Sunday, May 10, 2009

Big Purple Dreams Surpasses 4,000 Members


The "Otalia" fan website, Big Purple Dreams, has now surpassed four thousand members in just a few months time. And these are active members who are passionate about GUIDING LIGHT. This is pretty incredible considering that in 2007 there were only 12,000 total homes in the entire United States Nielsen sample.

If you think about GL's 2 million viewers, that probably equates to a few hundred Nielsen homes? I have never understood why online viewers are dismissed as small but passionate minority, especially in this particular huge quantity, when they outnumber the people who are part of the Nielsen sample for the entire show.

If these 4,000 were part of the Nielsen sample, Nielsen would be telling us GUIDING LIGHT has something like 50 million viewers. Who knows how close to 2 million viewers GUIDING LIGHT actually is, but we'll never know with the current system.

Congrats to BPD on another exciting milestone. Seeing this many fans come together this quickly and get excited over a soap in 2009 just shows the genre does not have to be near the death knell predicted by many.

47 comments:

  1. Thanks Roger! If you tell a good story, they will come! CBS should screwed up royally. Whoever picks this show up is going to have a ratings gold mine!

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  2. It's so exciting to hit the big 4-0-0-0! Thank you so much for the shout-out and the perspective that if the 4000 of us were Nielson families, it would imply that GL had 50,000,000 viewers.

    Much appreciated!

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  3. Thanks! We're all so happy that we have the numbers to show that Guiding Light is a beloved show.

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  4. Roger, It's great that others such as yourself do recognize us and all the other viewers who go uncounted. As for BPD, it's a great positive community that is obsess... I mean invested in a great storyline. We also love the entire GL show because it's just excellent.

    We're looking forward to 5k and then beyond!!! Thanks again

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  5. Thanks so much for shining your spotlight on the Big Purple Dreams board, Roger! I like the way you do the math!

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  6. I'm so thrilled to be a member of BPD - it's an incredibly diverse and welcoming community and deserves to grow and grow. Thanks so much to 'We Love Soaps' for the recognition, and thanks to Desti for creating this wonderful, purple bubble of fandom!

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  7. Thanks Roger!! GL is amazing, and Nielsen really needs to get fixed.

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  8. Thanks for your support Roger! We at the BPD appreciate it!

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  9. Thanks Roger! I am completely amazed by the positive, passionate fandom that BPDers are. I am so proud to be a part of it! <3

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  10. Roger, thanks for acknowledging BPD's milestone. Also, not only does the Nielsen ratings us a small sample, it is probably not representative of the diverse American population. I am quite convinced that there many more GL viewers than Nielsen seems capable of rating.

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  11. Thank you Roger for your article. I am amazed at what the BPD community has accomplished in such a short amount of time. 4000 members is awesome..2200 of them signed on after CBS announced they were canceling Guiding Light. I hope CBS realize what a big mistake they have made. The show is phenomenal especially with the writing and new production model.
    I am so proud to be a member of BPD and the work that all of our "Family" members are doing to find Guiding Light a new home. I have no doubt that BPD will grow to even more remarkable numbers in a very short amount of time. Go Purple Army!

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  12. Thanks Roger for noting this milestone. We at BPD really appreciate what you have done to promote the site and Destini.

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  13. Yay BPD!! I cant believe how fast we have grown. I am so happy to be a part of such a great community. Thanks Roger for all your support.

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  14. Thanks Roger! BPD is a testament that a good story about love, commitment and family will literally touch thousands of lives! Thanks to Desti, Michelle and Christi for all that you do!

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  15. Thanks for acknowledging this milestone, Roger. Your support of BPD's efforts on behalf of Guiding Light and Otalia as well as all the work you're doing is much appreciated.

    Here's to the power of a committed group of people united around a common goal. We will save Guiding Light.

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  16. From your mouth to Lifetime's ears, Roger. CBS' cancelation of GL has got to go down as one of the dumbest moves, from a marketing point of view, ever. It's New Coke. It's Crystal Pepsi. It's Shelly Long leaving Cheers.

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  17. What a way to put things into perspective, Roger. Also of note is how quickly this latest milestone has been ahieved; I believe it was only a few weeks ago that BPD reached 3,000. And this for a soap that has been cancelled! Amazing. Shows what the power of good writing and great acting can achieve.

    Go Otalia! Go Guiding Light!

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  18. Its awesome that BPD hit 4,000 members! Thanks Roger for being sweet and covering another milestone for BPD. We heart you. :D

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  19. Thank-you Roger! Love your website and love how supportive you have been to our efforts.

    As much television as I watch and the fact that I am in their targeted demographic, I would think that Neilsen would be knocking down my door. But no, I have never been contacted and neither has anyone I know. The ratings system is screwed up and needs to be overhauled. Having said that, I am a very proud member of the BPD board and I love Guiding Light. Whatever network picks up the show is going to get a very loyal and very supportive following. Come on Lifetime, I am talking to you!

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  20. Thank you Roger! I'm so thrilled to be a part of the BPD community - I've never been so proud to call so many people around the world my friends. It's so cool to have 4,000 people who not only love the Otalia storyline, but Guiding Light as a whole. A big shout out to Destini, Mel, and Christi for starting this fansite.

    The fact that BPD continues to grow even after GL was cancelled is a testament to the writing (Jill Lorrie Hurst), directing, production model (Ellen Wheeler), and the impeccable acting by the cast. GL is doing something right and people are taking notice. Whoever picks up GL is going to have a ratings goldmine!

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  21. Thank you for the kind words, Roger!

    And you're SO right about the ratings! Seriously. Nielsen needs to revise their system, pronto. It's from another time and does not reflect current viewing. People DVR and watch online a lot and it's no longer a minority, I think, so if they want to be taken seriously in the future, I really think they should revise and update their sampling methods.

    I mean, it says something that a single Otalia video has been viewed like 50,000 times on YouTube. People are interested and do watch, they just don't necessarily watch it live.

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  22. Thank you for always supporting us, Roger! It is such an pleasure to be a part of such a warm community!

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  23. what can you say? Great Show, great story, great fans in a great community. These fans were hungry for a great love story and GL gave us one. Thanks Roger for putting it in the spotlight for another huge milestone.

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  24. Thank you Roger! The Big Purple Army is a strong one for sure! We are dedicated Guiding Light!

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  25. thanks for mentioning the milestone, roger. the BPD is growing by leaps and bounds (on average 100 new members every day since april 1st) and yet we still stay positive and focused- an impassioned family of GL supporters. i can't wait to see how this fandom continues to grow as we find new ways to bring this great show and love story to the attention of the world.

    it has been said that each letter of support equates to 10,000 viewers. with the activity of our members, the BPD can carry the power of 40 million viewers. we are an expanding big purple army. we can make a difference!

    now, how long till we hit 5000? memorial day?

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  26. Thanks Roger for recognizing BPD. It's such a pleasure to be a part of such a great community dedicated to a wonderful show.

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  27. Power to the Purple Peeps Roger!!! Thanks for your wonderful coverage of BPD!!! Couldn't be prouder to belong to such a great group!! Hopefully the powers that be are paying attention to this huge growth spurt!! it says a lot about the brilliance of the story line and the show!! Thanks again! BBK

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  28. We are amazing and passionate! We are extended family! Go us!

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  29. Thanks, Roger, for writing about this huge milestone for the BPD. It truly is a remarkable accomplishment.

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  30. Much love and thanks to Roger and everyone at BPD. It's an amazing community to be apart of and share in the love of Otalia and GL. There's always room for more, so anyone, everyone, come join the party.

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  31. Thanks Roger! Excellent point you made about the ratings. Looking forward to the 5k! There's still room on the Big Purple Otalia Train of Love!

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  32. Thank you, Roger! Your continued support has always meant so much.

    That Nielsen breakdown comparison is very compelling and telling.

    I'm sure it'll be exciting to see the fansite for the gameshow that replaces GL, and watch how their membership numbers swell. ::eyeroll::

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  33. Thank you for the shout out Roger! BPD now has 4000+ (and growing everyday) active and invested members to fight the good fight for Guiding Light and Otalia. 50M viewers eh, well that sounds about right.

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  34. Thanks Roger! I am a fairly new member of Big Purple Dreams, and usually I'm a lurker and passive fan of shows, but this fandom is so warm, friendly, invested and passionate, that you can't help but become involved. I'm also from Australia...so Otalia and Guiding Light is definitely reaching people across the globe!

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  35. Roger, as always thank you for the continued support!!!!

    All of BPD is truly thrilled with this accomplishment!!!

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  36. Thanks Roger, you are huge part of our Big Purple Family, and we luv you.

    I have never been more proud to be a part of a positive, motivated, inspiring, warm, and friendly community. And I believe that the people that matter are taking notice of all we are doing, and it will be key to seeing GL and Otalia go on past September.

    Big Purple Dreams makes me Happy!

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  37. Great article. Thanks for your continuing support of BPD>

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  38. Thank you for this article Roger! I believe this is just the beginning! We will grow and more people will hear about Otalia and be forever touched by this beautiful love story.

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  39. I love it that you use the Neilsen number crunching, and turn it back on the network. For every person who *has* bothered to join the BPD site, how many GL fans just haven't gotten around to it, even though they watch regularly and support the show?

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  40. Thanks Roger as always for the shout out. Yes, another milestone reached so quickly, and the bets are on now as to when the big 5,000 will be reached. At the rate it is going, I don't think we'll have to wait too long. I am proud to be part of the Big Purple Dreams board as one of the many international members. A big shout out has to go to Destini, Mel & Christi and all those involved in making the board such a fun place. I also applaud them for keeping the information so up-to-date, which is amazing when you consider they all have their own jobs to do as well as updating and maintaining the board. It is very much appreciated.

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  41. There are 12,000 total homes in the entire United States Nielsen sample? There must be a better way! Thanks for the shout out, Roger, a great show deserves great fans and Guiding Light has them in abundance. Well done, BPP!

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  42. Thanks Roger for all of your support! We really appreciate you. 4000!!! Go us!!

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  43. thanks for the acknowledgment I am amazed at how the little site that could just keeps on growin'!

    The growth curve for the Gl/Otalia fanbase is extraordinary!

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  44. BPD hits 4000; seems like this explosion of interest in GL is still strong. Hope the people who need to notice do... GL. I. WANT. IT. on air after September!

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  45. Thanks Roger...we are loud and proud!! Thanks to Des and all the other mods at BPD for all they do and for bringing us all together.

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  46. Roger, we love you for getting the word about saving our light out there. You are awesome! 4000 members, WOW, just WOW! This show, the Otalia storyline and our two beautiful actresses make us so proud and we are willing to keep on fighting until someone tells us GL has been picked up and will continue on. Keep going fellow BPD members!

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  47. Thanks Roger so much! Completely agree with your view on the current rating system...it needs to be updated badly. There are so many of us that love this show and want to desperately see it continue on for 72 more years.

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