Clear Channel seeks new radio ratings system

[Judi Lynn]

June 13, 2005 12:17 PM ET
Clear Channel seeks new radio ratings system

All Associated Press NewsSAN ANTONIO (AP) - Clear Channel Communications is looking for a better way to measure listeners.

Radio ratings are measured by personal diaries in which listeners manually record the radio stations they've listened to. The results are received up to a month after the end of data collection.

But Clear Channel -- the country's largest owner of radio stations -- has issued a request for proposals for a new system, that it hopes will help radio compete more effectively for advertising dollars.

Clear Channel Chief Executive John Hogan said the industry needs to make quicker progress, "with advertisers and media buyers using a more credible, accurate information on radio's value."
(snip/...)

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?Feed=AP&Date=20050613&ID=4887685

[Zerex71]

1. What? A system that allows you to rate Clear Channel as having

crappy programming?

[Ravenseye]

2. Only a Matter of Time

Before every radio sold contains a chip which records what you listen to and beams it back to headquarters.

Every book you check out of the library or buy will be recorded, every radio and television show and station will be recoreded, to the second...Everything you subscribe to, every website you go to, everything will be monitored.

Nah. It's not a police state.

[merwin]

7. Just like the neilson system has taken over all of our TV sets?

It would be the same type of system as that.

[Ravenseye]

8. I can't find the link

But basically TIVO admited that they can tell everything you record and watch and that it's not their fault if that information finds it's way into a 3rd party hands.

So no, not like the nielson system. The one where they can tell what all of us watch and play ondemand, and rent, and record, and...

[merwin]

10. Well that's a bit different. That's a private company making money from

selling your private information, not a group of companies trying to set up a more modern ratings standard.

TIVO is an optional device that is far from a necessity. Basically, they lose money on selling you the device to the consumer and have to make it (and more) back somehow. They chose information selling and subscriptions.

If you don't want the ads on it, buy a device that's not subsidized (they cost a little more than twice as much though).

[Ravenseye]

11. It's not just TIVO though

My DVR comes through Comcast and I read the fine print. It's in there too and vague sounding. Same with the standard box with no DVR.

Yes it's still a private company but how many people honestly get by on just broadcast these days in the general population? Most people at least have basic cable and a cable box that tracks what they watch.

I'm not saying this is WHAT they're doing NOW also. I'm saying this is what it will come to and sooner than we think.

[merwin]

12. It's the choice you make when you get something like that. Pretty much all

of the analog cable that you get now is just straight in the wall cable (which they can't track viewing habits of). 90 channels is good enough for me :)

Simple fact is that you're paying for a service from a private company. You're agreeing to their terms if you want the service, which nobody is forcing you to have. There are always alternatives (although, they might not be as user-friendly). It may not be the most moral thing for them to do, but it's not a gross invasion of privacy if you agree to some of the less fun terms of a premium service. :-)

[K-W]

15. Why should we simply accept exploitation rather than challenging it?

Just because one can choose not to get a dvr doesnt mean it is ok for DVR companies to exploit thier cutomers. In America I shouldnt have to forfiet my privacy to participate in the economy.

[merwin]

18. You're perfectly free to challenge it. It's not an 'end of the world'

1984 situation though. A private company selling your info is far different than the government gathering all of your personal information.

Digital Cable is a luxury item. Pure and simple. If you want it without ads, you can get it without ads (It will just cost you much more... ie: Real huge-ass satellite dish). It's just a company making money in the business model that they have chosen. Might not be ethical, but it's also not the end of the world. That's what you get when you buy a cheap product (Yes, tivo/digital cable is cheap, compared to the less commercialized alternatives).

If enough people complain, they may or may not change their ways. The only sure way to get them to change is to not use their product.

[AndyTiedye]

13. So Dump TIVO and Run MythTV

MythTV is an open-source PVR that does everything TIVO does,
with no subscription fees,
no reporting your viewing habits back to mother TIVO,
with the option for remote control over the net,
and viewing from multiple locations in the house via LAN,
and no restrictions on what you can do do with the recordings.
The software is free.
http://www.mythtv.org

[Born Free]

16. MythTV is an open-source PVR that does everything TIVO does,

Almost, but no cigar. It is a good cheap alternative but, it's not a Tivo, but would be nice for someone that is not familiar with Tivo and used to using the Tivo showcases, Tivolution magazine etc. However, it certainlys beats the digital recorders offered by Dish Network and the cable companies . I can't say too much about Direct TV these days though because they have been dumbing down the Tivos so people get used to having less so they will prefer the cheaper DTV dvr alternative they are soon releasing. Too many people confuse "Tivo" and Digital Recorders, they are not all the same. There are many DVRs, but not all have the software to truly manage you viewing the way Tivo does. If you are willing to download and install your own software, you can add even more features to the Tivo.

[Born Free]

14. It's optional..

All Tivo owners have the option to NOT have their viewing information shared. I prefer to have it shared rather than have them go on polls and other types of ratings systems.


On edit: There are also hacks that allow you to send in whatever information you want to send to them, you just make it up.

[4_Legs_Good]

3. Those radio diaries are wacky!

I really can't believe "we"'re still doing that. I've done them once or twice in the past. It's like we're living in the stone age or something, maybe we can chisel our opinions on a granite slate.

Anyway, CC is probably right here, and hopefully their new technique will show them they're wasting $$$ buying all these radio stations, because the new system shows nobody's listening.

david

[sasquatch]

4. I guess they're trying to make the Pigman sound like he reaches more-

people. That way more people will be suckered into sending this fat bastard money.

[cascadiance]

9. I'm guessing that Clear Channel is promoting this at churches!

What a better and more "dedicated" audience to do their bidding and inflate their listenership numbers! It will be their "mission from God!"

[bemildred]

5. So the lies are not working any more? nt

[wallwriter]

6. We could solve this problem by making it illegal

to listen to anything other than Clear Channel. I guess that's coming next.

[Daphne08]

17. Clear Channel can kiss my old, tired, disgusted

butt!

We need an overhaul of the FCC regulations and we need a law which separates media from corporate control!

We need a free, unfettered media to be the watchdog of government.

Controlled media will be the death of our democratic republic if we don't do something... soon.

[justgamma]

19. Ok, but I'm not going to stop listening

to AAR just because they are on a Clear Channel station.

[otohara]

20. Once I Had 3 Arbitron Diaries

and I was able to bump up the ratings on the small alternative station to amazing numbers.

Each station pays ungodly amounts of money to Arbitron. My guess is CC want's to stop paying Arbitron