Arbitron Releases Initial Round of Ratings Results From the Second Phase of the Portable People Meter Trial.Business Editors NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 2002 Arbitron Arbitron (NYSE: ARB) is a radio audience research company in the United States which collects listener data on radio audiences similar to that collected by Nielsen Media Research on television audiences. Expands Ongoing Assessment Of Portable People Meter The Portable People Meter (sometimes mistakenly "Personal People Meter") or PPM, is a device developed by Arbitron to measure how many people are listening (or at least exposed) to individual radio stations and television stations, including cable TV. Audience Ratings Arbitron Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : ARB) today released an initial round of ratings results from the second phase of the Portable People Meter (PPM) U.S. market trial in Philadelphia Philadelphia, ancient cities Philadelphia, name of several ancient cities. One was in Lydia, W Asia Minor (now W Turkey). At the foot of Mt. Tmolus and near the location of modern Alaşehir, it was founded in the 2d cent. B.C. . Compared to existing methods of measuring media audiences, the Portable People Meter continues to report higher average quarter-hour audiences on a 24-hour day, total-week basis for the combined electronic media stations and networks that encoded full time. The February February: see month. 2002 PPM results show increased average quarter-hour audiences for broadcast and cable television, and somewhat higher average quarter-hour audiences for radio (see summary findings below). The latest Portable People Meter findings from the early weeks of the expanded panel of 1,500 consumers in the Philadelphia radio and television market confirm the pattern of observations reported in the previous three ratings comparisons from last year's more limited phase of the trial in Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. . These findings continue to suggest that Arbitron's new ratings technology is tracking media exposure that is not included in today's generation of TV and radio ratings methods. "These four comparisons from two separate panels of consumers indicate that the PPM can consistently track people's exposure to radio, broadcast and cable television, in and out of the home," said Steve Morris Steve 'Slippery' Morris was an Australian rugby League footballer. A halfback, Morris played for the Dapto club. In the 1978 season he gained selection in the New South Wales Country Rugby League side and was then chosen to represent Australia, making Morris the last player , president and chief executive officer, Arbitron Inc. "The Portable People Meter is a system that is showing its potential. However, it's it's 1. Contraction of it is. 2. Contraction of it has. See Usage Note at its. it's it is or it has it's be ~have clear that there are aspects of the PPM data that need to be explored in more detail. The expanded evaluation program that we are announcing today will be essential to any ultimate acceptance of the new technology in the marketplace." Expanded Evaluation Program of PPM results With the initial release of ratings results from the second phase of the Portable People Meter trial, Arbitron announced that it would expand its ongoing evaluation of the audience estimates produced by the Arbitron Portable People Meter in Philadelphia. "Our goal now is to continue our work with the industry to examine the PPM results in detail," said Mr. Morris. "We all need to understand what these estimates mean in terms of consumer use of radio, broadcast television and cable television as well as how these estimates compare to those produced by existing measurement systems. In this way, we continue to build a knowledge base that will allow all of us to understand and fairly evaluate the potential of the PPM as a data collection tool for the business of advertising on the electronic media. "We will continue to involve the industry in our evaluation of what these estimates are telling us about today's radio, broadcast television and cable television audiences," continued Mr. Morris. "We will schedule a series of meetings, webcasts and web-based interactive presentations. We will also be giving the industry direct access to PPM data through a new software application so our customers may evaluate the PPM ratings using their own resources and expertise. In this way, the industry will have the opportunity to evaluate the PPM results from both a research and business perspective." Nielsen Noun 1. Nielsen - Danish composer (1865-1931) Carl August Nielsen, Carl Nielsen Media Research, which has an option to join Arbitron in the commercial deployment of the Arbitron Portable People Meter in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , will participate in this expanded evaluation of the PPM results and will assist Arbitron in its analysis of the differences between the PPM trial results and Nielsen's reported audience measurement data in Philadelphia. To help understand the differences reported by the Portable People Meter compared to the Nielsen meter/diary estimates and Arbitron radio diary diary [Lat.,=day], a daily record of events and observations. As distinguished from memoir (an account of events placed in perspective by the author long after they have occurred), the diary derives its impact from its immediacy, requiring each generation of readers estimates, the evaluations will include an examination of: - realize the benefits we expect to achieve from our spin-off from Ceridian Corporation; - renew contracts with large customers as they expire; - successfully execute our business strategies, including timely implementation of our Portable People Meter and our Webcast Ratings services, as well as expansion of international operations; - effectively manage the impact of further consolidation in the radio industry; and - keep up with rapidly changing technological needs of our customer base, including creating new products and services that meet these needs. Summary of February 2002 Ratings Results The initial round of ratings comparisons for phase two of the Portable People Meter U.S. Market trial uses data collected in the early weeks of the expanded trial, and is limited to total radio, broadcast television and cable television audiences for the month of February 2002. The time period covered, January January: see month. 31 to February 27, 2002, is equivalent to the Nielsen Media Research February television survey period and Phase Two of the Arbitron Winter 2002 radio survey period. Compared to existing methods of measuring media audiences, the Portable People Meter continues to report higher average quarter-hour audiences on a 24-hour day, total-week basis for the combined electronic media stations and networks that encoded full time. The February 2002 PPM results show increased average quarter-hour audiences for broadcast and cable television, and somewhat higher average quarter-hour audiences for radio.
