BARB Marks 25th Anniversary With Release Of Plans For The Future

Broadcast audience research body, BARB, will mark its quarter century of reporting viewing data by issuing its plans for the future of the service on 1 August.

BARB has said that it envisages the potential for development of two separate panels in the future – one deploying fixed meters attached to TV equipment, and one deploying wireless portable meters.

The board believes this may be the best way to deliver the measurement of established television, time-shift viewing, transportable content, on-demand, and other possible advances in television.

BARB will release its ‘Requests For Proposals’ document to potential suppliers as part of its formal process for awarding its new research contracts, which will begin in January 2010. The group is encouraging potential suppliers to consider its blueprint and offer new ideas and innovative solutions to meet the challenges of measurement for the future.

Proposals and indicative tenders will be received in December this year and invitations to tender are expected to be issued in Spring 2007, for final tenders in Summer 2007, with the award of contracts planned for the end of next year.

Bjarne Thelin, BARB’s chief executive, said: “‘Requests For Proposals’ describes BARB’s expectations of the nature and shape of the future of its service. It outlines a vision of measurement of televisual content wherever it is consumed within the home as its primary goal, including the need to cover new forms of viewing such as PC streaming and on-demand services.

“The increase in viewer control over where and how televisual content is consumed is identified as an important consideration, expected to result in more time-shifted, transportable and on-demand content.

Thelin added: “BARB is also considering extending its measurement to include out of home viewing. This will be dependent on appropriate techniques being proven and the expected incremental cost.”

BARB: www.barb.co.uk