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Two Belgium Broadcasting Companies Select Arbitron's Portable People Meter For Marketing Research Tool 01.29.03
NEW YORK, January 29, 2003 - Arbitron Inc. (NYSE: ARB) today announced that its electronic audience measurement system - the Portable People Meter (PPM) - has been selected by two Belgium broadcasting companies to measure the listening and viewing habits of the Flemish community.
Vlaamse Radio en Televisie (VRT) and Vlaamse Audiovisuele Regie (VAR), the marketing arm of VRT, have awarded a five-year contact to TNS Media, a member of the worldwide Taylor Nelsen Sofres group, to install a panel of 450 people equipped with Arbitron's PPM system beginning in the second quarter of 2003. VRT and VAR will use the panel to gathering continuous information on the listening and viewing habits of VRT's public broadcast audiences for the purpose of radio and television cross media analysis. TNS Media will provide the PPM system through a licensing and royalty agreement with Arbitron.
Arbitron's Portable People Meter is a pager-sized device that automatically detects inaudible codes that are embedded in the audio portion of any electronic media. Its unique ability to measure both radio and television audiences from a single panel will enable VRT to identify opportunities to cross promote its radio and TV programs.
"As a media company, VRT is keen to pioneer new methods of media research," said Daniel Poesmans, head of VRT Audience Research department. "We want to be leaders in this field, using the most advanced technologies available. This project, in association with TNS Media, paves the way for the assessment of the synergy between radio and television, and will deliver us with fast, accurate and continuous information."
"VRT's innovative use of the Portable People Meter demonstrates that personal electronic measurement of media exposure has significant value that extends beyond basic ratings," said Stephen Morris, president and chief executive officer of Arbitron.
"VRT's commitment to market research as a strategic tool gives them the impetus to use the PPM to identify the cross promotional opportunities of their television and radio programming. We are delighted that the PPM, in it first application as a marketing tool, will help VRT promote public broadcasting in the Flemish community."
Belgium becomes the third country to use the PPM technology. The Television
Corporation of Singapore has employed Arbitron's audio encoding system in Taylor
Nelson Sofres' set-top people meters to identify what television programs are
being watched in 750 homes across Singapore since 2001. BBM Canada will begin
measuring French-language television audiences in Montreal and Quebec with the
PPM beginning in the fourth quarter of 2003.
This is the reason why VRT has for many years displayed great interest in highly
qualitative research. As a result, VRT's Audience Research department is seen
within Europe as a pioneer when it comes to introducing new research methodologies
and technologies. Continuously questioning and optimizing program offerings,
within the borders of a clearly defined public mission, has made it possible
for the public broadcasting corporation to recover its market leader position
in Flanders for radio as well as for television. Additional information about
VRT is available at http://www.vrt.be.
About VAR
VAR was established in 1990 by VRT and VUM. VAR is the sales house dedicated
to marketing the whole range of advertising possibilities offered by VRT and
selling media concepts and advertising space to clients and prospects. VAR aims
to be the reference sales house for radio and to become the most professional
multimedia sales house in the Belgian market.
About Taylor Nelson Sofres
Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) is one of the world's leading market information
groups. Through its network of offices located in Europe, the Americas and Asia
Pacific, Taylor Nelson Sofres provides continuous and custom research and analysis
in more than 110 countries. Its clients include major multi-national corporations.
Additional information on Taylor Nelson Sofres is available on the corporate
Web site at http://www.tnsofres.com.
About TNS Media
TNS Media was founded in 2000 trough the merger of the media research departments
of TNS DIMARSO and SOBEMAP Marketing, both companies of Taylor Nelson Sofres.
TNS Media is dedicated to providing media research and media services and is,
in this segment, a market leader in Belgium. TNS Media has played an important
role in radio audience research for more than 20 years and possesses vast experience
in this field. For more information, go to www.TNSMedia.be.
About Arbitron
Arbitron Inc. (NYSE: ARB) is an international media and marketing research firm
serving radio broadcasters, cable companies, advertisers, advertising agencies
and outdoor advertising companies in the United States, Mexico and Europe. Arbitron's
core businesses are measuring network and local market radio audiences across
the United States; surveying the retail, media and product patterns of local
market consumers; and providing application software used for analyzing media
audience and marketing information data. Arbitron Webcast Services measures
the audiences of audio and video content on the Internet, commonly known as
webcasts.
Arbitron's marketing and business units are supported by a world-renowned research and technology organization located in Columbia, Maryland. Arbitron has approximately 800 full-time employees; its executive offices are located in New York City.
Through its Scarborough Research joint venture with VNU Media Measurement &
Information, Arbitron also provides media and marketing research services to
the broadcast television, magazine, newspaper, outdoor and online industries.
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All names used are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
This press release is available on the Arbitron Web site at www.arbitron.com and the KCSA Web site at www.kcsa.com.
