FCC Reviewing Arbitron's New Radio Ratings Device - washingtonpost.com: The Federal Communications Commission yesterday launched a review into whether a Columbia-based broadcast research firm undercounts minority radio listeners.
In a notice of inquiry, the FCC said broadcasters and media organizations have raised concerns that Arbitron does not include enough minorities in its sample groups, which are used to determine radio audience ratings. The FCC said it is also looking into complaints that Arbitron does not distribute enough of its measuring devices in African American and Hispanic communities. As a result, critics say, minority audiences are undercounted and the stations they listen to most frequently have a harder time competing for advertisers.
Acting FCC Chairman Michael J. Copps said in a statement that the FCC launched the review of Arbitron's radio measuring technology, called Portable People Meter, based on complaints from broadcasters and because the agency relies on Arbitron's data for its own analyses.
