BARB Chairman Rumoured To Be Stepping Down

BARB chairman, Nick Phillips, is reportedly set to step down following pressure from shareholders angry over the company’s delay in installing its new audience measurement system (see BARB Presents New Research System).

According to a report in this week’s Campaign, Phillips is to be “ousted” from the company and replaced by former deputy chief executive of Carlton Communications, Nigel Walmsey. BARB’s board of shareholders, which includes representatives from ITV, the BBC, BSkyB, Channel 4 and Channel 5, are said to be divided over the issue of his departure.

BARB has refused to confirm or deny speculation, saying only that: “The matter of the BARB chairmanship is for the company’s shareholders.”

BARB has suffered a series of set-backs since it attempted to introduce its new 5,100 strong audience panel earlier this year (see BARB Data Suspended Until 15 January). There have been notable regional variations in the strength and demographic make-up of the panel (see BARB Figures Show TV Viewing Increase), which is still not yet up to full-strength (see BARB Controversy Continues) and ITV and Channel 4 have complained of significant changes in audience figures (see BARB Defends New Ratings System).

The company recently issued a newsletter to the media industry insisting that the panel is robust and that it is focussing on “quality control” (see BARB Emphasises Quality In Newsletter Update). However, last month Adam Phillips, managing director of the company behind the new ratings system, resigned amid continuing controversy over the accuracy of TV viewing figures generated under the new panel (see MD Of Company Behind New BARB Ratings System Resigns).

BARB: 020 7529 5531 www.barb.co.uk

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