Arbitron Postpones Satellite, Internet Radio Diary Instructions

Arbitron is delaying plans to instruct diary keepers to distinguish between satellite and Internet radio listening in addition to terrestrial radio, when filling out diaries.
The audience research firm said it made the decision after hearing the concerns of the NAB Committee on Local Radio Audience Measurement and of the Arbitron Radio Advisory Council. Originally, Arbitron had planned to include the change in instructions to diary-keepers starting with the Winter 2006 survey.
Arbitron will test the diary language change in 25 markets in February. Implementation would follow a successful outcome, “but not sooner than summer 2006,” according to Owen Charlebois, president, U.S. Media Services for Arbitron.
The current diary does not ask respondents to indicate whether they listen to radio stations over the Internet or via satellite. Arbitron says younger people are telling the audience research firm they’ve expanded their definition of what radio is, and the company wants to reflect that in its methodology.