It is legit. I randomly get a few bucks cash in the mail and I just have to fill out something about my TV viewing schedule. It's really random but I've been doing this since I moved into my current address a few years ago.
Well, we always thought they were real. They sent a survey with $2 about 3 years ago. I returned the survey even though it was many pages and took some time. Think they were fishing for information as I never heard from them again until today but didn't say who they were (I don't think as I could not understand the person who was speaking so I asked them not to call any more). But my provider did list the name Nielsen but doesn't seem to be the Nielsen we were all familiar with many years in the past as they did not send the TV attachment or contact me further though I may not have been in their demographics (which would have only taken a few questions to know).
NIELSEN constantly leaving messages. We never answered a few years ago because we don't do cable TV, they did send us $1 which I gave to charity ... now a few years later they are doing a RADIO survey. Don't feel inclined to have a public record of my privately held political leanings or religious viewpoints... ( and the CDC called about childhood vaccine survey a few weeks ago)
Found out how to get on the Neilsen (Radio Survey) internal do not call list for 5 yrs ... call 1-800-204-3174 ....instead of entering your phone number, you can just hit #, then you can ask the person to take you off the list (be aware they will ask if anyone else in the household is willing to to the survey) found the number on http://www.arbitronratings.com/mainhome.htm This is a blurb from the website ,,, "Nielsen is a research company and is committed to protecting information you provide us. When we share information with other companies for research purposes, we require that same protection. Our published research reports do not contain personally identifiable information. We will NOT provide your name, address, or telephone number to other companies who would put you on a mailing list for fundraising or try to sell you something. And we will never ask you to buy anything. In fact, you can earn cash rewards by being a part of our research!"