The Portable People Meter (PPM) is Arbitron’s attempt to modernize the radio ratings system with electronic measurement. This installment in our series will explain how information is transmitted through the PPM. It will also correct a misconception about morning radio, expectations for and removal of panels, and accreditation.
Uploading and Editing
Sometime between the docking of the PPM, and the household hub collection of daily data, there is an upload to a central computer at Arbitron. The uploading can occur anytime up until 4 AM. Once the information reaches Arbitron, there is an editing process of coded audio, to properly assign credit to individual radio stations. Remember, stations only get listening credit from an individual panelist if the person meets the minimum motion requirement: a panelist aged six to seventeen has to carry the meter at least five hours a day; eighteen and over, it's eight hours a day.
Morning Radio
There has been some confusion about morning radio measurement; many have said that much of the listening is not being reflected in ratings. Here is an example to clarify how it actually works. The alarm clock radio goes off at 6 AM and the meter, still docked, begins to record the coded audio. Though the panelist does not indicate motion until 7:30 AM, all the recorded exposure prior to motion will count for ratings, as long as the panelist meets the minimum exposure requirements for the Arbitron broadcast day of 4 AM to 4 AM.
Panel Expectations
For a family to remain a Portable People Meter survey household, participants must maintain a solid record of compliance with the rules. If successful, a household could conceivably serve the two-year panel maximum. However, if any one member of a family does not regularly carry the meter, the entire household will be dropped from the panel and replaced.
Article comments
1 - Dr. Juliann Mitchell, PhD
Sam,
Do the participants get paid for carrying the PPM?