Thank you very much David for that detailed explanation of how the PPM system works.All PPM data is sent to one location in the Nielsen organization for all 48 PPM markets.
Each meter gets docked "at home" for recharging and data collection. Currently, it uses Telco lines to send data back to the home base, using the charger as a data collection point. The data shows the encoder number and the codes recorded throughout the period from the last upload.
New meters, soon to be rolled out, don't need to be docked as they can upload the data themselves and only need periodic charging:
The Big Reveal: Nielsen Demos New Wearables PPMs at NAB Show.
After years of development and lab testing, Nielsen is finally ready to take its sleek, lightweight wearable PPM devices out for a test spin with real ratings panelists. In whatwww.insideradio.com
This has been delayed by the pandemic and the shortage of specialized CPUs for such devices.
In any case, every stream, AM, FM, LPFM, translator, etc., is encoded with a unique code. No matter where the meter is, it registers the codes of the stations it hears and saves them.
The purpose of ratings is to show what residents of each metro hear or listen to, no matter where they are. In the diary, you only participated for a week. But with the PPM, a person may be on the panel more than 2 years. During that time they may be away from home many times, registering stations heard on vacation or on work-related trips.
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July 2022 Bay Area Radio PPM Ratings
- Thread starter HenryOchs
- Start date
That's quite a steady downward trend. Wondering if the recent rebranding as "California Classical" has anything to do with it.
"California Classical" sounds like a syndicated program.
Stations do not set the encoding for PPM... Nielsen provides each licensed facility and stream of licensed facilities with encoders with a unique code that is never duplicated other than for backup equipment for the same station.
Translators and repeaters each have their own encoder if they are in PPM markets. Out of market stations may rent, for very low rates, encoders if they wish to encode to show listening in PPM markets they are adjacent to.
Further, encoders are generally the next to the last step before the transmitter at each station and not located ahead of network or affiliate distribution networks.
Yes, it is possible that an encoder be in the wrong place in an audio chain but generally if something unusual is noted, Nielsen investigates.
KIOI HD2 has a .3 rating. Does this mean that .3 have tuned in on their HD radios, or is there another explanation, such as an online stream? Pretty sure there is no translator for it.
Also, curious why the last few are N/A? Does that mean those stations didn't even register a .1 rating? Or they didn't subscribe this month?
Also, curious why the last few are N/A? Does that mean those stations didn't even register a .1 rating? Or they didn't subscribe this month?
If subscribed, and no registered PPM detection, they get a 0.0. If not subscribed, they get an N/A. However, each publication or site that shows ratings has their own way of presenting the data as well as adding format and owner names... so you might compare more than one site.
Does anyone think that JULY is a innacurate book to see how radio stations are doing. Considering how many people are off from work and on vaction
Doesn't matter what you or anyone else thinks. The stations and advertisers/advertising agencies accept the numbers as valid and theirs are the only opinions that count.
When a station's online stream registers a rating, is that due to the stream being encoded as well as the broadcast frequency? How does the meter know the difference?
Streams have separate PPM codes from the over the air signal.
If the stream and over the air signal are 100% simulcast, the station can request Single Line Reporting from Nielsen Audio.
In many cases, the stream carries different ads from over the air, thus the need for separate encoding.
Usually a stream-only entry on published ratings includes the "STR" suffix.
Some trades completely spell out "Stream".
If the stream and over the air signal are 100% simulcast, the station can request Single Line Reporting from Nielsen Audio.
In many cases, the stream carries different ads from over the air, thus the need for separate encoding.
Usually a stream-only entry on published ratings includes the "STR" suffix.
Some trades completely spell out "Stream".
Streams use a separate PPM encoder. Every individual source has a separate encoder with a unique code. Only translators, which must by FCC rules duplicate their source station, share a code.
The meter registers the station code and a time stamp for each detection, up to 12 a minute, 720 an hour. When docked, the PPM feeds that data to Nielsen.
Correct. And advertisers want to know about seasonal variations and other factors that affect the value of their ad buys.
Stations do not quit selling adds in summer, so the ratings are a valid reflection of listening. Further, it is 100% necessary that the PPM panelists remain active or there would be no panel by September. That is why the 4 "holiday" weeks are measured, too.
See David's answer. This, however, was the attitude of TV stations for years. They'd essentially ignore July sweeps and sell the other three (February, May, November) because HUT (households using television) levels dropped in summer (vacations, outdoor activities, reruns).
And the Big Four still totally stop presenting all new scripted shows in summer, and reduce significantly the non-scripted originals.
So, for those who do enjoy the scripted shows, from June to August we are invited to look elsewhere, to subscribe to paid services and to use ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox even less.
When the "new season" returns in September, I will be watching less of them because I've found alternatives.
And, interestingly, the Spanish language networks don't stop presenting new material in the summer... in fact, in the places like Colombia and Mexico where much of the content is produced, there are no TV "seasons" at all.
RadioJunkieMike said:
That's quite a steady downward trend. Wondering if the recent rebranding as "California Classical" has anything to do with it.
That's quite a steady downward trend. Wondering if the recent rebranding as "California Classical" has anything to do with it.
I also find the addition of film scores and (especially) video game music (!) to the mix seems a watering-down of the format. I don't really need to hear the theme from "Jurassic Park" side-by-side with Vivaldi and Mozart.
The San Jose and S.F. July ratings were revised since KRTY.com has made a impact in both markets with credit previously given to the new Christian station.
Remember, there is no "both" in San Francisco and San José. San José is a subset of the SF survey area, where a single county of a larger metro is broken out for smaller stations with limited coverage.
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