Is the new Arbitron Ratings Policy Unfair to Smaller Radio Companies?

[Tom Wells]

That's a strange way of putting it.  If radio was....

 

I stated it that way simply to illustrate differing perceptions held by the public vs people in the business.

The public thinks the radio is "for" them. 
They never read the 1967 book defining public broadcasting as that, and commercial radio as a business district.

The public persists in thinking the "content" is what radio is about.

Radio people should know it's all about business, and business is by definition a "non-fair" zone.

It's about success in occupying ears, not listening or any kind of assessment of content.

The highest rated station would naturally be one that is compelling to listen to,  but contains only content that becomes
immediately irrelevant or incorrect.   Like news and sports.   

Hey, wait a minute. 

[TheBigA]

I stated it that way simply to illustrate differing perceptions held by the public vs people in the business.

You mean the Wizard of Oz wasn't real?  Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!

It's an interesting lesson, because the people want things for free.  They're willing to make deals that might, in the long term, be harmful because they want stuff for free.  We see that right now in the current political process. 

[DavidEduardo]

Everybody know Arbitron always stacked the deck against non subscribers by placing diaries where they will shine more favorably on clients..

That's not true. The diary survey is accredited by the MRC in all but one market, and the MRC certification guarantees as close to a random sample as is possible.

[DavidEduardo]

Exactly. Arbitron has decided to use the publication of 12+/6+ ratings as a carrot to get more buyers for their ratings.  

As I recall, Arbitron began releasing data to the trades and to newspapers back when we still had Hooper and Pulse and Arbitron was the challenger. After Arbitron vanquished its foes at the agency level, the practice continued... and served a purpose during the Birch and SRC days, as well.

Those were the days of R&R and FMQB and Gavin and such and we followed other markets closely to see how stations we emulated, copied or respected were doing.

But in general, the public release of data served Arbitron well in the era when it was striving to be the top ratings company.

[EJM]

According to RBR, Cumulus is looking to revive their deal with Nielson.

If you're referring to their recent announcement, it looks like it has nothing to do with ratings...

http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=n24541

http://rbr.com/cumulus-nielsen-expand-partnership

http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/105031/cumulus-and-nielsen-expand-relationship

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/radio/cumulus-and-nielsen-announce-expanded-relationship-1006791352.story

http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2438371&spid=24698

[TheBigA]

Aha!  You're right.  I just saw the headline before.

[smedge2006]

Can Arbitron require non subscribing stations to encode for PPM?

[PTBoardOp94]

No, but it is in the interest of non-subscribers to encode.  Otherwise they won't be rated at all.  Kind of like the current situation with non-subscribers in the public release of data, but also affecting the data purchased Arbitron's paying customers.

[josh]

Problem with Arbitron is that they have lost any credibility as a ratings service.  If it is about ratings then you need to include all radio stations in the market.  More than half of the stations in the Atlantic City, NJ market are no longer included in the ratings.  I am currently investigating the possibility of starting a new rating service at much lower cost than Arbitron. As a former scientific programmer for the military I believe I can develop a statistical analysis that would provide area radio stations with the info they need and at far less cost.

[TheBigA]

Problem with Arbitron is that they have lost any credibility as a ratings service.  If it is about ratings then you need to include all radio stations in the market. 

They measure all the radio stations.  They just don't give their data away. 

Good luck with coming up with a cheaper ratings system.  Let me know when you'll give it away for free.