Nielsen Increases Local Sample Sizes

Nielsen announced what it calls “a significant and broad expansion” to its ongoing sample improvement plan for local television markets.

Starting this year, Nielsen will increase the sample size in 15 Local People Meter markets. Five previously announced markets -- Dallas, Washington, Houston, Miami and Denver -- will see an increase of 200 homes this year.

The two largest markets, New York and Los Angeles, will have their sample sizes increased by 300 homes next year. In addition, the following eight markets will each have their sample size increased by 200 homes in 2015: Charlotte, St. Louis, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta and Phoenix.

These sample increases represent on average a 30% increase in sample size. In the 31 set meter markets, Nielsen will expand the sample by 200 homes in each market over the next two years. The addition of these 6,200 homes represents an almost 50% increase in sample size across the set meter market footprint, Nielsen says.