Nielsen Webinar: Test Shows Enhanced CBET Results Similar To Those With Voltair

Webinar

NIELSEN AUDIO's webinar on the Enhanced CBET (Critical Band Encoding Technology) encoding system for the PPM THURSDAY (10/8) offered client stations an overview of the changes to be instituted and the research being done to test and finalize the changes, including a comparison in a seven-station test of the new encoding system versus stations using the old encoding plus VOLTAIR, showing similar results.

SVP BILL ROSE gave an overview of the PPM service and the new PPM 360 device, followed by a presentation largely the same as the one given at the NAB and RAB's RADIO SHOW last week, with VP DENISE SAFKO spelling out the key benefits of the enhanced CBET technology ("more robust and stronger" codes, improved code detection without compromise in audio quality) and Chief Engineer ARUN RAMASWAMY, who was the co-presenter for the deck at the RADIO SHOW, stepping in to explain the development and testing process and offering a comparison of detections per minute between legacy and enhanced versions of CBET showing the newer version with a marked increase.

He also repeated the test results that showed quarter-hour crediting at 100% for both music and talk in what it terms "challenging acoustic conditions" except for two levels of background volume for Talk radio (69% and 87%) and one in music (93%). The real-world testing details were also offered, using 19 stations in a variety of formats with a scripted test of acoustic conditions, comparing legacy and enhanced CBET on two layers carried on 12 legacy CBET stations and showing improved detection, boosting AQH persons by 15%, with 39% of examples (stations, demos, and dayparts) showing a 0.1 point ratings gain after rounding (all but two gains were a tenth of a point).

Seven stations using VOLTAIR were tested with two layers using one layer with legacy CBET plus VOLTAIR, and another with enhanced CBET with no VOLTAIR; the results, NIELSEN said, were similar, with the index of change in listening versus the previous three weeks being 111 for the VOLTAIRlayer and 115 for the new CBET. The conclusions NIELSEN took from the tests were that the enhanced CBET will improve detection, positively impacting AQH persons and ratings and performing at a similar rate to VOLTAIR.

The new CBET is launching on MONDAY (10/12) in WASHINGTON and BALTIMORE, with other markets starting the rollout in NOVEMBER and the enhanced encoding monitor in place during 2016. NIELSEN's JEANNETTE FOWLER encouraged stations to "upgrade, verify, and record" to ensure a smooth and successful upgrade, adding that stations should not power down the unit while upgrading; the upgrade will come on a smart media card or USB flash drive in a kit FedExed to all stations on the same day.

The tentative rollout schedule has NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO, DENVER, and SEATTLE upgrading on NOVEMBER 2nd; PHILADELPHIA, SAN FRANCISCO, DETROIT, BOSTON, PROVIDENCE, HARTFORD, and SALT LAKE CITY on NOVEMBER 5th; DALLAS-FORT WORTH, MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, CINCINNATI, and HOUSTON on NOVEMBER 10th; ATLANTA, INDIANAPOLIS, PORTLAND, PHOENIX, SAN ANTONIO, ST. LOUIS, SAN DIEGO, and SACRAMENTO on NOVEMBER 13th; NASHVILLE, MEMPHIS, MILWAUKEE, CHARLOTTE, JACKSONVILLE, NORFOLK, and RALEIGH-DURHAM on NOVEMBER 18th; and TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG, ORLANDO, AUSTIN, GREENSBORO-WINSTON SALEM-HIGH POINT, LAS VEGAS, WEST PALM BEACH, and MIAMI-FORT LAUDERDALE on NOVEMBER 30th.

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