PPM: Spanish Broadcaster Votes with Feet

Arbitron says Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Radio will not renew contracts for its Portable People Meter (PPM) ratings in San Diego, Miami and Phoenix, and will refuse to encode its signals for PPM in the three markets.

Univision is a member of the PPM Coalition along with fellow Arbitron critics the Spanish Radio Association (SRA) and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB), who in March expressed their continuing 'disappointment and frustration' with the firm's actions and promises regarding upgrades of its sampling methodology.

An FCC enquiry is currently underway into claims that the PPM undercounts the audiences of minority radio stations - Arbitron says the body has no authority to intervene in work conducted by the Media Rating Council. Earlier in July the Coalition told the enquiry that the PPM has seen ratings for minority broadcasters in New York down 40-60% since October.

Despite these tribulations, the ratings giant reported strong Q2 profits earlier this week. Web site: www.arbitron.com .

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

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