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New Arbitron goof: rats ate the PPM data --- Michael Hedges August 22, 2007
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.

Newspaper Web Sites Have Added Reason To Get Deeply Into Video As Nielsen Net/Ratings Says It Will Now Rank A Site’s Popularity By Time Spent There Rather Than Page Views --- Philip M. Stone July 13, 2007
Those tricks used to increase page views like spreading stories over three or four pages to increase the number of pages accessed will soon become a thing of the past as Nielsen Net/Ratings switches the basis for its web ranking system to the time a visitor spends on a site rather than the number of pages accessed. And that should be a big boost for sites to greatly expand their video use, for how better a way to keep eyeballs on a site for prolonged periods of time than several one or two minute videos.

TNS Scores GfK Exec for RAJAR/BARB Service --- Michael Hedges August 28, 2006
The new head of TNS iTRAM is Andrea Mezzasalma, who departs GfK Eurisko in Milan where he served as partner and vice-president. He takes over the iTRAM (Internet, Television and Radio Audience Measurement) unit from Mike Gorton, who is retiring.

RAJAR Shows RAJAR Works --- Michael Hedges May 29, 2006
Upgrade and improve were the key words used by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research) Managing Director Sally de la Bedoyere when announcing the long awaited new contract for UK radio measurement. Times are tough enough in the UK commercial radio industry without inflicting new trauma. RAJARs delicately prescribed measurement homeopathy provides a regimen for well-being, mental and physical.

Research Companies in Ad-land: Nielsen Says “NO,” Arbitron Says “OH,” TNS to Analyze --- Michael Hedges March 9, 2006
Timed for maximum ad agency appeal, major audience and market research companies sent signals about media measurement. Ad-land luminaries were aghast: how dare these simple suppliers visualize a separate reality.

Ipsos Cellphone Radio Measuring Thing Maybe Included in RAJAR Tests --- Michael Hedges February 24, 2006
Bells are ringing at RAJAR headquarters as a new electronic measurement device for radio has apparently passed the functionality test, the same test passed by ARBITRON’s PPM and Eurisko’s Media Monitor early last year.

Arbitron Reports PPM Trial Results, Prepares Broadcasters for “Currency Change.” - September 26, 2005 --- Michael Hedges September 26, 2005
The US media research company shared results from the extensive Houston, Texas trials. Measured with the Personal People Meter (PPM) people “tune into more stations more frequently but they listen for shorter periods of time,” said Arbitron/PPM President Pierre Bouvard. This was no real surprise as earlier Arbitron test results were similar. And, if broadcasters bothered to ask, electronic measurement for radio in Switzerland, now in its fifth year, has shown the same patterns.

“What Gets Measured Gets Done.” --- Michael Hedges April 21, 2005

Information Consolidation --- Michael Hedges April 18, 2005

Contestant Voted Off “Survivor-The RAJAR Edition” --- Michael Hedges February 15, 2005

Italian Company Enters Radio Measurement Competition --- Michael Hedges February 1, 2005

Berlusconi Family Adds Radio to Media Holdings --- Michael Hedges January 26, 2005
Arnaldo Mondadori Editore finalized its purchase of all or parts of three Italian radio channels through its new subsidiary Monradio.

RAJAR Surveys UK Industry: Reports Consensus --- Michael Hedges January 21, 2005

UK judge dumps lawsuit over radio surveys --- Michael Hedges December 20, 2004

RAJAR Announces Roadmap to Metered Surveys --- Michael Hedges October 1, 2004
A step-by-step plan leading to electronic measurement adoption was announced by the UK radio industry group charged with audience measurement.

New Measurement Devices Raise New Questions --- Michael Hedges August 1, 2004

A Pinch Here And A Pinch There --- Michael Hedges February 23, 2015 Follow on Twitter
It is a sign of the times that broadcasters, when faced with a restless audience and restive advertisers, struggle for balance. 'Build an audience and the money will follow' rings hollow in the digital era, automated media buying only one challenge. Big media brands are at greatest risk because when money is scarce doing 'more with less' pinches. And the audience notices, of course.

Shuffling The News And Changing The Channel --- Michael Hedges March 6, 2014 Follow on Twitter
The news is the news is turning. Privately-owned broadcasters are challenging public radio channels known for news and information. Public broadcasters - and the politicians who run them - are reading the ratings and do not like what they see. But changes are just so negotiable.