Ratings Question From Somebody Outside the Business

[Don Juan]

I understand all that.

Ummmm...then whats the question?

 

[DrPicky]

Arbitron no longer releases TSA numbers for Boston stations, only Metro numbers. You are not allowed to combine diary numbers and PPM numbers because the methodology is different. Even if you could add Worcester, Providence and Manchester numbers to Boston, the cume of those two FM's would grow at almost the same pace. If you added a more distant market like Portland where WBZ would have a signal, the entire metro population (239,000) wouldn't come close to making up the difference.

 

[dyeingeye]

I understand all that.

Ummmm...then whats the question?

It's one thing to have a contract. It's another thing to strictly honor one. That is the essence of my question. Too many of the responses have begged the question by simply stating that the contract is not violated because there is a contract.

 

[Don Juan]

I understand all that.

Ummmm...then whats the question?

It's one thing to have a contract. It's another thing to strictly honor one. That is the essence of my question. Too many of the responses have begged the question by simply stating that the contract is not violated because there is a contract.

Lots of people have tried to answer you.

Can you pose a coherent question?

 

[dyeingeye]

I understand all that.

Ummmm...then whats the question?

It's one thing to have a contract. It's another thing to strictly honor one. That is the essence of my question. Too many of the responses have begged the question by simply stating that the contract is not violated because there is a contract.

Lots of people have tried to answer you.

Can you pose a coherent question?

When all types of "protected" information leaks, why doesn't arbitron figures? People risk going to jail to leak information, yet somehow all the people that have either direct or indirect access to radio figures will not leak that information in any number of possible anonymous fashions.

 

[Don Juan]

I understand all that.

Ummmm...then whats the question?

It's one thing to have a contract. It's another thing to strictly honor one. That is the essence of my question. Too many of the responses have begged the question by simply stating that the contract is not violated because there is a contract.

Lots of people have tried to answer you.

Can you pose a coherent question?

When all types of "protected" information leaks, why doesn't arbitron figures?

They do.

People risk going to jail to leak information, yet somehow all the people that have either direct or indirect access to radio figures will not leak that information in any number of possible anonymous fashions.

People leak things and risk going to jail when there is something to gain from the leak. People might get a fine if they leak information about their boss. People might lose their job if they leak inforation about a politician. But the risk is worth the reward.

There is no incentive for anyone to leak proprietary Arbitron information to anyone. Why would I do it? What would I gain?

What's the upside?

That being said.....if you are friendly with someone who has access to the information, they can prtobably get it for you.

I'm still not sure the point of your questions....are you looking for some info yourself? Something I can look up for you? It's really not that complicated.

 

[dyeingeye]

They do.

Nobody has ever said that prior to you. Each response was that Arbitron ratings were protected by a contract so sacrosanct that nobody would bother to consider violating its terms less they were struck by lightning.