Television Preview
Encyclopedia
Television Preview is a market research
company that purports to test pilots
of new television shows while actually looking for audience's reactions to commercials
presented in a "home-like" atmosphere between breaks in these shows. Based in Evansville, Indiana
, Television Preview is a division of RSC the Quality Measurement Company, a member of the ArsGrouphttp://www.ars-group.com/. The preview offer is considered a scam
because, even though Television Preview takes no money from viewers, the company is not associated with any actual television producers and the "pilots" they preview are years old. Viewers are instead asked to rate the commercials they see. Also, under the guise of selecting prizes they'd like to win in a drawing, viewers choose their "favorites" from pages of pictures of consumer products. In addition, while invitations are distributed to adults of all ages, most of the attendees are senior citizens aged 50 or over, with the commercials and questions slanted towards them.
Instead, viewers are shown old television pilot
s that were never picked up. They are asked to give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down style rating, and then fill out pages of questionnaires about their purchasing preferences, brands they like, products they are likely to use, and so forth.
, and a comedy called City
starring Valerie Harper
. City was, in fact, a short-lived show from 1990, although its page at IMDb reveals that it would probably be largely forgotten if not for these screenings. Audience members are either told that Valerie Harper is looking to make a comeback, and wants viewers judge her likability, or that screenwriter Paul Haggis
, who wrote the show, wants to retool it for next fall, but needs viewer's opinions on its feasibility first. Other attendees have reported being shown the pilot of Dads, a show from 1997 starring C. Thomas Howell
.
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Market research
Market research is any organized effort to gather information about markets or customers. It is a very important component of business strategy...
company that purports to test pilots
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
of new television shows while actually looking for audience's reactions to commercials
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
presented in a "home-like" atmosphere between breaks in these shows. Based in Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
, Television Preview is a division of RSC the Quality Measurement Company, a member of the ArsGrouphttp://www.ars-group.com/. The preview offer is considered a scam
Confidence trick
A confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. A confidence artist is an individual working alone or in concert with others who exploits characteristics of the human psyche such as dishonesty and honesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility,...
because, even though Television Preview takes no money from viewers, the company is not associated with any actual television producers and the "pilots" they preview are years old. Viewers are instead asked to rate the commercials they see. Also, under the guise of selecting prizes they'd like to win in a drawing, viewers choose their "favorites" from pages of pictures of consumer products. In addition, while invitations are distributed to adults of all ages, most of the attendees are senior citizens aged 50 or over, with the commercials and questions slanted towards them.
The process
Television Preview randomly sends out invitations and tickets to specific screenings, usually held in hotel conference rooms. The invitation contains text insinuating that the viewer will help decide what will be featured on television's next fall lineup:Instead, viewers are shown old television pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
s that were never picked up. They are asked to give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down style rating, and then fill out pages of questionnaires about their purchasing preferences, brands they like, products they are likely to use, and so forth.
The programs
The programs can vary from screening to screening, but most often they seem to be two shows: a 1997 drama called Soulmates featuring Kim RaverKim Raver
Kimberly Jayne "Kim" Raver is an American actress.She is best known for her numerous roles on TV: as Kim Zambrano on Third Watch, Audrey Raines on 24, Nico Reilly on Lipstick Jungle, and, most recently, Teddy Altman on Grey's Anatomy.-Personal life:Raver was raised in New York City by her mother,...
, and a comedy called City
City (TV Series)
City was an American sitcom which aired for 13 episodes, on CBS, during the latter half of the 1989-1990 season. It was a new starring vehicle for Valerie Harper, which went into development not long after she and husband Tony Cacciotti won their lawsuit against Lorimar Telepictures over her...
starring Valerie Harper
Valerie Harper
Valerie Harper is an American actress, known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern on the 1970s television show The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and for her starring roles on the sitcoms Rhoda and Valerie.-Early life and career:Harper was born at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, Rockland County,...
. City was, in fact, a short-lived show from 1990, although its page at IMDb reveals that it would probably be largely forgotten if not for these screenings. Audience members are either told that Valerie Harper is looking to make a comeback, and wants viewers judge her likability, or that screenwriter Paul Haggis
Paul Haggis
Paul Edward Haggis is a Canadian screenwriter, producer, and director. He spent his early career producing and directing various American and Canadian television network series.-Early life and education:...
, who wrote the show, wants to retool it for next fall, but needs viewer's opinions on its feasibility first. Other attendees have reported being shown the pilot of Dads, a show from 1997 starring C. Thomas Howell
C. Thomas Howell
Christopher Thomas "Tommy" Howell , known by his stage name C. Thomas Howell, is an American actor and film director. He starred in the films The Outsiders as Ponyboy Curtis and in The Hitcher as Jim Halsey. He has appeared in The Da Vinci Treasure,Soul Man, Red Dawn, Secret Admirer, Gettysburg, H. G...
.
Associated companies
Within a few business days after the viewings, most participants receive phone calls come from a California based company called "Datascension", in which participants are asked additional questions about the presentation. The company has been known to make frequent, repeated calls, in the event no one at the participant's number answers, or if they reach an answering machine.External links
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Articles and individual testimonies: