Barb API gets VOD and non-TV set upgrades

Barb, the industry’s TV audience measurement body, has upgraded its Application Programming Interface (API) to include broadcast video-on-demand (BVOD), subscription video-on-demand (SVOD), video-sharing and non-TV device data.

This means those with Barb API access can carry out analysis across all services and platforms, including viewing on PCs, tablets and smartphones, as well as analyse use of dynamic targets and series performance and calculate campaign reach and frequency.

Viewing data from 29 November 2021 for these services and platforms have joined the linear viewing data which is already accessible. This data in the API will be updated daily with Barb’s usual data-delivery schedules.

Barb launched its API in January 2023 and included daily linear viewing data from January 2020 on programme audiences, advertising spots, and impacts by time segments.

Jim Jarrett, Barb’s head of research operations, said: “We developed our API in response to the demand from our clients for flexible access to, and manipulation of, our viewing data using their own tools, and this upgrade provides both more data and versatility in how clients can use our data.”

He added the API was already being used by the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, agencies including EssenceMediacom and All Response Media, and media companies like Fremantle, News UK and MIQ Digital, and Barb encouraged users to give feedback so the API can be built upon.