Research

Madison Avenue is raising new concerns about a controversial plan that would begin adjusting Nielsen’s TV ratings this fall based on the number of U.S. households that speak Spanish. The plan, part of a series of steps Nielsen has been taking to “weight” its sample to bring it into balance with the U.S. population, has already been delayed three times due to infighting among Nielsen’s clients, and concern over the impact the changes might have on the TV advertising marketplace.

If you were a child living in Naperville, Ill., your chances of living with two married parents, a householder in the labor force, in an owned home or above the poverty level were highest or next to highest among children in all cities with at least 100,000 people, according to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The typical U.S. commuter in 2000 left home between 6:30 a.m. and 8:29 a.m. and drove alone for 26 minutes to get to work, the U.S. Census Bureau said in a report based on Census 2000 results. Overall, people were leaving home earlier and spending more time in traffic in 2000 than in previous censuses.

The U.S. Census Bureau today released Census 2000 tabulations on the voting-age population by citizenship for each state and county in the country.

Latinos experienced substantial gains in the U.S. labor market in 2003. The number of Hispanics added to the employment rolls was twice as high as in 2002, and unemployment eased downward. For the first time since January 2000, Latinos experienced increases in employment that consistently outpaced their population growth in the United States. The increase in the number of Latinos employed over the course of the year was nearly double the mark for non-Latinos, suggesting that Latinos took a disproportionate share of new job opportunities.

Ball State University finds a 164% discrepancy between telephone surveys conducted to find how much time US adults spend watching TV and actual observations conducted of people while they watch TV.

A study of U.S. Latinos released (“The U.S. Latino Prosumer Study”) by Euro RSCG Worldwide identified consumer trends taking place among this growing and increasingly influential population, while also gaining a better understanding of their perceptions and current attitudes. This research was conducted by Euro RSCG Worldwide in conjunction with the launch of Euro RSCG Latino in the United States. The U.S. Latino Prosumer Study covered culture and integration, language, media, family life, personal relationships, self-presentation, work and money, health and fitness, political views, advertising, and shopping, owning, and branding.

The majority of revenue in this industry came in motion picture and video production and distribution, up 11 percent, from $40 billion to $44 billion.

It’s more popular than hunting, fishing, snow skiing or even golf, says The Media Audit. What is it? It’s dieting.