fatima, you could not be more mistaken or paranoid. Cable is a one way transmission. Only people with special METERS on their TV set have their viewing chioces automatically recorded. Those numbers are then extrapolated to represent the viewing patterns of the public at large - sort of like an opinion poll.
Nielsen augments those results four times a year by having families fill out diaries of their viewing (a highly suspect and inaccurate system because people like you are afraid to tell anyone what they really watch)
Don't worry, you can watch all the episodes of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES you want. The government will never know.
Keep watching Ellen Degeneres,Enjoy.I am a TV producer.
Thank you for what you said in post 311....my sentiments exactly...