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Nielsen Families

The distinctive opinion and experience of Nielsen panelists enriches our view of the marketplace and ensures that our research accurately reflects consumers' shopping and media habits.

For more than 50 years, Nielsen has been collecting and reporting on purchasing and media information. We offer consumers a range of opportunities to provide feedback about their shopping and media consumption. You may be invited to join an ongoing panel or participate in a survey, and we encourage you to do so.

Our analysis and insights help to inform the decision-making process of brands and content providers as well as the research activities of universities and industry standards bodies. Your participation is important to these organizations and their role as influencers and drivers of the consumer experience.

We value your contribution and we value your privacy. Your personally identifiable information will NEVER be used by Nielsen to advertise, promote or market third-party goods or services to you. We will not license, publish or sell any information collected from you that can be tied to an individual user such as your name, email address, postal address, etc. Learn more about Nielsen's Privacy Policy.

Contacts for Nielsen Panelists

TV Diaries English: 1-800-237-8611 tvdiaryinstructions@tvratings.com
  Spanish: 1-800-333-3682  
TV Metered English: 1-800-237-6493 tvratingsquestions@nielsen.com
  Spanish: 1-800-667-7540  
Pinecone   Karen.scott@pineconeresearch.com
Homescan lynne.morrison@nielsen.com
Nielsen Online   Help@NielsenNet.com
Nielsen Digital Voice digitalvoice.us@nielsen.com
RewardTV   memberservices@rewardtv.com

Frequently Asked Questions (en Español)

The Nielsen Process

How do I become a member of the Nielsen sample?
Strictly through chance. We cannot ask every home to participate, so we carefully select a sample of homes in your community to represent the entire TV audience. To be statistically accurate, it is essential that our samples be randomly selected. Every household in the U.S. has a chance of being selected, no matter where it is located.
I work in the TV industry (at a TV station, TV network, radio station, radio network, a cable TV company or a satellite provider). Can I still be part of the survey if Nielsen contacts me?
No, unfortunately not. We are sorry, but our guidelines prohibit us from including homes where a household member is employed by, or is a principal owner in the television or media industry.

To complete a diary

I received a letter or postcard from Nielsen. Is this legitimate?
We do send letters and postcards to potential participants from our production facility in Florida. It is our way of introducing ourselves, in hopes that you will fill out the television diary soon to come.
I received a large envelope from Nielsen. Is this legitimate?
Yes, every year we mail over one million paper diaries to randomly selected sample households across the U.S. in both First Class and Priority Mail envelopes. Nielsen rigorously controls how the diaries are packaged and delivered to the U.S. Post Office for mailing. If you have further questions about an envelope you received from us, please call toll free, 1-800-237-8611.
How can I be sure the person calling is really a Nielsen representative?
First, our interviewers will always identify themselves by name and as a representative of The Nielsen Company. Please feel free to double-check and verify that we placed the call to you or your telephone number. You may call us on this toll-free number: 1-800-237-8611.

To join our metered panel

I received a large envelope from Nielsen. Is this legitimate?
Yes, the envelope may have contained either a short survey about television viewing that we would like you to complete and return in the postage-paid envelope, OR the envelope may have contained a letter inviting you to participate in the Nielsen television ratings.
What if a Nielsen representative visits my home?
Our Field Representatives are highly trained professionals who want the chance to tell you about the exciting opportunity to participate in the Nielsen ratings. All of our Representatives carry a Nielsen photo ID badge to identify them. If you are unsure about the person at your door, you may call us at 1-800-237-6493.
Meter not working? Have technical questions?
Contact us. Our representatives are available to answer your questions, whenever they may arise.
Lost your Nielsen representative’s contact information?
Call 1-800-237-6493 and provide the Nielsen representative with your name and Nielsen HH ID number.

Especially for college students

Why are college students so important to Nielsen?
What college students choose to watch on TV is unique compared with other demographic groups. Your viewing choices are different from families with young children, older adult homes, etc. In order for Nielsen to accurately report U.S. television viewing, we need to include college students.
What do I get for participating in the TV ratings? What about my roommate?
You will receive a thank you check once the equipment is installed. Additional checks will follow. Your roommate may qualify for a one-time thank you gift if they own the metered TV equipment.
Does my roommate have to participate?
Yes, your roommate will need to participate in order to have accurate data on who is watching the TV in your home.
When can I participate?
Your participation can begin at any time. We sign up college students all year round, mostly at the beginning of semesters but some people join in the middle of the semester or later.

My Privacy

How did you get my contact information?
Nielsen uses a combination of publicly available telephone, address, and Census information to select homes for our diary and meter panels.
Will Nielsen sell my name and address to marketers? Is Nielsen going to try to sell me something?
Absolutely not. The information from your home is held strictly confidential. You will never be approached by anyone selling something because you participated in one of our surveys.