Hot Topic - Measurement

Broadcasters blast ratings service
Well, some have and some haven’t. But then one of the oldest anecdotes in broadcasting is: when the ratings are good, credit my brilliant programming, and when ratings are bad, blame the measurement system. The howling by several US broadcasters about Arbitron’s PPM system only grows louder.

BBC edges ahead with UK audience
BBC’s lead over commercial broadcasters pushed higher, boosted both by local and national channels. And the latest audience survey shows another boost for digital platforms. Oh, and lots of people still listen to FM.

Wake up and smell the coffee, Steve
This could be one of those days when Arbitron CEO Steve Morris wakes up asking himself why he ever left that good job running the Maxwell House coffee business for General Foods. Yesterday (Wednesday November 14) four of his biggest clients – Clear Channel Radio, Cox Radio, Cumulus Media and Radio One – fired off a letter, provided to ftm, that began, 'It is with the utmost urgency and objection that we, your customers, send you this letter.'

New Arbitron goof: rats ate the PPM data
A new problem surfaced this week for US media measurement agency Arbitron in their roll-out of radio audience surveys collected with the Personal People Meter (PPM). A big chunk of data from the Houston, Texas survey disappeared. Arbitron calls it an “error.” Broadcasters call it a crisis.

The dynamics of a dynamic media market
More people than ever tuned into UK radio during this years’ second quarter, says the RAJAR audience survey. During the same period iconic commercial radio station Capital Radio fell to fourth place in London. The stations’ 4.1% market share is its historical low point.

On measurement and monopoly
Across the globe and across all media measurement is the be-all and end-all to commercial success. As media buyers and ad agencies demand changes and enhancements to measurement systems, from cross-media, passive monitoring to ‘granular’ data, broadcasters either acquiesce or endure the financial consequences. Cox Radio CEO Bob Neil took questions from ftm on radio measurement and monopoly.

Media Measurement Moves Forward and Everywhere

Includes: mobile and internet metrics, electronic measurement systems and device descriptions, PPM (US) debate, Cox Radio President Bob Neil interview, RAJAR (UK) debate, with comments. 68 pages PDF (February 2008)
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