RAJAR Returns after 18 Months, with Enhanced Service

UK radio listening currency provider RAJAR has confirmed that after an eighteen month gap, new audience figures will be published on Thursday 28th October; with an enhanced set of methodologies including the first use of panellists and MediaCell technology.

RAJAR is the country's independent Joint Industry Currency service, and is jointly owned by the BBC and commercial radio trade body Radiocentre. The interests of advertisers (ISBA) and ad agencies (IPA) are represented directly within the general and technical management of the service.

The industry survey has been suspended since March 2020 when Covid policies stopped the conducting of ftf research. RAJAR immediately began an extensive review aimed at both checking the latest methods were being exploited and ensuring the safe return of face-to-face surveys.

The new and revised approach builds on the existing survey design, adding panellists and MediaCell technology to face-to-face recruited respondents; and capturing listening from both diaries and mobile devices. MediaCell is proprietary passive technology owned by Ipsos MORI, running as a smartphone app and using Audio Content Recognition (ACR) techniques to measure listening to radio stations.

RAJAR Chief Executive Jerry Hill (pictured) comments: 'As with many sectors, we have faced an unprecedented set of challenges during the pandemic. The team at RAJAR with the enormous support of our research partners Ipsos and RSMB, have developed a flexible design that both strengthens the service both now and for its future evolution'.

RAJAR notes that after more than a year without figures, normal yearly and quarterly comparisons will not be provided for the time being; but also that the first set of published results will include an extended Q3 sampling period to provide the most robust and reflective data possible.

Web site: www.rajar.co.uk .