Most people know that Nielsen Media Research measures television audiences. Nielsen says that it has decided to prompt audience panel members who are using its new Active/Passive Meters every 42 minutes rather than whenever they change channels.

The shift to time-based prompting is because of the growth of non-linear viewing options, such as VOD and PVR, that render the old channel-based prompting model inadequate.

This new service level should really endear Nielsen further into the bossum of America.