Total Media Comparisons
Average Quarter-Hour (AQH) Ratings
Persons 12+
January 31, 2002 to February 27, 2002
Encoded Broadcast Radio/TV Stations and Cable Networks(1)
Broadcast and Cable TV:
Nielsen Media Research
Monday-Sunday, Philadelphia DMA(R)
Total Day Radio:
Portable People Meter Arbitron Diary
Philadelphia Metro
Broadcast TV 17.3 (2) 12.9 (4)
Cable TV 8.1 (2) 3.4 (4)
Radio 11.8 (3) 11.0 (5)
1. 35 radio stations, 7 broadcast TV stations and 20 cable
networks were encoded full-time for the reported time
period.
2. Philadelphia DMA(R); average daily n = 719
3: Philadelphia Arbitron Radio Metro; average daily n= 409
4. Nielsen Media Research Meter-Diary Integrated February
2002 Estimates; total n = 3,494
5. Arbitron Diary Estimates, Winter 2002 Phase 1 & 2 (January
3 to February 27, 2002), Total n = 3,053
For radio, the PPM again reported a higher average daily
cumulative audience: 84.8 percent for the PPM vs. 73.7 percent for the
Arbitron radio diary. The PPM also showed less time spent listening
for radio: 3 hours and 20 minutes per day for the PPM vs. 3 hours and
35 minutes per day for the diary.
Average Quarter-Hour (AQH) Radio Ratings by Daypart
Persons 12+
Philadelphia Radio Metro
Encoded Radio Stations(1)
Daypart PPM(2) Arbitron Diary(3)
M-S Midnight-Midnight 11.8 11.0
M-F 6A-10A 19.0 20.9
M-F 10A-3P 18.7 19.2
M-F 3P-7P 18.9 17.2
M-F 7P-Mid 7.4 6.7
M-F Mid-6A 4.4 2.4
Sa-Su 6A-Mid 11.0 9.5
1. 35 radio stations were encoded full-time for the reported
time periods.
2. Estimates for January 31 - February 27, 2002; average
daily n= 409
3. Arbitron Diary Estimates, Winter 2002 Phase 1 & 2 (January
3, 2002 to February 27, 2002; total n = 3,053
As in the first phase of the market trial, the PPM, now using a
new, larger panel of consumers deployed in the Philadelphia radio
metro, continues to report differences in radio listening patterns by
daypart. Morning-drive and mid-day AQH ratings are slightly lower
according to the PPM, while Monday-Friday afternoon drive, evening and
overnight AQH ratings are higher, as are weekend AQH ratings.
Average Quarter-Hour (AQH) Television Ratings by Daypart
Persons 6+
Philadelphia DMA
Encoded Television Stations and Cable Networks(1)
Daypart Arbitron Nielsen Media
PPM(2) Research(3)
M-S Midnight-Midnight 25.1 15.7
Broadcast TV only 16.9 12.1
Cable networks only 8.2 3.6
M-F 6A-9A 17.3 11.7
M-F 9A-12P 16.4 10.1
M-F 12P-4P 18.0 10.5
M-F 4P-6P 29.4 19.9
M-F 6P-8P 40.2 29.8
M-F 8P-11P 51.1 38.8
M-F 11P-12AM 38.1 24.0
M-F 12A-5A 13.2 4.0
1. 7 broadcast TV stations and 20 cable networks were encoded
full-time for the reported time period.
2. Estimates for January 31, 2002 to February 27, 2002;
average daily n = 719
3. Nielsen Media Research Meter-Diary Integrated February
2002 Estimates; total n = 3,494
As with the previous three findings, these comparisons for
February 2002 indicate that, for broadcast and cable television, the
PPM is reporting higher AQH audiences for all dayparts. These
increases appear to be due in part to increased viewing for men and
people under age 35, as well as substantially higher cable viewing
overall, and the PPM's ability to track viewing out of home.
