News & Views

Barb is about to integrate its web-TV meter into the next 500 homes within its core panel. Over the last two years, capability has been created in the Barb system to introduce this new approach to measure TV viewing via laptops and PCs and, after extensive testing, the system has now been proven in the initial roll-out of 100 homes. A version is also in development to transfer the capability to tablet devices.

The project has been ground-breaking work with Kantar Media Audiences, who operate the panel for Barb. It has been taken from proof of concept, through test, pilot, and into production capability. The task is now to scale up production, and agree and implement reporting formats with the industry.

Chief executive Bjarne Thelin, said: ‘Once rolled out, the web-TV meter will take reported viewing beyond the TV set and enable Barb to maximise reporting from our panel. It should also allow us to align panel reporting with other (server) data sets in future, potentially opening the door to develop ways to integrate such data into the Barb system.’

Since the launch of the Measurement Sciences Forum last year, Barb has been working with the industry to understand the range of requirements, the possible sources of data, and options for linkage between panel and server data.

For further news from Barb see the July 2012 Bulletin.

Notes for Editors

Barb (www.barb.co.uk) started reporting UK television audiences in 1981, providing the industry-standard audience measurement service for television broadcasters and the advertising industry. It is a not-for-profit limited company owned by BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, BSkyB and the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising.

Barb provides in-home TV viewing measurement for the UK. This is obtained from a panel of 5100 homes. These homes return data from around 11,500 viewers. Viewing figures are available to subscribers the morning after transmission and include VCR, PVT and VOD playback where it matches to an originating transmission within 7 days (Consolidated Viewing).

Barb’s mission is to deliver ‘the bigger picture’ of viewing and keep the measurement of television together. Barb is seeking to report a comprehensive and cohesive cross-platform picture of television viewing via an industry-relevant, objective, quality-assured and dependable gold standard television audience measurement service for the UK. This must be sufficiently progressive to reflect the developing consumption environment.

Barb’s goals are to maximise reporting from the Barb panel and to enable links between panel output and other sources of data. To achieve these, Barb will protect the credibility and standards of the core service, extend reporting beyond 7 days and beyond the TV set, and seek to integrate RPD/server data with Barb data to enhance granularity of reporting.

For press enquires please telephone Barb on 020 7024 8100 or email press.office@barb.co.uk