Amen to what qskyradio and Tibbs2 have posted.
This is absolutely pathetic. Instead of using the numbers to try and discover weak spots
in programming, these broadcasters and now the A-G are suing Arbitron because they don't like
the results.
I'm sure PPM has flaws. I know the diary system, which is still used in my market, has been abused
in some places to skew the numbers. Probably has been abused in my market..who knows?
If people really knew how to sell radio time, heck we wouldn't even need ratings. I sold successfully
on an AM station, a daytimer, with no ratings. This station was not a good fit for some advertisers, in which case I'd advise them that there best bet was (a different station, newspaper, whatever) if I didn't believe
the station could deliver for them. That bought some credibility, which the business people respected.
the advertisers we did have, got enough results, or liked the station's format/audience enough to place buys.
During my 8 years, this station made money, paid off the mortgage..while the owner pocketed every penny, investing nothing back into his station.
I think the ratings wars have gone overboard. Arbitron should countersue for damages.
If your on air product is good you'll have the numbers you need without resorting to what
amounts to no more than bullying to get your own way.