TSA and MSA Question

[ChannelFlipper]

Question to David E., RadioResearcher, et al. :

What are the specific definitions of TSA and MSA? My specific thought relates to the western inland empire cities such as Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario which I believe are not in either the MSA for LA/OC or San Bernadino/Riverside. But are those areas in the TSA for either MSA?

Thanks

Flipper

 

[davideduardo]

Question to David E., RadioResearcher, et al. :

What are the specific definitions of TSA and MSA? My specific thought relates to the western inland empire cities such as Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario which I believe are not in either the MSA for LA/OC or San Bernadino/Riverside. But are those areas in the TSA for either MSA?

In the PPM, we no longer have a TSA for either the IE or the LA markets. Just MSA.

LA MSA is LA and Orange counties. IE is the chunk of Riverside and San Bernardino counties that does not incude the Victor Valley market, the Palm Springs market or the couple of pieces (including the one you name) that are not in any of the three markets.

There is an expandible map of the US Arbitron has prepared to show survey areas. It's on their website, but copying a link from their frame based pages does not work well. So if you can't find it, here is a copy...

http://www.davidgleason.com/Arbitron Stuff/Arbitron Map of Counties 2009.pdf
or
http://www.davidgleason.com/Arbitron Stuff/Arbitron_US_Metro_Map_2010.pdf

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Thanks David.

Based on your answer then, I think I have an interesting scenario.

KLAC runs a message on about a daily basis outlining the "fine print" of their station contests. Of course the message is delivered in a very fast-spoken format, indicating among other things, that station personnel, advertisers, employees of other radio stations and their families are not eligible. Also not eligible according to the spot, is anybody "not residing the in the station's TSA". I am sure the purpose of that is to eliminate non-local web users and over the air listeners who are not the targets of their commercial advertisers.

But the thought always comes to my mind when I hear this spot, What if someone listened in Upland or Rancho Cucamonga, a city not in their TSA (which you say doesn't exist) or the MSA, but clearly a Los Angeles suburbanite who can receive the signal well under normal circumstances (i.e. isn't DXing) but isn't technically covered by what I'll call the "local listening area (TSA)" rule. Would they really disqualify that person from winning a substantial prize if one was fairly won under the other rules and conditions for the contest? That would be a PR disaster. If they did go ahead and give the prize to such a person, would other listeners have standing to sue based on the station not adhering to its own contest rules?

 

[davideduardo]

Thanks David.

Based on your answer then, I think I have an interesting scenario.

KLAC runs a message on about a daily basis outlining the "fine print" of their station contests. Of course the message is delivered in a very fast-spoken format, indicating among other things, that station personnel, advertisers, employees of other radio stations and their families are not eligible. Also not eligible according to the spot, is anybody "not residing the in the station's TSA". I am sure the purpose of that is to eliminate non-local web users and over the air listeners who are not the targets of their commercial advertisers.

But the thought always comes to my mind when I hear this spot, What if someone listened in Upland or Rancho Cucamonga, a city not in their TSA (which you say doesn't exist) or the MSA, but clearly a Los Angeles suburbanite who can receive the signal well under normal circumstances (i.e. isn't DXing) but isn't technically covered by what I'll call the "local listening area (TSA)" rule. Would they really disqualify that person from winning a substantial prize if one was fairly won under the other rules and conditions for the contest? That would be a PR disaster. If they did go ahead and give the prize to such a person, would other listeners have standing to sue based on the station not adhering to its own contest rules?

I think that the station can sustain that since the TSA is not in use in the PPM, the zone was defined and never changed for the diary ratings and thus continues to exist. I don't think they would want to annoy listeners so close to their market.