I agree with the Nielsen ratings. Why we would we rely on such outdated, really unmeasurable tech?

BSG seems like a HUGE hit, if you look at web chatter.

The possible problem is that TV execs see the internet as a competitor. Specifically I can see a mentality that would find the buzz to be a problem – the buzz is about the show, and the buzz about the show isn’t buzz about the advertisers during the show, and the show is just the vehicle that sells the ad space.

The buzz about a show will drive DVD, rewatches, downloads, rental from iTune etc. Won’t sell adspace, and ratings are used to sell adspace.

The Networks certainly have not worked out what is happening on the Internet yet.

The NBC CEO was recently quoted that he wants web-video away from TV sets – which is why they didn’t want Boxee to stream Hulu! [via BusinessInsider] http://bit.ly/PuvWk

Buzz isn’t tracked or considered because buzz doesn’t directly contribute to a measurable ROI. As for why aren’t the networks focusing on Tivo/DVR viewers, if you look at time-shifting viewers, you’ll realize they don’t watch commercials. For the advertisers who are paying for the shows, that means those customers aren’t customers, they are freeloaders. They might as well be downloading the shows on BitTorrent. It’s a grand illusion – ad sales fund shows, but shows aren’t supported by ad viewerships so much anymore. And buzz becomes really hard to quantify, and if it’s hard to quantify, it’s hard to monetize.

the money’s coming in from the ad spots. and while more people talking about a show online will probably get more others interested in it… but really online buzz about a tv show does nothing for the channel network.
plus if the tv ratings weren’t awesome but the online buzz is, then it just means that galactica gets viewership from more net-savvy ppl. no? hardly anything to rave about. unless you’re AMD advertising during primetime.