A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

H

Hammocking
Maximising the audience to a weak programme by scheduling it between two strong programmes.

Hands Free
A devise that enables a mobile phone to be used in a car without the user holding the phone. These devices are now mandatory in the UK if using a mobile while driving.

Head of Household
The most senior member of a household. The precise definition may differ from survey to survey, and is likely to differ between surveys in different countries. See Chief Income Earner.

HD DVD
Is a high-density optical disc format for the storage of digital media, including high-definition video

Head on
Facing the direction of oncoming traffic.

Heavy Listener
See Heavy User.

Heavy User
People who buy, use or consume above-average quantities of given products or services. By definition, heavy users account for a disproportionate amount of purchases. People who watch above-average amounts of TV or listen to above- average amounts of radio are often referred to as Heavy Viewers or Heavy Listeners. The definition of a heavy user varies not only between surveys, but also between products and services.

High Definition TV
HDTV is a digital television broadcasting system with a significantly higher resolution than traditional formats

Hits – see Page Impressions

Heavy Viewer
See Heavy User.

Home Shopping
Home shopping refers to any purchasing made from home. This includes purchases from a home shopping channel like QVC, mail order organisations and the Internet. See Online Shopping and Interactive Television.

Home Page
A term associated with the Internet. Either the first page loaded by a browser at start-up, or the main Web document for a particular group, organisation, or person.

Home Page Takeover
The first page (home page) loaded by a browser at start-up that is then dominated by one advertiser. Can be exclusive to one advertiser for a given period.

Homes Connected
The total number of households that have been connected to a cable TV network. See Homes Passed.

Homes Passed
Homes that could easily and inexpensively be connected to a cable network because the feeder cable is nearby. See Homes Connected.

Host
A computer that allows many services to be provided on a single network.

Hours of Viewing
Hours of viewing are usually reported as the average number of minutes or hours viewed per day or minutes or hours viewed per week. See Channel Share.

Household
A group of people who live together and whose food and other household expenses are managed as one unit. The precise definition may differ from survey to survey, especially between surveys in different countries. The main differences usually concern the management of household expenses and duties and the way hotels, retirement homes and the like are treated.

Housewife
Also known as Homemaker (USA) or Housekeeper (Ireland). The member of the household (male or female) who is solely or mainly responsible for the household duties. There is always one housewife per household. Given that these duties are often shared between different household members the concept of a housewife has largely been replaced by that of the Chief/Main Shopper. In establishing who is responsible for household duties respondents are asked what proportion of the household shopping they are responsible for. Analyses based on Chief Shoppers may take into account these weighted proportions.

HTML
Abbreviation of Hypertext Markup Language. HTML is the language used to create Web documents, which allows users to move between pages by clicking on links embedded in the page.

Hurdle Question
Also threshold or general filter. The non time-related filter question screening certain information as in or out at the beginning of an interview. See also Time-Related Filter.

Hypertext
Hypertext Markup Language. See HTML.