After years of research, field tests and industry review, Arbitron’s revolutionary radio audience measurement system—the Portable People Meter (PPM™)—is now being rolled out as a commercial radio ratings service.
The PPM service will replace Arbitron’s current diary-based ratings with passive, electronic measurement. Current plans call for the PPM to be deployed in the Top 48 radio markets by 2010.
At the same time, Arbitron is exploring—and will be testing in the field—different approaches to using electronic measurement in markets ranked 51+.
The PPM system automatically reports audience exposure to inaudible codes embedded in a broadcast signal.
In the Top 50 markets, Arbitron will provide PPM encoders free of charge and report PPM audience estimates for all FCC-licensed AM and FM radio stations—including noncommercial stations—that wish to participate. The PPM data, however, will only be provided to those who subscribe to the PPM service.
Arbitron recognizes the importance of accreditation from the Media Rating Council® for any new service. The accreditation process for the PPM is ongoing and our goal is to gain accreditation in all our PPM markets. A current listing of all PPM markets and products accredited is available here.
The PPM service gives broadcasters more choices than ever before in determining their level of participation in radio audience measurement at the local market level.
Since the PPM ratings are based on detecting inaudible codes hidden in broadcast streams, it is up to the radio broadcasters to decide if they want their audience measured and how many of their broadcast operations—HD Radio® subchannels, Internet streams, etc.—they want rated.
Arbitron will provide two encoders and one encoding monitor to all FCC-licensed AM or FM stations within a Metro or DMA® at no cost and with no commitment to subscribe to the PPM service. The same offer is extended to all stations that have an alternate city ID within the Metro or DMA.
This means that Arbitron will produce PPM audience estimates for every station that chooses to encode without any cost incurred by the station.
The PPM ratings, however, will only be provided to those who subscribe to the PPM service.
In addition to being provided with two encoders and a monitor, stations that subscribe to the PPM service have the opportunity to receive additional encoders for HD-Multicast stations and Internet streams free of charge. Stations do not need to subscribe to any of Arbitron's services to be eligible to report their encoded HD-Multicast and streaming Internet stations. Arbitron's encoding equipment can be made available to non-subscribing stations by leasing the equipment for a limited annual fee.
Subscribing stations in counties outside the Metro or DMA will also receive free of charge two encoders and one monitor for each subscribing station.
Nonsubscribing stations outside the Metro or DMA will also have the opportunity to lease encoders for an annual fee if they want their stations measured.
Stations in adjacent Top 50 markets can choose to encode either on their scheduled rollout date or at the earlier time of an adjacent market. For example, stations in 21st-ranked Baltimore could encode at the same time as 8th-ranked Washington, DC, in October 2008 or wait until the PPM is deployed in the Baltimore market.
The PPM service builds on Arbitron’s diary-based reports while taking full advantage of all the benefits of electronic measurement, including the ability to collect and deliver more audience data in less time.
In markets served by the PPM, Arbitron’s quarterly Radio Market Report (“the book”) will be replaced by monthly delivery of audience estimates, and the ArbitrendsSM report will be replaced by weekly PPM data.
The monthly data will include Metro AQH and Cume estimates, and the monthly survey schedule matches the diary service schedule.
The introduction of the Portable People Meter will offer significant and immediate advantages to local market radio broadcasters and their advertisers, including:
With the PPM system, Arbitron can deliver more frequent and more current data for buying and selling.
PPM ratings will be released for all markets within weeks—instead of months—of the end of the survey period.
The passive, electronic measurement provided by the PPM eliminates many of the inherent shortcomings of older measurement methods:
The PPM indicates that a typical radio station often reaches twice as many listeners compared to current measures of the audience.
The PPM system enables Arbitron to provide audience estimates for:
The PPM delivers more detailed data, data that can lead to better programming decisions.
There are four special audience flow reports designed specifically for program directors:
Read more about PPM Technology and PPM Research and Development
ArbitrendsSM, Portable People Meter™ and PPM™ are
marks of Arbitron Inc. Media Rating Council® is a registered
mark of the Media Rating Council. HD Radio® is a trademark of
iBiquity Digital Corporation. DMA® is a registered service
mark of Nielsen Media Research, Inc., and is used pursuant to a license from
Nielsen Media Research, Inc.
Last updated: 5.8.12