Nielsen Takes On Arbitron…

Get ready for a ‘Radio Ratings War’ which will start today when Nielsen announces that they’re in the radio ratings business.  That’s the report in today’s New York Times.  Globally known for its TV measurement service, Nielsen will take on Arbitron for radio ratings supremacy when it announces a deal with Cumulus Media to measure 50 of its small and midsize markets in the third quarter of 2009.  Cumulus will be joined by Clear Channel Radio which will use the Nielsen data for 17 of their markets.  It should be noted that Nielsen is not a newcomer to radio ratings.  They already measure radio audiences in several countries…

Assuring a ‘winner-take-all’ radio ratings war is the methodology Nielsen will employ - diaries.  It will be diaries vs. PPMs, unless Arbitron decides to abandon their controversial PPM methodology and return to what made them the ‘maven of measurement services’ - the diary system…

Nielsen’s timing couldn’t be better.  With PPM complaints mounting for Arbitron, they will immediately pick up clients opposed to PPM methodology.  The biggest obstacle Nielsen will face is acceptance of their results at the sales level.  They take on a formidable foe in Arbitron which will probably counter Nielsen’s announcement with a ‘game on’ response… 

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1928] Mickey debuts: The 1st successful sound-synchronized animated cartoon premiers in New York City. It’s Walt Disney’s “Steamboat Willie” starring Mickey Mouse…
2. 1959] Also Premiering on this date: William Wyler’s “Ben Hur” at a Loew’s Theater in Times Square…2005] “Walk The Line“, the story of Johnny Cash opens…
3. 1969] ‘Happy Trails’: Kennedy patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy dies in Hyannis Port (MA) at 81. Kennedy had suffered a massive stroke 8 years earlier. 1994] Cab Calloway dies in a Delaware nursing home of a stroke at 86…
4. 1978] The horror of Jonestown: People’s Temple leader Jim Jones forces his followers to commit mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana by drinking a cyanide-laced fruit-flavored concoction. Only about a dozen escape. The final death toll: 913, including 276 children. Jones dies from a bullet wound to the head…
5. 1987] Pink slips are on the way: CBS Inc. agrees to sell its record division to SONY Corporation for about $2 billion…
6. 1990] Wedding Bells: Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall tie the knot in Bali. They will have 2 children during their 9 year marriage which breaks up after allegations that Mick fathered a child with Brazilian model Luciana Morad. 2006] Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are married in Italy…
7. 1991] Free at last: Shiite Muslim kidnappers in Lebanon free Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite and educator Thomas Sutherland…
8. 1999] Guilty as charged: A jury in Jasper (TX) convicts Shawn Allen Berry of murder for his role in the dragging death of James Byrd Jr., but spare him the death penalty…
9. 2002] A new call for arms inspection: U.N. arms inspectors return to Iraq after a four-year hiatus. They call on Saddam Hussein’s government to cooperate with their search for weapons of mass destruction. You know the rest of this story…
10. 2003] Right to marry: The Massachusetts Supreme Court Judicial Court rules 4-3 that the state constitution guarantees gay couples the right to marry…

Music Memories:

• 1956] On the ‘Ed Sullivan Show’: Fats Domino sings “Blueberry Hill“…
• 1963] Number One on this date: “I’m Leaving It Up To You” - Dale and Grace…1973] “Photograph” - Ringo Starr…1987] “Mony, Mony” - Billy Idol (13 years after Tommy James’ version topped the charts…
• 1964] On “Shindig“: The Supremes and Righteous Brothers, who were regulars on the show with Darlene Love & The Blossoms and Bobby Sherman.  This clip is from the first show…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

David Ortiz(Big Papi) (33), Owen Wilson (40), Kevin Nealon (55), Linda Evans (66), Brenda Vaccaro (69) and Ted (R-Alaska) Stevens (85)…

Timeline Countdown: 9 days until Thanksgiving, 33 days until winter, 34 days until Hanukah and 37 shopping days until Christmas…

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November, 18, 2008 at 08: 10:10 p11 and is filed under Today's Post. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.