Arbitron and TNS Launch 'Record' TV/Radio Panel

In Canada, ratings giant Arbitron and TNS Media Research have launched what they describe as the 'world's largest combined panel for TV and radio audience measurement', designed to support industry organisation BBM Canada's own multi-media measurement initiative.

Not-for-profit BBM Canada supplies radio and TV audience ratings to the country's broadcasting, media and ad industries through electronic measurement systems and diary surveys.

Through the contract, the organization is using Arbitron's PPM (portable people meter) technology instead of legacy electronic measurement systems for TV, and is also using PPM to replace its diary service for radio in five markets.

'The launch of BBM Canada's joint radio and TV service is an exciting achievement for the Canadian ad industry,' said Jim MacLeod, President and CEO of BBM Canada. 'In September 2004, we began using PPM technology to measure TV viewing in the francophone market of Montreal and over the past 5 years we have grown confident that the service is the audience measurement solution that can best meet our members' needs today and well into the future.'

More than 75,000 PPMs are currently in use around the world across eight commercial media measurement services including the US, Canada, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Kazakhstan. Additionally, the PPM technology is utilized in TV audience measurement in Singapore.

Last week in Australia, TV technology firm NDS and TNS Media Research partnered to track and analyze audience behaviour across pay-TV operator Foxtel's network.

Web sites: www.arbitron.com , www.tnsglobal.com and www.bbm.ca .