Average Quarter-Hour (AQH) Ratings
Selected Demographics
Monday-Sunday, Midnight to Midnight
Encoded Broadcast Stations and Cable Networks(1)
Radio Broadcast
and Cable TV
PPM Arbitron PPM Nielsen
Metro(3) Phila. Metro DMA(2) Phila.
WI02(5) DMA(4)
Men 18+ 13.4 11.6 23.1 14.3
Women 18+ 11.2 11.3 28.7 19.2
P 6-11 -- -- 22.6 10.2
P 12-17 7.5 7.1 19.5 9.4
P 18-34 12.2 11.3 22.4 11.2
P 35-54 13.9 11.6 24.5 15.7
P 55+ 10.3 11.3 31.6 23.9
1. 35 radio stations, 7 broadcast TV stations and 20
cable networks were encoded full-time for the reported
time period.
2. Philadelphia DMA(R); average daily n = 719
3: Philadelphia Arbitron Radio Metro; average daily n=
409
4. Nielsen Media Research Meter-Diary Integrated February
2002 Estimates; total n = 3,494
5. Arbitron Diary Estimates, Winter 2002 Phase 1 & 2
(January 3 to February 27, 2002), Total n = 3,053
About the Comparisons For the month of February 2002, 35 radio stations, seven broadcast television stations and 20 cable networks were encoding See encode. their audio full time and are included in these ratings comparisons. The panel of consumers used for these ratings comparisons is representative of the market being measured in terms of the 37 sub-classes for the control variables of household size, employment status, presence of children, ethnicity ethnicity Vox populi Racial status–ie, African American, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic , geography, number of TV sets and cable/satellite TV status. The panelists carried the meters with them more than 15 hours a day (median value Noun 1. median value - the value below which 50% of the cases fall median statistics - a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population ) throughout the month of February. The radio ratings comparisons are between February 2002 PPM data and the Winter 2002 Phase I and II Arbitron diary data. These comparisons are for Persons 12+, as the radio diary survey begins at age 12. TV ratings comparisons are made with data from the Nielsen meter/diary integrated estimates for the total Philadelphia DMA (1) (Digital Media Adapter) See digital media hub. (2) (Document Management Alliance) A specification that provides a common interface for accessing and searching document databases. (R) for the February 2002 Nielsen survey. These data are compared with the February 2002 PPM results for total Persons 6+, which is currently the youngest age for PPM measurement. Status of the U.S. Market Trial The successful first phase, conducted from December December: see month. 2000 to November November: see month. 2001, included three separate comparisons of total radio, broadcast and cable television audiences generated by the PPM and existing audience measurement systems. Arbitron found that, compared to ratings reported by current TV and radio audience measurement systems, the Portable People Meter reports higher total-day average quarter-hour (AQH AQH Average Quarter Hour (radio ratings) AQH American Quarter Horse AQH Average Quarter of an Hour (advertising) ) estimates for consumer use of electronic media - radio, TV and cable. At its peak, 300 individuals were carrying Portable People Meters in the Wilmington, Delaware Radio Metro, which is embedded Inserted into. See embedded system. within the Philadelphia DMA(R). On January 3, 2002, Arbitron began recruiting a new, representative panel of consumers across the Philadelphia radio and television marketplace for the expanded second phase of the U.S. market trial of the Portable People Meter. As of March 31, 2002, approximately 1,520 individuals in the Philadelphia TV marketplace, age six and older, have been outfitted out·fit n. 1. A set of tools or equipment for a specialized purpose: a welder's outfit. See Synonyms at equipment. 2. A set of clothing, often with accessories. 3. with the new passive audience measurement device, which automatically reports their exposure to the 79 radio stations, broadcast television station and cable networks that are currently encoding their audio signals for the U.S. market trial. Encoding Status Summary As of April 1, 2002, 10 TV stations, 47 radio stations and 22 cable networks serving the Philadelphia market are participating in the trial by encoding their signals using the latest generation of Arbitron encoders. Many of these stations and networks have been using Arbitron PPM encoders since August 2000. About the Portable People Meter The PPM is a pager-sized device that is carried by consumers. It automatically detects inaudible codes that TV and radio broadcasters as well as cable networks embed em·bed also im·bed v. em·bed·ded, em·bed·ding, em·beds v.tr. 1. To fix firmly in a surrounding mass: embed a post in concrete; fossils embedded in shale. in the audio portion of their programming using encoders provided by Arbitron. At the end of each day, the survey participants place the meters into base stations that recharge re·charge tr.v. re·charged, re·charg·ing, re·charg·es To charge again, especially to reenergize a storage battery. re the devices and send the collected codes to Arbitron for tabulation tab·u·late tr.v. tab·u·lat·ed, tab·u·lat·ing, tab·u·lates 1. To arrange in tabular form; condense and list. 2. To cut or form with a plane surface. adj. Having a plane surface. . The meters are equipped with a motion sensor A device that measures or detects a real-world condition, such as motion, heat or light and converts the condition into an analog or digital representation. An optical sensor detects the intensity or brightness of light, or the intensity of red, green and blue for color systems. that allows Arbitron to monitor the compliance of the PPM survey participants every day - a quality control feature unique to the Arbitron Portable People Meter in the realm of media research. 