Networks consequently ramp up their programming during these four four-week periods in February, May, July, and November. Outside of these peak periods, it is more common to see reruns of popular programs, while most of the more shocking plot elements (which, in turn, cause more viewers to tune in, pushing advertising rates up) happen largely during sweeps.
In some rare cases (such as N.Y.P.D. Blue and The O.C.), a few shows do not even premiere new episodes until November sweeps, while it is traditional to begin the new American television season in September. FOX is the only network to do this on a regular and constant basis, delaying the premiere of all major shows until November.
See How Does Sweeps Week Work? (http://slate.msn.com/id/2095577)
Sweeping techniques are a form of attack or counterattack aimed at moving the opponent's lower leg to cause a loss of balance.
Sweeps are often done when the opponent is moving, just when the body weight is being transferred to the foot which is swept.
When leg sweeps are done properly they are very effective, not only because they effectively set up scoring techniques, but because of their demoralizing effective on the opponent.
Much of the ratings system, however, still consists of the completion by viewers of ratings diaries, in which a viewer records his or her viewing habits, generally for a week, in exchange for being advanced a nominal fee.
The term "sweep" refers to how the diaries were handled by Nielsen Media when the ratings were first produced: They are mailed to the households and processed by starting on the East Coast and "sweeping" across the nation.
For this reason, the "sweeps" system of national ratings has been criticized as not representative of typical programming, and encouraging an increase in content of concern such as violence and explicit sexuality.
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