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For market research firms, survey response rates are critical. If they dip too low, the industry will decry the quality and usefulness of the data altogether. This was a problem facing Nielsen Media Research’s TV ratings research in the US when, two years ago, response rates fell as low as 20%. According to a report… Continue reading $5 Incentive Boosts Nielsen US TV Response Rates

International media and market research firm, Arbitron, has bought US radio audience research bureau, RADAR, for $25 million from its parent company, Statistical Research Inc. RADAR (Radio’s All Dimensions Audience Research) is the US equivalent of the UK’s RAJAR survey. If offers the US a national radio ratings service that measures audiences to radio commercials… Continue reading Arbitron Acquires US Radio Survey, RADAR

Regional newspaper publisher, Johnston Press, has this morning announced the acquisition of eight free weekly papers and their related editions from Trinity Mirror, £16.1 million cash. The titles include the Peterborough Herald & Post, Northampton Herald & Post, Derby Trader and five other free newspapers which circulate in and around those areas. The titles will… Continue reading Johnston Acquires Free Weeklies From Trinity Mirror

EMAP has this morning confirmed the sale of its USA business to US consumer publisher, Primedia, for approximately $515 million (£366 million). The disposal has been anticipated for some time and follows EMAP’s failure to effectively consolidate the finances of the business – a problem which lead to the eventual resignation of chief executive Kevin… Continue reading Petersen Sale Closes ‘Difficult And Unhappy Chapter’ In EMAP’s History

Newcastle-based independent radio group, Forever Broadcasting, has bought Grand Central Broadcasting (GCB), holder of Chesterfield’s Peak 107FM, for £4.8 million, the company announced this morning. In the year to 30 September 2000, the latest period for which it has audited financial statements, GCB recorded a turnover of £741,904, a loss on ordinary activities after taxation… Continue reading Forever Broadcasting Buys Chesterfield’s Peak 107FM

Hundreds of jobs are about to be axed at troubled digital terrestrial broadcaster, ONdigital, according to a report in this Sunday’s Observer. Citing unnamed sources, the article claims that ONdigital’s owners, Carlton Communications and Granada, are to cut the staff numbers later this month in a determined effort to cut costs. The news comes as… Continue reading Job Losses Expected As ITV Restructures

UK radio broadcaster UBC Media Group has this morning turned in a set of financial results ahead of the market’s expectations. Turnover rose by 46% to £6.2 million and gross profit reached £1.7 million, up 35% on last time. During the year UBC launched and co-founded Oneword, the only national commercial digital station dedicated to… Continue reading UBC Turns In Good Figures As Digital Ventures Develop

Following the dismissal of high profile DJ, Chris Evans, from Virgin Radio last Thursday (see Virgin Terminates Evans’ Contract), shares in SMG dropped 6.92%, week on week, to finish at £1.81˝, down 13˝p on the previous week.Week on week analysis also reveals that confidence in ITV partners Carlton and Granada was not seriously affected by… Continue reading Sharewatch

The ITV network is to rebrand as ITV1 later this year to reflect the extended family of brands created by the integration of digital terrestrial platform, ONdigital.Announcing the rebranding strategy ITV chief executive, Stuart Prebble, also confirmed that from 11 July ONdigital will become ITV Digital and ONnet the internet TV service will become ITV… Continue reading ITV Rebrands As ITV1

An investigation is underway after the main BBC channels were forced off air during peak time viewing on Saturday night due to a technical fault.Viewers watching BBC1 were left with nothing but a blank screen for twenty minutes, between 9.25pm and 9.45pm, as a power failure at the White City complex in west London caused… Continue reading BBC Blackout Prompts Migration To ITV