IFT and the Ratings Game

In the world of television programming, one ratings point equals more than one million viewers nationally. In a television market like Chicago, home to IFT’s world headquarters, one ratings point equals 37,000 viewers. No matter how the numbers are interpreted, they show the extent that a program is being viewed.

In the world of cable television, scoring a full ratings point can be a huge coup, as only roughly 70% of the United States is outfitted for cable and satellite TV. With the fractured na…