TNS Wins South African Radio Measurement Contract

In South Africa, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) - which represents the country's radio and television media owners - has awarded TNS a five-year contract to provide a new radio audience measurement service.

Current radio measurement surveys, known as AMPS/RAMS, are run by the South African Audience Research Foundation (SAARF), but NAB recently resigned from the SAARF Board and decided to conduct its own radio research after a dispute between the two organisations. However, the AMPS/RAMS contract will roll over during 2015, to ensure a smooth transition to the new survey.

NAB appointed local marcoms consultancy Yardstick to manage the tender process, while media research veteran Roger Gane provided technical input into its development. TNS, which was shortlisted alongside ACNielsen, Ask Afrika, GfK and Ipsos, will work with sister agency Kantar Media to deliver the programme, which will be overseen by the industry's newly established Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRC). Jennie Beck, Global Director of TNS/Kantar Media, will be based in Johannesburg during the set-up and first year of the service.

Richard Rice, TNS Business Development Director, comments: 'We understand that the broadcasters are not only looking for a reliable currency but for a deeper understanding of how listening habits are changing and we look forward to providing them with this additional layer of insights to add value to the currency'.

Web sites: www.nab.org.za , www.brcsa.org.za and www.tnsglobal.com .