My Daypart Is Missing!
Contents
The script tells TView what telecasts to include in gathering the audience information for a daypart being defined.
But sometimes the supplied definition winds up including no programs at all, so the daypart cannot be created. Here are some situations where this can happen:
| • | A definition specifies Cable, but lists specific programs that are only carried via syndication. |
| • | A definition calls for a particular time and network, but that network doesn't air any programs at that time. For example, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC have no programs from 5 am to 6 am. Notably, the Fox network does not air programs from 10 to 11 pm; when you tune to your Fox station in that hour, you see local affiliate programming such as news. |
| • | A definition calls for a particular genre, but there are no programs in that genre for the survey period. It's been a while since we've seen any EW (Western Drama) programs on the major broadcast nets in prime time (unfortunately, in the views of some), so requesting that finds nothing. |
| • | A definition for a line specifies Broadcast as a Group, but also requests a few specific cable networks. Since nothing is both, nothing is picked up. |
| • | A daypart is defined with programs that are no longer on the air. |
| • | A daypart is defined with programs that have changed names. (Note that certain programs change their names frequently, such as "Biggest Loser 11" or "Survivor: Redemption".) |
Sometimes a daypart definition may include programs, but none of them have commercials:
| • | In the morning, Discovery has a block of educational programming for kids, carried without commercials |
| • | WE network airs only infomercials in the early morning, no programs with conventional commercial positions |
TView provides a report on problems like that if they should come up.
If any dayparts could not be created, TView gives its usual completion message, but with details on the elements that could not be produced:
How to Tell If a Definition Includes Any Programs
Here's how to see what programs are included for a given group, set of networks and genre:
| • | Make your settings on the Group, Day & Time, Sources and Genre tabs, as desired. |
| • | Then go to the Programs tab and click "Get Programs". |
| • | That will show all programs -- if any! -- that meet your criteria. |
If the definition of a line winds up including no programs, then the line will not be included in the created database.