Partners to Gauge Dominican Pulse

A group of companies has launched a new service called Dominican Pulse, to gauge opinion among the residents of the Dominican Republic on subjects ranging from public affairs issues and politics, to music and culture.

The Caribbean nation occupies the eastern two thirds of the Island of Hispaniola and has a population of more than nine million - see www.mrweb.com/countries/145dominicanrepublic.htm .

The new partnership includes Miami-based opinion specialist Newlink Research; Colorado-based technology company Broadnet; and Grupo Corripio, the largest media conglomerate in the Dominican Republic, which owns TV channels TeleAntillas and Telesistema, as well as newspapers Hoy, El Nacional and El Dia.

Each week for the next year, approximately 1,000 residents of the country will be surveyed on a variety of issues, with the results broadcast on newscast Telenoticias. Respondents will be drawn from a random sample of the nation's mobile and landline phone numbers.

Polls are powered by Broadnet automated survey technology, with respondents using their touchtone keypads to answer the survey questions. Additionally, Newlink Research is using its proprietary 'Newbot' technology, which was previously used mainly to conduct electoral tracking polls.

For each poll, Newlink will develop a questionnaire based on topics selected by a panel of journalists at Grupo Corripio. The agency analyzes the resulting data and provides Telesistema with a dynamic presentation. Roberto Cavada, the show's host, then presents the results during his primetime show, and a summary of the presentation will also appear on the front page of Grupo Corripio's Hoy the next morning.

Newlink Managing Partner Mauricio de Vengoechea (pictured), described the results of the initiative as 'extraordinary', adding that his firm is already exploring similar relationships elsewhere in Latin America.

Web site: www.newlink-group.com .