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PPM Dispute 'Resolved'
Weather stations in Hell registered a rapid drop in temperatures today and cows dug out the return portions of their travel tickets as Arbitron reported it had settled its dispute with the PPM Coalition over claims of undercounting minority listeners. The firm also published solid financials.
 After three years and countless claims and counter-claims, Arbitron and the Coalition (PPMC) - a group of minority radio broadcasters - are said to have settled their outstanding disputes regarding the latter's PPM (Portable People Meter) rating service. Under the oversight of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Edolphus Towns, the two sides worked jointly with the Media Rating Council (MRC) to implement a series of steps designed to enhance the recruitment methodology of the PPM service.
These enhancements include the addition of address-based sampling with targeted in-person recruiting to increase PPM panelist participation in key market segments.
'We have worked with the PPMC and the MRC to design these initiatives, and we believe they will help Arbitron deliver the quality data that our customers expect,' stated Arbitron President and CEO William Kerr. 'These initiatives, together with other elements, are part of a larger ongoing program by Arbitron to obtain and retain MRC accreditation.'
The enhanced recruitment approach is scheduled to begin in July. In-person recruiting will initially be deployed in the high density black and Hispanic areas across the top 25 PPM markets by year-end 2010; with implementation of address-based sampling and the addition of targeted in-person recruiting across all geographies by the end of 2011.
'We hope that this agreement has placed us on the road to the improved audience measurement,' said Jim Winston, Executive Director of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters. 'We have been talking with Arbitron for more than three years about PPM, and I am pleased that we have been able to come to an agreement for moving forward.'
Meanwhile the radio ratings giant reported an 11.4% increase in net income to $13.7m for the first quarter, compared with $12.3m in Q1 2009.
In Q1, the company reported a 2.6% decrease in revenue to $95.9m, from $98.5m during the first quarter of 2009. This, the firm said, resulted from a number of previously disclosed factors including: loss of Cumulus and Clear Channel business and the continuing impact of the recession.
Costs and expenses for the first quarter declined by 6.3%, from $75.4m in 2009 to $70.7m in 2010, due largely to the impact of an $8.2m restructuring and reorganization charge reported in the first quarter 2009. Operating income in the first quarter increased 9.3%, from $23.1m in 2009 to $25.2m in 2010.
Kerr said that the firm remains optimistic that an improvement in overall economic conditions will positively impact the firm and its customers.
Web site: www.arbitron.com .
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