Nielsen announced a comprehensive plan for upgrading its Nielsen Local Audience Ratings. The next generation will dramatically increase sample sizes and stability across all local markets. To increase the sample sizes, Nielsen will employ a hybrid measurement methodology combining Nielsen’s existing panels, new proprietary measurement technology currently referred to as Nielsen Code Reader and complementary return path data (RPD), commonly obtained from set top box devices.
Nielsen is evaluating the availability and viability of RPD data for the industry through an extensive client review process. Nielsen has presented its Local Audience Ratings plan to the Media Ratings Council and is working closely with the MRC to meet the standards set by the industry.
“Our clients’ priorities are clear: improved ratings stability and cross-platform measurement,” said Matt O’Grady, EVP/managing director of Local Media at Nielsen. “Nielsen will dramatically increase sample sizes while maintaining the critical principle of market representation. Additionally, Nielsen has developed market leading computer, tablet, and smartphone meters to capture all viewers, all consumers, all segments. This will be the foundation for cross-platform measurement.”
With a total of 20 introductory markets, Nielsen’s plan will improve measurement in the Local People Meter (LPM), Set Meter, and Diary markets. Starting in Q4 2012, Nielsen Code Reader installation will begin in the following LPM markets: St. Louis, Dallas, and Charlotte. These markets will be followed by five Set Meter markets: Nashville, Greenville, Birmingham, Albuquerque, and New Orleans. Nielsen will announce the twelve introductory Diary markets shortly.
The Nielsen program will provide broadcast stations and local cable with more granular and stable data for both programming and ad sales and enable agencies and advertisers to operate more efficiently.
Preliminary data will become available for the twenty introductory markets in 2013, beginning with the LPM markets. All markets will have a parallel period of three to six months to evaluate, comment, and prepare for the new ratings while using the existingservice. Rollouts across the 190 remaining markets are expected to be completed within approximately two years from gaining client acceptance in the introductory markets. Nielsen will continue its extensive industry education and feedback gathering campaign, as client acceptance of these revised methodologies is critical to implementation.
Specific client benefits of Nielsen’s Local Audience Ratings:
· Quadrupling effective sample size in Local People Meter and Set Metered markets and doubling effective sample size in Diary markets resulting in a significant reduction in ratings variability and zero rated periods;
· Maintaining a representative and projectable probability sample across all markets;
· Continuous electronic measurement in all markets;
· Improved measurement for long-tail program sources.
Nielsen Local Audience Ratings will be enabled by the following investments:
· New proprietary home TV measurement technology, including a breakthrough watermark-enabled capture device, currently referred to as Nielsen Code Reader;
· Unique hybrid approach utilizing Nielsen’s Local People Meter and Set Meter panels and return path data from a variety of participating cable and satellite providers.
This initiative also lays the groundwork for local online, tablet and mobile cross-platform measurement and integrated media/purchase analytics, as well as the transformation of the paper diary.
“With the local market becoming more fragmented, and the need for representative measurement still important, we fully support projectable increased sample sizes in local markets,” said Brad Adgate, SVP/Director of Research at Horizon Media. “Nielsen’s unique new metering technology, the code reader, shows true promise and will be a more reliable form of data collection than the current state of return path data, which has certain limitations in measuring viewers.”
“We are encouraged that Nielsen has announced its hybrid measurement improvements that hold the promise of an enhanced service,” said Jim Babb, Bahakel Communications EVP/COO. “We believe that the substantial sample size increase anticipated will be a big improvement for stabilizing ratings. The new “code reader” combined with set-top-box return path data are a promising strategy for increasing sample sizes. We’re pleased that Nielsen is taking the initiative both to improve its legacy TV ratings service while also investing in timely preparation for an emerging cross-platform media environment ahead.”
