RAJAR Renews Ipsos-RSL Contract

RAJAR has announced the extension of its contract with research contractor Ipsos-RSL for a further two years from January 1, 2003, and revealed progress in its plans for an electronic data collection method.

Jane O’Hara, managing director of RAJAR, which released third quarter radio listening figures last month (see BBC Retains Lead In RAJAR Results), explained: “The principal reason for extending the contract in this way is that it will afford RAJAR the flexibility to take advantage of technical developments in audience measurement and methodology, such as meters, as soon as we have satisfied ourselves with the role they could play.”

The current contract was awarded to Ipsos-RSL in 1998 for an initial four year period with an option for two more. Since taking on the task, the research contractor has introduced new methodology, but still relies on the written diary system for collecting data, a method which has been criticised in the past (see MacKenzie Attacks Rajar’s ‘Widely Discredited’ Research Methods). RAJAR indicated earlier this year that electronic measurement could be a possibility in future (see RAJAR Will Consider Electronic Measurement At Conference On Its Future), and this was reiterated by O’Hara when announcing the contract extension:

“RAJAR continues to assess the future shape of radio listening patterns and how best to monitor them” she said, “The flexibility of this new arrangement with Ipsos-RSL means that we can continue to monitor developments in digital listening and to progress with a programme of tests on the new electronic measurement systems, both acoustic and placement.”

RAJAR: 020 7903 5350 www.rajar.co.uk

Subscribers can access the Radio database by selecting “Radio” from the drop-down box at the top of this page.