People Meters arrive in Boston

["Chris Beckwith" <beckwith@ime.net>]

Today's Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis reports that Nielsen has 420 of its
controversial People Meters in place for May sweeps in Boston (eventually there
will be 600.)  Cable channel honchos believe they might more accurately
represent television viewership (favoring cable, as they see it) but traditional
broadcasters are cooler to the newfangled device.  Channel 7 is boycotting the
new service, saying the results would be skewed compared to non-People Meter
markets.  Channel 5's GM expressed concern that "traditional television viewers"
might be intimidated by the device.

Take care,
Chris