CONTENTS PPM Markets Market Changes Fall 2007 Response Rate and Sample Representation Condensed Market Enhancements Key Dates Station Information Updates During the Fall 2007 Survey Print-friendly version More Presurvey Bulletins

Radio Presurvey Bulletin,
Fall 2007

This bulletin provides radio stations and other users of Arbitron services with information regarding Fall 2007 survey specification changes and key dates.

PPM™ Markets

Additional PPM Market Added
Effective Fall 2007, the Continuous Measurement radio markets below are converting from diary measurement to electronic measurement using Arbitron’s Portable People Meter™ (PPM).  Audience estimates based on diary measurement will not be available for report periods after Summer 2007 in these markets:

New York
Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island)
Middlesex-Somerset-Union

Information Available on PPM Markets
Information on Arbitron PPM markets and on the Arbitron PPM service in general is available in the separate PPM Survey Bulletin. Information is also available at: http://www.arbitron.com/portable_people_meters/home.htm.

Market Changes

Condensed Markets Added
Three new Condensed markets are added, effective with the Fall 2007 survey. These markets will be surveyed each Fall and Spring, as part of the Qualitative Diary Service. Effective Spring  2008, audience estimates for these markets will reflect a two-book average of the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 surveys.

Standard Market Cancelled
The following Standard Non-Continuous Measurement (Spring/Fall) market is cancelled, effective Fall 2007:

Johnstown

Metro Definition Change
The Metro definition of one Continuous Measurement market changes, effective with the Fall 2007 survey:

Market Name Change
Effective with the Fall 2007 survey, the following market name will change:

Geographic Splits Established
The following geographic county splits are established, effective with the Fall 2007 survey:

High Density Area (HDA) Established
A High Density Areas (HDA) is established in the following Metro counties, effective with the Fall 2007 survey:

Ethnic Split Added
The following ethnically split county has a new ethnic split portion, effective with the Fall 2007 survey:

Ethnic Split Removed
The following ethnically split county has an ethnic split portion that is removed, effective with the Fall 2007 survey:

New Scarborough Markets
Two Continuous Measurement markets will replace the Qualitative Diary Service with Scarborough, effective with Release 2 of 2007:

Fall 2007 Response Rate and Sample Representation

Enhanced Proportionality Initiative
Effective Fall 2007, members of consenting households that contain at least one Black or Hispanic household member twelve years of age or older will receive enhanced premiums in select markets.

Condensed Market Enhancements

Sample Increase in 45 Condensed Markets
Arbitron is increasing the Metro in-tab target in the 45 Condensed markets identified below, effective with the Fall 2007 survey. These increases are based on Arbitron’s review of sample sizes and are intended to help ensure reliability of audience estimates in the selected markets comparable with that for other Arbitron markets of similar size.

Spring/Fall Multi-Book Reports Continue in Condensed Markets
Arbitron’s Condensed Market Initiative, introduced in 2005, will continue to provide currency estimates (in non-embedded Condensed markets) twice each year that reflect a two-book average of listening in the most recent Spring and Fall survey periods. A second “stage” of the initiative, anticipated when the initiative was first announced, is no longer scheduled to be implemented.

Key Dates

Station Information Updates During the Fall 2007 Survey

Please remember to notify Arbitron in writing immediately of any call letter, Station Name, or other facility changes that occur at your station during the survey (September 20 – December 12).  Station updates that should be forwarded to Arbitron include:

*Summer times used for Phase 1.
**Diary edit information is not retroactive and becomes effective upon our receipt.

Please address updates to:

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

Fax: (410) 312-8619

Station information updates will be accepted through December 12. All updates will be acknowledged by letter or postcard. If you do not receive an update confirmation postcard, please contact Radio Station Relations at (410) 312-8062.

Station Information Profiles on file with Arbitron for the Fall 2007 survey can be reviewed online at www.ArbitronRadio.com. Click the Station Information Profiles link, and enter the call letters of the station you want to review.

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.

Arbitrends^SM, Arbitron Portable People Meter™ and PPM™ are marks of Arbitron Inc.