This bulletin provides radio stations, advertisers, agencies and other users of Arbitron Portable People Meter^TM (PPM) data with information regarding market specification changes and key dates, and with other information about Arbitron’s reports and services.  

PPM Report Periods

Audience estimates in each Arbitron PPM Radio Market Report are based on a four-week report period. This bulletin covers the three report periods below. This bulletin may be supplemented by additional bulletins as warranted.   

PPM Reports

Houston-Galveston PPM^TM Radio Ratings Data Received MRC Accreditation
Effective January 29, 2007, the Houston-Galveston PPM radio ratings data received Media Rating Council^® (MRC) accreditation.  More information about the MRC accreditation is available on Arbitron’s Web site at www.arbitron.com/ppm.

PPM Audience Estimates Available in Arbitron PPM eBook^TM
Effective with the January 2007 report period, audience estimates for encoded radio stations will be available in the Arbitron PPM Radio Market Report (Arbitron PPM eBook).  The PPM Radio Market Report will be available to subscribers in PPM Currency markets via the Arbitron eBook portal. (Nonsubscribers will not have access to PPM audience estimates in Currency markets.)  

Enhanced PPM Analysis Tool
An enhanced PPM Analysis Tool will be released in March 2007.          

PPM Markets

PPM Release Schedules and Methodology

Additional information on the release schedule for PPM audience estimates and data, and information on PPM methodology, is available at the Arbitron Web site at:

http://www.arbitron.com/portable_people_meters/home.htm

Note:  Although Currency markets (markets converted to PPM measurement) and Demonstration markets (markets providing PPM demonstration data) utilize methodology that is similar in many respects, such markets employ methodological differences with which subscribers may wish to become familiar.   

Market Specification Changes

No changes in market definition or ethnic controls are planned for the above PPM radio markets during the January 2007, February 2007 and March 2007 report periods.

Encoding

Arbitron will provide encoding equipment at no cost for each eligible station that chooses to encode. Stations are eligible to encode their signals, and to receive encoding equipment, regardless of subscriber status.
 
No Metro audience estimates will be tabulated or reported for stations that choose not to encode.  Once a market is converted to PPM electronic measurement, estimates based on diaries will no longer be available. 

A station may begin encoding after the report period begins; however, audience estimates will not be adjusted to exclude unencoded intervals.  For example, audience estimates for a station that begins encoding the third week of the report period will include two weeks of zero listening averaged with any listening that occurs during the third and fourth weeks of the report period.  Similarly, any portion of a day during which a station’s signal is not encoded will be counted as zero listening, because no meter will be able to detect listening to the station.  It is for that reason that Arbitron provides a monitor and a backup encoder.  Close attention to the guidelines and recommendations below will help ensure that each station’s audience estimates reflect any listening that occurs during the station’s broadcast hours:

• Stations will need to give high priority to ensure the encoder is operating.  Although the station’s engineer will likely find the encoder easy to use, the encoder will need monitoring.  It is the station’s responsibility to self-monitor encoding at all times. We will provide the station with the tools (encoding monitor, backup encoders and associated documents) to make this possible.
• Arbitron’s Encoding Operations staff will be available to help the station begin encoding.  Working in cooperation with Arbitron’s Encoding Operations staff, the station engineer will have the tools necessary to ensure the effective installation of encoding equipment.    
• Arbitron’s staff will also be available for on-site visits that, with the aid and cooperation of the local engineering staff, will help assure the continuing operation of Arbitron’s encoding and monitoring equipment.
• Stations should notify Arbitron in advance of frequency moves and other facility changes. These changes will continue to have important reporting implications.  By notifying us in advance, we can work with stations to ensure that their estimates are reported appropriately. 
• In the event of an encoder failure:
• The station should switch to the backup or spare encoder immediately!
• The station should contact Arbitron Encoding Operations (which will respond during business hours).

Encoding Steps

The following steps are necessary to ensure that the equipment is correctly selected, installed and tested before the station is fully encoded and eligible for audience estimates:

• The station signs and returns an encoding agreement. This will help clarify the parties’ respective responsibilities. 
• The equipment is shipped. A representative from Arbitron Encoding Operations will contact the station’s engineer to assess the station’s technical needs.  Arbitron then ships the appropriate equipment.
• The equipment is installed. Once received, the engineer should install the encoding equipment (main and backup encoder) and in-station encoding monitor as soon as possible.
• The equipment is tested. Once the equipment is installed, the station’s engineer and Arbitron Encoding Operations need to test each encoder (main and backup) to make sure the equipment is functioning properly.  This will require an off-air audio sample from each encoder.
• Arbitron confirms the station is properly encoded. Once all components have been tested, Arbitron will provide the station with confirmation that the station is considered encoded and eligible for reporting.
• The station monitors its encoder status. Following installation of the encoder, it is the station’s responsibility to monitor the encoding status using the provided in-station monitor.  Arbitron’s engineers recommend connecting the monitor to the station’s existing air-fault alarm system.

Station Information

Radio stations in PPM markets will continue to receive quarterly Station Information Packets (SIPs).  We ask that stations in PPM markets continue to complete and return the packets on a timely basis.  Stations may further update their submitted station information at any time.  Arbitron strongly encourages stations to note the following:

• Stations should continue to submit Station Information Profiles (SIPs).  Station Information Profiles will still be needed to enable us to report detailed and timely station information such as format.  For stations that reach into adjacent markets in which diaries are used, Station Names will continue to be used to assign listening credit in the adjacent markets.  The careful and timely submission of Station Names may therefore continue to be important.
• Stations should notify us in advance of Frequency Moves, “Hot” Call Letter Changes and other complex changes. These changes will continue to have important reporting implications.  By notifying us in advance, we can work with stations to ensure that their estimates are reported most appropriately.  We will not be able, for example, to implement frequency moves retroactively.
• Stations should notify Arbitron about call letter changes and other station information promptly.  With more frequent and timely reports than our quarterly diary service, updates will have to be processed quickly.  We may be unable to note call letter changes and other important changes, if stations delay notifying us.  Station Information changes must be received by the last day of the applicable report period.

Key Dates

Station information updates will be accepted through the last day of the applicable report period.

Please address updates to:

Address:
Radio Station Relations
Arbitron Inc.
9705 Patuxent Woods Drive
Columbia, MD 21046-1572
Attention: Station Information  

Phone:  (410) 312-8062
Fax:  (410) 312-8619

Station information updates will be acknowledged by e-mail, letter or postcard.

The policy and procedure amendment(s) set forth in this bulletin are hereby incorporated by reference into and deemed to amend and supersede in pertinent part the most recent Description of Methodology as published in the Local Radio Market Report or as otherwise furnished to subscribers.

For more detailed information on the topics in this bulletin, including the specific markets affected by Arbitron’s ongoing efforts to improve sample quality, please contact your local Arbitron sales representative.

Media Rating Council^® is a registered mark of the Media Rating Council.