New Company to Replace National Readership Survey

A new company called PAMCO has been set up to replace the National Readership Survey (NRS) as the organisation which oversees the audience figures for British newspapers and magazines. Known as PAMCO, the new firm will provide more up-to-date cross-platform data.

Since 1956, NRS has provided audience readership research through its continuous survey. In 2012, the body launched its PADD service, which includes web site and print readership figures for all major UK newspapers and magazines, along with data from more than 400 web sites.

But last year, publishers called for a review of the NRS, and this has led to the formation of PAMCO (the Publishers Audience Measurement Company), which has been created to reflect today's multi-platform media landscape. NRS CEO Simon Redican (pictured) has been named PAMCO's CEO-designate, and a search has already begun for the new organisation's inaugural chair. Additionally, a shadow PAMCO Board has been appointed - chaired by Rufus Olins from Newsworks, the Newspaper Publishing Association's marketing body. Other members include David Newell and Teresa Brookes from the NMA, Barry McIlheney from the PPA, Sue Todd from Magnetic, Jane Ratcliffe from MediaCom, Lynne Robinson from the IPA, and Redican.

A shortlist for the audience measurement contract consists of three research providers, who have been asked to submit bids for a 'future-facing' system, which will take into account the proliferation of new devices and platforms. The successful research provider will be announced later this quarter.

Redican comments: 'The launch of PAMCO next year will be a landmark event and I really relish the challenge of creating something new and exciting to represent today's innovative published media sector. The stakeholder review of audience measurement was started within weeks of me joining NRS nine months ago and I can reassure the industry that the NRS will continue to deliver until the process is complete and will effect a seamless transition to the new industry audience measurement solution.'

Web site: www.nrs.co.uk .