Audience measurement system and method for digital broadcasts.

摘要

A method is disclosed wherein audience measurement data for digital broadcasts, both program lineup verification and statistical audience samples, are collected from data added by the broadcaster for this purpose. A coded channel ID and other program identification data is placed in the service ID stream and the decoder or receiving device is directed to output this data to the device's communication port. A probe attached to the communication port is disclosed whereby this data is extracted and decoded for use by a data collection system in statistically selected homes for accurate audience measurement of digital programming.