ABSTRACT
This chapter examines audience measurements as calculated by Nielsen Media. It also examines what kinds of ethical issues arise when assigning ratings to movies, television shows, records and videogames, and also explains what kinds of ethical issues come up in the reporting of ratings. The entertainment industry lives or dies based on ratings, box office tallies and units sold. Though challengers come and go and Nielsen faces constant criticism, it remains the only game in town in terms of ratings. Politicians rely on ratings to gauge how they are doing and to grandstand about the need to return America to greatness and to stop the coarsening of the culture. Television, cable and streaming services have a great many ways to measure ratings. Ratings exist to prevent the government from gaining the power to legislate oversight, thus challenging the entertainment industry's desire to self-regulate.
