Nielsen 'May Lose' £10m BARB Contract to TNS

Reports in the UK suggest that the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) could be about to award its next £10m TV audience measurement contract to TNS/Arbitron. The current contract runs out in 2010.

TNS held the contract for 30 years, until it was awarded to AGB Nielsen - a joint venture between Nielsen and WPP - in 2000. According to the UK's Marketing Week magazine, sources are suggesting BARB will return the business to TNS when it makes its decision later in the week.

The tender process began in December 2006, since when BARB and radio audience measurement body RAJAR have been working with TNS/Arbitron on tests using the Portable People Meter (PPM) involving a trial panel of 500 adults (www.mrweb.com/drno/news5530.htm ).

The switch, if it happens, would come despite the PPM's current problems in the US (www.mrweb.com/drno/news7569.htm , www.mrweb.com/drno/news7551.htm ), www.mrweb.com/drno/news7282.htm ) - and reports that it is working out as much as 60% more expensive than the paper-based diaries it replaces.

Web sites: www.agbnielsen.co.uk , www.tns-global.com and www.arbitron.com.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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