TV viewing figures

[Prioryboy]

How do they know when for example Coronation Street has 5 million viewers. Is it because they a: have a guess after asking a poll of people b; is there a technical way of telling viewing figures?

[kempie]

http://www.barb.co.uk/about.cfm?flag=about

[thundercrack]

I went to a house once where they had a box connected to the t.v. video etc and was told they were being used to work out viewing figures. this was 2 in the aftrnoon and the t,v, was on with nobody watching it, she said she liked to leave it on all the time , even when she was out, to help the figures. don,t need too many people like that to confuse the viewing ratings!
cheers, alf.

[markja]

me and my mate run round looking through peoples windows, noting down what we see. only got arrested six times last year,better than previous years.
we also assist santa at busy periods.