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Arbitron Announces Progress Toward Accreditation Of Houston PPM
June 12, 2006 at 2:28 PM (PT)
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Although progress has been made ARBITRON will continue to measure the HOUSTON radio market using its current diary-based methodology for the SUMMER 2006 book, which begins JUNE 29th. ARBITRON is committed to earning MEDIA RATING COUNCIL (MRC) accreditation for the PPM service in HOUSTON and continues to make "progress" in working with the MRC and its committees during for rollout of the PPM in the top 50 markets.
In the meantime, ARBITRON plans to continue to release monthly data from the 2,000-person HOUSTON PPM panel. HOUSTON PPM data for JULY is scheduled to released on AUGUST 17th. ARBITRON will give 60 days notice before replacing the diary-methodology in HOUSTON.
ARBITRON's PIERRE BOUVARD and OWEN CHARLEBOIS delivered the following letter this afternoon to ARBITRON subscribers:
For the past two years, ARBITRON has been working with the MEDIA RATING COUNCIL (MRC) on a comprehensive audit and review of the PORTABLE PEOPLE METER ratings service in HOUSTON.
On JUNE 9, the MRC PPM Audit Committee met to review the information and analyses that ARBITRON provided to the committee. These responses were based on the findings of the MRC audit of the PPM service in HOUSTON. An independent CPA firm conducted the audit in two phases from SEPTEMBER 2004 through JANUARY 2006.
MRC Exec. Director GEORGE IVIE stated: "Progress toward accreditation of the HOUSTON PPM Service is being made. Our Audit Committee has requested additional information, analyses and follow-up actions from Arbitron in some focused areas, which has narrowed during the audit process. This type of interchange is not unusual for a first-time accreditation proceeding.
"As our process dictates the specific follow-up areas that remain between ARBITRON and our Audit Committee are considered confidential audit information, and accordingly cannot be discussed. We appreciate ARBITRON’s excellent cooperation in the accreditation process to date.
"ARBITRON is confident that the MRC will provide a clear roadmap that we can follow to achieve full accreditation for the PPM service in HOUSTON.
"ARBITRON stands by its commitment to not replace diary-based radio ratings in Houston with PORTABLE PEOPLE METER radio ratings until the HOUSTON PPM service receives MEDIA RATING COUNCIL (MRC) accreditation. As a result, the JULY 2006 PPM data will not be the first release of currency ratings in HOUSTON."

