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Post by CAwasinNJ on May 7, 2009 21:19:59 GMT -6
SF mentioned that once PPM rolls out there won't be PPM data for Canadian station in the Seattle numbers. It's my understanding that PPM encoders are free for anyone who wants one. It would make sense that Canadian stations would want to have their listeners south of the border counted. Ditto for Mexican stations near the southern border. Is Arbitron really not allowing the encoders to be exported? That seems like an injustice to me.
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Post by dxstuboy on May 8, 2009 2:23:44 GMT -6
How would one go about getting one of these meters?
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Post by CAwasinNJ on May 8, 2009 3:46:43 GMT -6
You want an encoder for your Part 15 station? I think they probably limit them to licensed stations but I suppose you could ask. The contact for this market is Brendan Kane at the Los Angeles office. His number is 310-824-6605.
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Post by seattlefollower on May 8, 2009 11:38:50 GMT -6
Thanks for fleshing out this topic! I tried to figure this answer out from Arbitron (and we all know how clear *they* are). Here is what I gathered from the FAQ on their site: 3. Do nonsubscribers have to pay for encoders? All stations licensed as “home” to the DMA® are invited to encode. Arbitron will provide at no cost a main encoder, a backup encoder and an encoding monitor. Nonsubscribing stations that wish to encode HD Radio, Internet or podcast signals can do so for a small lease fee.
Opportunities for Stations Outside the Metro Subscribing stations in counties outside the Metro or DMA will also receive free of charge two encoders and one monitor for each subscribing station.
Nonsubscribing stations outside the Metro or DMA will also have the opportunity to lease encoders for an annual fee if they want their stations measured. Also, I am not sure if the panel shifts to a 'metro only' survey, since it is year round. For example, Arbitron's full survey area was only sent diaries 2x/yr. I think that explains entrance and exits of certain stations in markets like Seattle or Portland (or even Evanston/Summit Co. data into SLC's area) where there are 'fringe' stations in local towns around the metro region. For Seattle, this would potentially remove most/all Canadian stations as well as drastically hurt Saga's cluster in Bellingham. Oh, found that answer here: 14. Can I run the entire DMA® when the data are released? The PPM data are being collected only in the Metro, so PPM data will reflect Metro-based counties only. Arbitron is working on providing DMA data that will be a combination of PPM and Diary measurement, effective Summer 2009. This will be available in TAPSCAN Web but not in the PPM Analysis Tool.
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Post by dxstuboy on May 8, 2009 17:04:37 GMT -6
I was actually wondering about how to get one of the meters you carry around, not the encoder, but thanks for the info and the plug CA .
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Post by CAwasinNJ on May 8, 2009 17:48:49 GMT -6
That's what happens when you're one big happy family. To get the survey meters, you have to be contacted. Arbitron initiates the contact. Anything else would make them even bigger targets for criticism than they already are. There are already a lot of accusations of not being fair, and if you could request a PPM yourself the temptation for abusing the ratings would be huge. There was recently a blowup over the wife of a station personality who got randomly selected. (I think it was in Boston.) She didn't disclose that she was ineligible and for some reason her meter showed she listened to hubby's station all day every day. What are the odds of that?
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Post by dxstuboy on May 8, 2009 19:06:06 GMT -6
I see your point. My meter would show I listened to a station that doesn't even exist, of course, how would they know? I don't encode lol. I work for Cit, so I likely would never be contacted.
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Post by CAwasinNJ on May 9, 2009 1:50:08 GMT -6
They'd know because the serial number in the encoder would tell them who it was issued to. I still don't think they're going to bite though.
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