BARB

February 2 2010

In the UK, BARB (the Broadcaster’s Audience Research Board) has promoted Simon Bolus to the post of Research Director, with effect from April 2010. In his new role, Bolus replaces Tony Wearn, who after 11 years at BARB, is taking time off to travel, and plans to return in the autumn in a consultancy capacity. Not-for-profit organisation BARB started reporting UK TV audiences in 1981, providing the industry-standard audience measurement service for TV broadcasters and the ad industry. Its new TV audience measurement service kicked off at the beginning of January, following extensive testing of a completely new system, the introduction of new methodologies, improved geographical design and a new panel of viewers. The service is now managed by TNS, which held the contract for 30 years, until it was awarded to AGB Nielsen – a joint venture between Nielsen and WPP – in 2000. Bolus joined BARB in 2003 from Zenith Media, where as Head of Research he worked on the UK Television Forecast report, and served as both the IPA’s representative on BARB’s Technical Advisory Group and as Chairman of the IPA’s own Television Research Advisory Group. Prior to this, he was Production Audience Research Manager at Carlton Television. ‘Simon has first-class research skills, experience of many aspects of the media industry and an extensive knowledge of the BARB system,’ stated CEO Bjarne Thelin. ‘He has worked closely with Tony Wearn in the introduction of the new BARB contracts and will play a valuable role in ensuring an effective dialogue with our stakeholders.’ Web site: www.barb.co.uk . Printer-friendly version of this article. Email this article to a friend. Register for News emails