Nielsen Audimeter and Cartridge
- Description
- This device—the “black box” of the television ratings system—gathered information from households about media listening and viewing habits from 1949 until the early 1970s. Connected to a radio or television, it registered set use and station tuning by exposing 16-mm film to a pinpoint of light. When changed by the homeowner weekly, the film cartridge ejected a quarter to ensure timely mailings to the Nielsen Company for analysis. The data gleaned from sample homes enabled campaign pollsters to track viewing patterns during candidates’ television appearances and to refine schedules of paid political advertising.
- Physical Description
- metal (overall material)
- black (overall color)
- Measurements
- overall: 8 3/4 in x 8 3/4 in x 11 3/4 in; 22.225 cm x 22.225 cm x 29.845 cm
- ID Number
- 1986.0664.03
- catalog number
- 1986.0664.03
- accession number
- 1986.0664
- Credit Line
- A. C. Nielsen Company
- subject
- Political Campaigns
- Television broadcasts
- See more items in
- Political History: Political History, General History Collection
- Government, Politics, and Reform
- American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith
- Exhibition
- Exhibition
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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