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Primetime TV Viewing Figures
TVSA TAMS coverage - airing since 2006

The Primetime TV Viewing Figures Explained

Written by TVSA Team from the blog Primetime TV Viewing Figures on 22 Aug 2006
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UPDATED: 31 August 2015

TVSA provides weekly analysis of the BRC (Broadcast Research Council) TAMS ratings, compiled into an easy-to-understand set of viewing figures.

These figures were previously provided by SAARF (South African Audience Research Foundation) up until the end of 2014. On 1 January 2015 custodianship of the TAMS changed from SAARF to the BRC.

The TAMS ratings are used to calculate which shows are most-watched on South African television. TAMS stands for Television Audience Measurement Survey.

The TAMS Panel provides television viewing information, minute by minute, using so-called 'peoplemeters' - semi-automatic electronic equipment that is connected to selected households' television equipment.

It records television set events automatically, using a remote control unit. Visitors to the measured households are included.

The results are reported weekly and are published on the BRC website. TVSA analyses the Programme Report as supplied by the BRC in the weekly Audience Report.

All television shows (and the bits in between) are measured using TV Ratings (TVRs) (formerly known as ARs).

A TV Rating is the proportion of viewers, averaged across some time period (a commercial spot or break, a quarter-hour or a programme) and percentaged on the total number of individual panel members in the relevant group (eg. 'all adults' or 'females').

For a more detailed description visit the BRC website.

One TVR represents 336, 427 viewers, so to arrive at a viewing figure for a show we multiply its TVR by 336,427 to arrive at an actual number of viewers watching any given programme.

TVSA does not analyse TAMS data for all of the channels on DStv - we only analyse SABC 1, 2 and 3, e.tv. M-Net and Mzansi Magic as the BRC only provides figures for the channels with the biggest audience share in South Africa.

We only cover the primetime ratings (and a few soapies and talk shows that don't fall in primetime), which is considered to be between 18h00 and 23h00.

We also only calculate the viewing figures for Adults (15+) as this is the industry standard - the viewing figures for children are not taken into account.

We list the Top 10 shows by channel, as well as the Top 5 shows across all channels in a variety of different genres.

We occassionally include the figures for children in editorial. In these instances one child TVR represents 109, 822 viewers.

Please note that the viewing figures published by TVSA are an approximation of the actual numbers. An average is taken for shows that air more than once a week.



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