April 28, 2008, London — TNS Media Research, a division of TNS providing internet, TV, and radio audience measurement worldwide, is pleased to announce that BBM Canada, the leading supplier of radio and television audience ratings services to the Canadian broadcast advertising industry, has selected a joint bid by TNS and Arbitron Inc to deploy Portable People Meter (PPM) technology for electronic measurement of television and radio in Canada.
The new PPM television service will be based on the world’s largest combined TV and radio meter panel. Installation of the system will begin in early 2009 and will roll out later that year.
"BBM blazed the trail in portable measurement when it adopted PPM for TV audience currency in Montreal and Quebec in 2004,” said Richard Marks, Global Head, TNS Media Research. “Since then the system has been adopted as currency in a number of countries so we are delighted that the PPM is being adopted by the rest of Canada. We are looking forward to partnering with BBM and Arbitron to roll out what will be the world's largest meter panel providing both TV and Radio currency."
"We’re delighted that the Portable People Meter will be an integral component of the world’s most advanced, single source, radio and television ratings system which the BBM is now creating for Canada’s radio and TV broadcasters, agencies and advertisers," said Steve Morris, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Arbitron Inc. "We designed the Portable People Meter to be a robust and adaptable technology. That’s why the PPM is the ideal solution for single source media measurement where one panel of consumers is used to measure many channels of media distribution."
“BBM’s goal in this process was to ensure that our electronic television measurement system was employing the most efficient and cost-effective technology available,” said Jim MacLeod, President and CEO, BBM Canada. “I am confident that BBM’s Board of Directors has chosen a technology solution that will not only meet the audience measurement needs of today but will also anticipate and adapt to the needs of the future.”
Following an extensive evaluation period starting in June 2007, TNS and Arbitron put in their joint bid that beat three rival companies to win the BBM tender. TNS has been working with Arbitron, who developed the PPM system, for eight years and there are now over 30,000 PPMs deployed around the world across eight commercial measurement services.
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About TNS
TNS is a global market information and insight group.
Its strategic goal is to be recognised as the global leader in delivering value-added information and insights that help its clients make more effective business decisions.
TNS delivers innovative thinking and excellent service across a network of 80 countries. Working in partnership with clients, TNS provides high-quality information, analysis and insight that improves understanding of consumer behavior.
TNS is the world’s leading provider of customised services, combining sector knowledge with expertise in the areas of Product Development & Innovation, Brand & Communications, Stakeholder Management, Retail & Shopper and Customer Intelligence. TNS is a major supplier of consumer panel, media intelligence and audience measurement services.
TNS is the sixth sense of business™.
For more information about TNS, please visit www.tnsglobal.com.
About TNS Media Research
TNS Media Research provides internet, TV, and radio audience measurement worldwide. The expertise and technology of this international operation supports audience services in over 30 countries, including Canada, China, Russia, Spain, the UK and the US. TNS is at the forefront of the latest technique on digital audience measurement, involving set-top box Return Path Data.
TNS Media Research is part of TNS, the global market insight and information group.
www.tnsglobal.com/mediaresearch
About PPM
The PPM system, developed by Arbitron Inc. uses a device that is smaller than a mobile phone, and which respondents wear or carry throughout the day. The PPM works by detecting unique codes embedded in the audio portion of any transmission to which the respondent is exposed. The PPM system can track digital as well as analogue broadcasts, whether carried over the air, by cable, by satellite or on the Internet. TNS and Arbitron have been working together to promote PPM internationally since the start of the decade and over 30,000 PPMs are currently in use around the world across eight commercial measurement services.
About BBM Canada
BBM Canada, Sondages BBM in Québec, is a not-for-profit, member-owned tripartite industry organization, which has been operating since 1944. It supplies radio and television audience ratings services to the Canadian advertising industry. BBM’s membership includes television and radio stations and networks, advertising agencies, and advertisers.
BBM’s services include an electronic measurement system and diary surveys for our 100+ radio and television markets. BBM is located in Toronto, Ontario with operations in Moncton, Montreal, and Vancouver. Find out more about BBM at www.bbm.ca.
