Arbitron in Strategic R&D Agreement to Develop PPM

Arbitron has signed a long term Research Technology Development and Licensing Agreement with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), in the States. Under this agreement, APL will provide research and development expertise to enhance Arbitron's audience measurement capabilities and services, including its Portable People Meter audience measurement system.

The Portable People Meter, currently undergoing American market trials, is the first electronic measurement device to automatically collect information about consumers' exposure to radio, TV and cable programming. The pager-sized device, carried by consumers, records station identification codes, inaudible to listeners that broadcasters embed in the audio portion of their programming. Once a day, survey participants place their meter into a base station that recharges the device and sends the collected codes to Arbitron for tabulation.

APL is aiming to apply its expertise in acoustics, radio frequency technologies, as well as electronics packaging, fabrication processes and reliability testing gained from its Department of Defence and NASA-related projects to extend the capabilities of the Portable People Meter. "This alliance with Arbitron is a great example of how APL is transferring technology to benefit an international company while enhancing our local community," says APL Director Richard Roca.

"Our agreement with APL will advance Arbitron's goal of establishing the Portable People Meter as a global standard for media measurement," added Ron Kolessar, vice president, Technology, Arbitron Inc. "Their expertise will help us augment our Portable People Meter so that the system will better serve our customers' needs in the U.S. and around the world."

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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