Degree Name
Master of Science
Department or Program
Mass Communication and Media Arts
Advisor
Freivogel, William H.
Abstract
Television ratings affect everything from advertising rates to the time a show is scheduled, and ultimately, its success. In recent years, rating methods have been updated not only to include live viewings, but also viewers who record and stream shows on the Internet. This is the result of living in a digital age. The pressure put on those who create television shows to get high ratings is even more intense, and viewers now expect a level of interaction from actors, writers and television staff on social media. This study examines the importance of the relationship between social media presence and television ratings. The author studied a popular cable television show and assessed its success based on social media presence. The hypothesis was that on days when there was more interaction with fans on the social media platform Twitter, the Nielsen Television Ratings would be the highest. The results show this to be true.