Our family was asked to be a Numeris (think Canadian Neilsen ratings) family

[Josquius]

Sounds like a PITA for $10, even putting aside privacy concerns.

[Barrister]

No. Why the hell would you?

To demonstrate our support for various media that we like?

Plus, you know, for the experience of it?

Anyways I signed us up yesterday.  The monitors should show up in the next week or two.

[Barrister]

Actually they showed up today.  Together with a nice, crisp $20 bill.

It's an interesting system.  It's a little device, maybe the size of an old-fashioned pager, you wear or carry in a pocket.  When you carry it around you earn points, which in turn helps you earn your extra $5/month plus chances at some draws or prizes.  Very gamified.  The device even shows you how many points you are earning.

What I found amusing is they ask you to sign a confidentiality agreement.  You're not to tell anyone you're a Numeris household! (luckily I haven't signed it yet ).  I doubt I'll just mysteriously tell people I'm part of a "research project" like they suggest, but yeah I guess I shouldn't mention it on Facebook.

But really surprised they expect me to get my five year old to sign this agreement.  I guess I'll do it, just for the amusement of seeing him scrawl "JOSHUA", potentially with some backwards letters.


I actually listen to a fair bit of radio on my phone via downloaded podcasts from earlier in the day.  That can actually count, but I have to wire in my phone, to the device, and then to my headphones.  Not sure if I'm going to follow through with that or not.  As far as the points are concerned they only care if you are wearing it, not that you are necessarily listening to anything.

[Josquius]

So what shows are you planning to get uncancelled?

[Maladict]

Your whole family has to carry a pager for $10/month? 

[Syt]

Does this only track broadcast TV/radio behavior, or does it include streaming services?

[Grey Fox]

Numeris does track it, I don't know if they use BBs method for it tho.

[Zoupa]

Your whole family has to carry a pager for $10/month? 

You just need to wear a wireless device close to your balls. No biggie.