glaherty wrote:Are these the people meters yet?
No, the BBM is still working out the bugs with them. Even the test PPM-based ratings released to radio stations a couple of weeks ago, which BBM lawyers are actively ensuring are not published, are rumoured to be flawed with "weighting errors" that the BBM is actively working on fixing.
The latest official pronouncement from the BBM on PPM's is this:
BBM Canada Announces the Launch of PPM TV/Radio PanelAugust 31, 2009, Toronto, ON — BBM Canada today announced the launch of a national and regional electronic audience measurement service using Portable People Meter (PPM) technology.
The PPM is leading edge technology that allows BBM to follow television viewers no matter where they watch television, and record radio listening to one minute accuracy almost anywhere the listener is, in real time. The television system it replaces is wired to BBM panelist’s television sets. The PPM is about the size of a pager and automatically detects inaudible codes that broadcasters embed in the audio portion of their programming using encoders provided by BBM. At the end of each day, the survey participants place the meters into docking stations that recharge the devices and send the collected codes via modem, to BBM for tabulation.
“The launch of BBM Canada’s radio and television PPM service is a huge step forward for the Canadian television and advertising industries”, said Jim MacLeod, President and CEO of BBM Canada. “BBM led the world with PPM technology in Montreal and Quebec regional television measurement in 2004. With 5 years of experience we know PPM is reliable, that BBM panellists like to use the device, and that portable measurement is much more in tune with today’s mobile lifestyles.”
BBM’s PPM devices are carried daily by approximately 9000 people across Canada. In addition to national ratings, BBM will report PPM audiences in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, for radio and television, and Edmonton for radio. PPM replaces Mark II technology in all areas outside Quebec, which has used PPM for the past 5 years. Radio markets had previously been measured using BBM’s paper diary service (with the exception of Montreal which began using PPM measurement in December 2008).
For more information please contact:
Tom Jenks
Director, Communications
Phone: 416.847.2078
Email:
tjenks@bbm.caAbout 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
http://www.bbm.ca.