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 Mexico, city, Mexico Mexico or Mexico City, Span. Ciudad de México (Méjico), city (1990 pop. 8,236,960; 1991 met. area est. 20,899,000), central Mexico, capital and largest city of Mexico. and Europe Europe (y  r`əp), 6th largest continent, c.4,000,000 sq mi (10,360,000 sq km) including adjacent islands (1992 est. pop. 512,000,000). . 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 InternetPublicly accessible computer network connecting many smaller networks from around the world. It grew out of a U.S. Defense Department program called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), established in 1969 with connections between computers at the , commonly known as webcasts. The Company is developing the Portable People Meter, a new technology for radio, TV and cable ratings. Arbitron's marketing and business units are supported by a world-renowned world-re·nowned adj. Widely known and acclaimed. research and technology organization located in Columbia, Maryland Columbia is a census-designated place and planned community in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Baltimore, and, to a lesser degree, Washington, DC. It began with the idea that a city could enhance its residents' quality of life. . Arbitron has approximately 800 full-time full-time adj. Employed for or involving a standard number of hours of working time: a full-time administrative assistant. full employees; its executive offices are located in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . Through its Scarborough Scarborough, town (1991 pop. 36,665) and district, North Yorkshire, NE England, on the North Sea. The town, primarily a resort, is also an important conference and retirement center. The area was recognized at an early time for its strategic location. Research joint venture with VNU VNU Volontaires des Nations Unies (French) VNU Verenigde Nederlandse Uitgeversbedrijven (Dutch) VNU Virtual Network User Media Measurement & Information, Arbitron also provides media and marketing research services to the broadcast television, magazine, newspaper and online industries. DMA is a registered trademark of Nielsen Media Research. This press release is available on the Arbitron Web site at www.arbitron.com and the KCSA KCSA Krannert Center Student Association KCSA Kentucky Crushed Stone Association (Frankfort, KY) KCSA Kyiv City State Administration KCSA Kalamazoo Christian School Association KCSA Kentucky-Canadian Studies Association Web site at www.kcsa.com. You may register to receive Arbitron's future press releases or to download To receive a file transmitted over a network. In any communications session, "download" means receive, and "upload" means send. The download/upload often implies a big/little scenario, in which data is being downloaded from the "big" server into the "little" user's computer. a complete Digital Investor Kit(TM) including press releases, regulatory reg·u·late tr.v. reg·u·lat·ed, reg·u·lat·ing, reg·u·lates 1. To control or direct according to rule, principle, or law. 2. filings and corporate materials by clicking on the "Digital Investor Kit" icon at www.kcsa.com This press release contains forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. The statements regarding Arbitron in this release that are not historical in nature, particularly those that utilize terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes" or "plans," or comparable terminology, are forward-looking statements based on current expectations about future events, which Arbitron has derived from the information currently available to it. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our results to be materially different from results implied in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include whether we will be able to: - realize the benefits we expect to achieve from our spin-off from Ceridian Corporation; - renew contracts with large customers as they expire; - successfully execute our business strategies, including timely implementation of our Portable People Meter and our Webcast Ratings services, as well as expansion of international operations; - effectively manage the impact of further consolidation in the radio industry; and - keep up with rapidly changing technological needs of our customer base, including creating new products and services that meet these needs. Additional important factors known to Arbitron that could cause forward-looking statements to turn out to be incorrect are identified and discussed from time to time in Arbitron's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in particular the risk factors discussed under the caption "ITEM 1. BUSINESS - Business Risks" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. , which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date hereof here·of adv. Of this. hereof Adverb Formal or law of or concerning this Adv. 1. hereof - of or concerning this; "the twigs hereof are physic" , and Arbitron undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Editor's note Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. : A complete list of radio stations, broadcast television stations and cable networks and outlets participating in the U.S. market trial is available on request. |
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