Ed Levine Resigns From Arbitron Advisory Council; Galaxy Inks Contract With Eastlan Resources

GALAXY COMMUNICATIONS Pres./CEO ED LEVINE announced his resignation from the ARBITRON ADVISORY COUNCIL last WEDNESDAY (11/29). Concurrently, GALAXY has signed a contract with with EASTLAN RESOURCES for ratings service in SYRACUSE, effective with the WINTER '07 survey.

LEVINE said, "While ARBITRON's stock is near 52-week highs, most of radio continues to struggle. In the SYRACUSE market the revenues have been flat for five years while ARBITRON’s rate has gone up 46%. Enough is enough. If the choice is between EASTLAN’s phone methodology and ARBITRON’s diary, which is the case in SYRACUSE, we will take EASTLAN."

If the choice is between Eastlanâ??s phone methodology and Arbitronâ??s diary, which is the case in Syracuse, we will take Eastlan.

"There does clearly seem to be an increasing disconnect between ARBITRON’s rate structure and the budgets of most broadcasters," according to EASTLAN Pres./CEO MIKE GOULD. "We are seeing increasing acceptance of EASTLAN as an audience-measurement alternative as small- and medium-market broadcasters are being asked to help shoulder the financial burden of a replacement methodology that will benefit only the largest radio markets in the foreseeable future."

ARBITRON SVP/Press & Investor Relations THOM MOCARSKY was contacted by ALL ACCESS but had no comment.

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