ID Movie Please

[Madness]

Think I rented this around the early-to-mod-90s. The main protagonist is a nerdy guy who works for the Nielsen company. Specifically, he helps select the Nielsen Families and gets the data-collection boxes sent out and connected to their TV sets. Also featured, are two fictional TV networks: one, is a parody of PBS, called "PBT;" the other (forget its initials), is a commercial parody of one of The Big Three.

Well, at some point in the movie, the protagonist either quits or get fired (forget which), from Nielsen, and takes a job w/ PBT. Meanwhile, his former employer starts sendin' out defective collection boxes. In fact, I'm sure I remember that bein' because of rough handlin' by their warehouse staff (I think there's a scene where they're literally chuckin' them into the delivery trucks).

Up to this point, the commercial network is rated #1, and PBT is somewhere near the bottom. However, this starts to change as the faulty boxes begin the indicate that the "Families" are all watchin' PBT. Soon, they shoot to #1. The owner of the network wants to have a huge celebration.

However, I think it was just a day, or two, before the party, that the protagonist's former co-worker, drops by his office w/ handwritten surveys that were sent out (as backup for the boxes). They all indicate that the commercial network, was #1, all along.

However, when brought the to the attention of PBT's owner, she wants him to act like they had earned the #1 ratin'. Unable to do that, he quits and lands a job w/ the commercial network. The film near-ends w/ the Nielsen company goin' around to the "Families' and recallin' all the defective boxes.

Any ideas?

[BudBaxter]

There's a whole thread for just this type of query:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=134673



But maybe The Ratings Game (1984)?

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Madness

Think I rented this around the early-to-mod-90s. The main protagonist is a nerdy guy who works for the Nielsen company. Specifically, he helps select the Nielsen Families and gets the data-collection boxes sent out and connected to their TV sets. Also featured, are two fictional TV networks: one, is a parody of PBS, called "PBT;" the other (forget its initials), is a commercial parody of one of The Big Three.

Well, at some point in the movie, the protagonist either quits or get fired (forget which), from Nielsen, and takes a job w/ PBT. Meanwhile, his former employer starts sendin' out defective collection boxes. In fact, I'm sure I remember that bein' because of rough handlin' by their warehouse staff (I think there's a scene where they're literally chuckin' them into the delivery trucks).

Up to this point, the commercial network is rated #1, and PBT is somewhere near the bottom. However, this starts to change as the faulty boxes begin the indicate that the "Families" are all watchin' PBT. Soon, they shoot to #1. The owner of the network wants to have a huge celebration.

However, I think it was just a day, or two, before the party, that the protagonist's former co-worker, drops by his office w/ handwritten surveys that were sent out (as backup for the boxes). They all indicate that the commercial network, was #1, all along.

However, when brought the to the attention of PBT's owner, she wants him to act like they had earned the #1 ratin'. Unable to do that, he quits and lands a job w/ the commercial network. The film near-ends w/ the Nielsen company goin' around to the "Families' and recallin' all the defective boxes.

Any ideas?

I think it sounds like Agenda: The Movie.

[Madness]

Originally Posted by BudBaxter

There's a whole thread for just this type of query:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=134673



But maybe The Ratings Game (1984)?

OK, I'll post it there.