Down for the Count

The credibility of Sydney's radio ratings system has been challenged for decades. So, as radio markets in the US begin to embrace electronic devices to measure audience numbers, expect renewed pressure on the radio industry here.

Fifteen years ago the Australian TV industry introduced an electronic measuring system, yet the radio industry still relies on the memory (and honesty) of householders to tick a box manually on a paper spreadsheet to record their listening habits.

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In a couple of months, Warner's group will call for tenders for a new three-year ratings contract, worth about $20 million. Nielsen Media Research's current contract is due to expire at the end of next year. Warner says electronic measuring will be high on the agenda. Arbitron is expected to pitch its meters; another international market research company, Ipsos, is pushing the SmartPhone; and Nielsen is working on a third option, yet to be unveiled.  [ MORE ]

Iceland Selects Arbitron Portable People Meter to Measure Both Radio and Television Audience

NEW YORK-April 16, 2007 - Arbitron Inc. (NYSE: ARB) announced today that leading broadcasters in Iceland have selected the Arbitron Portable People Meter(TM) system as the audience measurement currency system for both radio and television. This makes Iceland the first country to take full advantage of the PPM system's multimedia measurement capabilities.

The six-year contract was awarded to the Reykjavik-based research and consulting firm Capacent, supported by TNS Norway. TNS already provides currency measurement for the radio industry in Norway using the PPM and has licensed the use of the PPM system to Capacent. TNS will support the set-up and ongoing running of the audience measurement panel by Capacent.

The contract with Iceland's major TV and radio broadcasters was awarded through a competitive RFP for electronic audience measurement. The PPM technology, which was evaluated in field trial in Iceland, was selected over a "wristwatch meter" system proposed by Swiss-based Telecontrol, a GfK subsidiary.

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Also in 2006, RAJAR, the radio research consortium in the UK, in concert with BARB, the TV research consortium, awarded TNS with a contract for a PPM research and development panel in London. The RAJAR award was the result of a four-year competitive evaluation process that included assessments of the Media Audit/IPSOS "Smart Cell Phone" meter, the GfK "wristwatch" meter and the Eurisko Media Monitor system.   [ MORE ]

Radio Online: The Media Audit/Ipsos Respond to Arbitron Patent Suit

The Media Audit and Ipsos have filed responses to Arbitron's patent infringement suit that was levied against the duo in October, claiming that the co-developers of a smart cell phone-based radio ratings system infringed on three of its patents. The two companies deny any infringement saying the patents are invalid and should be thrown out.  [ MORE ]

NYDailyNews: Arbitron Rival - How will it rate?

Media Audit/Ipsos says it's testing a new electronic radio ratings measurement system designed to compete with long-dominant Arbitron.

The Media Audit device will be embedded in participants' cell phones and will record all other media to which they are exposed. The system will be tested in Houston, and Media Audit says it could be in all the top 10 markets by the end of 2008.  [ MORE ]

Radio Ink: Arbitron Chief Discusses Potential Cell Scenario

During Arbitron’s quarterly earnings call on Thursday, company CEO Steve Morris was asked what it would take to convert to cell phone measurement if it became apparent that the industry was demanding it. Morris said, “The major issue with cellphones is first and foremost the cellphone. Therefore, the carrying times and the behaviour in terms of having a cellphone with you are dictated primarily by the fact that it’s a phone and not by the fact that it may have a meter embedded in it.   [ MORE ]

FMQB: Broadcasters To Fund Media Audit/Ipsos "Smart Cell Phone" Test

This morning at the RAB2007 conference in Dallas, The Media Audit/Ipsos announced that they will receive millions of dollars from broadcasters to test the Smart Cell Phone ratings system in the Houston market. Companies including Clear Channel, Cox, Cumulus, Entercom and Radio One have all agreed to support a test of the ratings technology with a study that will include 2,500 Smart Cell Phone-carrying respondents. If the test goes well, The Media Audit/Ipsos says it could expand the technology to the Top 10 markets by the end of 2008 and the Top 50 markets by the end of 2009.  [ MORE ]

Media Audit Announcement at RAB

Inside Radio:  The Media Audit/Ipsos get millions from broadcasters for a full-market test in Houston.
Clear Channel, Cox, Cumulus, Entercom and Radio One have all agreed to support a test of the TMA/Ipsos electronic ratings technology with a study that will include 2500 Smart Cellphone-carrying respondents. If it goes well and there's continued support - The Media Audit/Ipsos group says it could quickly expand to the top 10 markets by the end of 2008 and the top 50 markets by the end of '09. That announcement came this morning at RAB2007 in Dallas - where Arbitron's People Meter is also featured on the exhibit floor.

MediaWeek: Philly Becomes the PPM Proving Ground

NOTE:  This is a particularly good article about the PPM situation as it stands.  Well worth reading the full article at MediaWeek.  MSO

Fox new's Sean hannity has always been intrigued with Arbitron's Portable People Meter. As a TV personality he likes to pore over the previous night's ratings to gauge reaction to the topics and issues discussed. He'd like the same feedback in radio and may soon get his wish.

For advertisers and agencies, the transition can't come fast enough. "The diary needs to go away a lot faster than it is," says Kathy Crawford, president of local broadcast for MindShare. But for radio broadcasters, even those that admit the industry needs to join the 21st century, the diary could be a hard habit to break.  [ MORE ]

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MediaWeek: Media Audit, Ipsos to Test Cell-Phone Ratings

Despite several delays in its testing schedule and Arbitron’s patent infringement suit hanging over its head, The Media Audit and its European partner Ipsos, announced Wednesday it was going ahead with its “expert witness” test of its smart cell-phone based ratings system. [ MORE ]