how each format is selling. No?

OK, set me straight. Thanks.

[JJ]

I also want to know this, actually.

[aphex]

although, the studios do matter, the major stores get this magazine. if best buy reads these articles and decides to go blu, then we'd win.

so yes. important

[BeLikeU]

I've never really cared nor paid attention to "the numbers"..no matter what they keep track of.

[calcajun]

The companies don't share their sales numbers with each other. So they don't know all the REAL numbers. They only know their own real numbers.
Unless they decide to truthfully report their numbers publicly.

[ben7ben3]

Originally Posted by Paden

I'm a newbie here and I see many mentions about whether a store reports to Nielsen or not all the time. And that's fine as this is one way for the industry to share sales numbers with the public and gives everyone an idea of what the sales of each format are, comparatively. But really, don't you think that the real #'s for sales are relatively available to the execs at each company. The Nielsen numbers are more like the Dow Jones Industrial Average, giving a snapshot of what's going on. I think the decision makers at WB and Fox, etc all prefer knowing what the sales numbers are internally when looking at how each format is selling. No?

OK, set me straight. Thanks.

it doesn't REALLY MATTER! i think some people on this forum thke the Nielsen numbers too seriously. Sure, they are viewed by stores, etc...but units sold in blu ray is all that matters. I saw someone write on this forum that they spent 10 more dollars on a movie at best buy rather than get it at walmart (because Walmart doesn't do Nielsen), and then they said Yay to themselves, congratuling themselves for spedning 10 more dollars than they had to just so their unit would go towards nielson. That is ridiculous. Anyone who does that is a MORON.

First of all, don't spend more money on a movie just because you think it will get reported differently. A sale is a sale.

[Bullseye]

I think they are an important indication on how each format is selling. Whether the studios consider them important, well only they can tell you that.

[quetzalcoatl]

Are the numbers important? Yes and it is because of who is doing them. Nielson can make or break a compnay just on the ratings they do.
As has been pointed out the execs. only truely know what they have sold. And they can look at these numbers and see sales trends from accross the boards. The fact that everyone is not involed is not good but at the sametime they must be doing something right since they report the rating of TV shows. And how many of us have a box sitting on top of our TV to show what we are watching? I know I donot.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Paden

I think the decision makers at WB and Fox, etc all prefer knowing what the sales numbers are internally when looking at how each format is selling. No?

The studios can know how many they shipped to their customers (distributors, dealers, and any direct sales), but they can't know the total figure for how many sold through to consumers.

If people accept shipped as the number to trust, then that can lead to channel stuffing "lies". The sell through is vitally important to keep everything honest. Sales to consumers are what matters.

We saw this happen with console sales. Sony shipped 5.5 million PS/3 through the end of March, but only now have sold 5.5 million units worldwide. Microsoft was predicting 15 million shipped and then 12 million shipped by the end of June, but only when Halo 3 arrived did the 360 sales numbers really pick up. They've now sold 12.9 million 360s to consumers.

Nielsen use the point of sale (POS) numbers from Videoscan to estimate the total sell through to the consumer. And it is from those numbers we see the weekly results on Home Media Magazine.

Gary

[Balian]

I think Paden is a HD DVD supporter and is disguising himself as a noobie. This is the talking point du jour of HD DVD supporters.

[davidPS3]

I have to say that the numbers are important on this report. It is a hard number that everyone can look at. These numbers are much the same that we in the food business look at on a "spins data" report. It shows "movememt" on a product.

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by Balian

I think Paden is a HD DVD supporter and is disguising himself as a noobie. This is the talking point du jour of HD DVD supporters.

Trolls can't hide forever. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt this time.

[The Don]

the Nielsen numbers don't matter...if you support HD-DVD....

[The Don]

Originally Posted by Balian

I think Paden is a HD DVD supporter and is disguising himself as a noobie. This is the talking point du jour of HD DVD supporters.

there are a couple potential trolls in this thread...

...here we go again...

[bhampton]

The Neilsen numbers are more important then you could imagine.

(At least that's what I want the HD DUD-ers to think.)

-Brian

[Stuman]

Originally Posted by The Don

there are a couple potential trolls in this thread...

...here we go again...

If HD-DUD's only two members are over here trolling then who's lookin' after their store?

[Stuman]

Can we do a public poll asking the question: "Are you a Troll?"
I bet my shiny shoes that they would put a tick in the yes box

Be paradise here without them

[powersfoss]

In TV land, shows are canceled, seasons are terminated based on the Nielsen ratings. I see no reason to believe that the retail level is any different. I would imagine format support and exclusivity are determined by sell-through numbers. Who has the most accurate compilation of all the disc sell-through data? Nielsen/VideoScan. And that means everything in this war. So, yeah, I'd say 71:29 is reason to celebrate, if that's what you're asking.

[PrinceLH]

Originally Posted by Stuman

If HD-DUD's only two members are over here trolling then who's lookin' after their store?

Don't worry, MichaelHDDVD, Lee Stewart, RDjam, Kosty and Anotheraviator never sleep. They never log off. Lee has over 7000 posts on each of two different websites in less than ten months. 14,000 post in two different places and probably more elseware, proves one of two things. He's either not human or there is more than one of him. How could he know which is the better format, if he's always posting 24/7. So yes, there are enough trolls to look after the shop.

[Stuman]

Originally Posted by PrinceLH

Don't worry, MichaelHDDVD, Lee Stewart, RDjam, Kosty and Anotheraviator never sleep. They never log off. Lee has over 7000 posts on each of two different websites in less than ten months. 14,000 post in two different places and probably more elseware, proves one of two things. He's either not human or there is more than one of him. How could he know which is the better format, if he's always posting 24/7. So yes, there are enough trolls to look after the shop.

That cracks me up - 14,000 posts
Mind you when the quality of there chosen format is as bad as it is I spose you wouldn't allocate any time to enjoying watching movies either !

Did I ever tell you the story when I was first look'n to get my set up a year or so back? I asked the chap in the shop who was doing the demo if he could please do the demo with one a those flash new high res discs rather than the DVD he was currently playing. But sir, he replied, I am - it's called a HD-DVD !