UKTV Joins BARB Board

British audience research body BARB has been strengthened by the addition of joint venture broadcaster UKTV to its ownership group.

UKTV is a commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, operating ten channel brands. With the announcement, its Executive Director of Strategy, Insight & Regulatory Affairs Simon Brown joins BARB's board of Directors.

BARB uses research commissioned from Ipsos MORI, Kantar Media and RSMB to report viewing up to four weeks after linear broadcast for over 330 channels; plus viewing for non-linear programmes and dynamically inserted advertising. The UK's 26.6 million TV households are represented by a panel of 5,100 homes. The Joint Industry Currency was established in 1981 with the backing of three organisations, the BBC, IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) and ITV. Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky were added in 1999, and advertisers have been represented at board level through ISBA since 2008.

UKTV Play will also feature in BARB's online television viewing measure, TV Player Report.

Chairman Nigel Sharrocks (pictured) comments: 'For 35 years BARB has been delivering gold standard audience measurement for the industry that owns us. An independent currency is paramount for programme makers and advertisers to justify return on their investments. BARB can deliver this because the breadth of the industry is represented on our board. We're delighted to welcome UKTV and look forward to its contribution to our service development'. UKTV Chief Exec Darren Childs adds: 'The television industry is going through an unprecedented change and robust audience measurement has never been more important. We are looking forward to working with the BARB board to ensure measurement remains fit for purpose and we all continue to benefit from a single currency in the VOD and OTT world'.

Web sites are at www.uktv.co.uk and www.barb.co.uk .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.