4/1/2002
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United Kingdom
On 1st January, BARB switched fully to the new audience measurement panel. This marked the end of the parallel run process which saw comparative data between the old and new panels released on December 20th.
BARB has reviewed the currently available data from the new panel and can confirm it has passed the quality control thresholds. This is confirmed in the parallel run data published by BARB that showed channel viewing shares which were broadly in line with expectations.
Panel balance is satisfactory with many of the ITV regions showing an improvement in sampling efficiencies, and compared with the previous panel, balance has improved at both the network and multi-channel level. This means the data will be at least as robust as that published from the old panel.
As the parallel run process was shorter than originally planned, a full four week set of data was not available for analyses, and BARB will continue to implement further diagnostic checks, of latest available data, looking at the regional and network level in more depth before publishing audience data.
Once we have validated this we can be satisfied that it meets the BARB “gold standard” for release.
Once all the relevant diagnostic checks have been completed and the data is passed, we anticipate that live and consolidated data would then be released by 15th January.
We now anticipate full panel installation may not be completed before March, which is a month later than previously stated. However, as more homes are installed and pass all the necessary quality thresholds, they will be included in the data, adding to the continual improvement of balance and efficiency of the panel overall.
This is the first time in over 30 years that a new panel is being recruited entirely from scratch, and given the complexities of the service, we feel it is prudent to ensure that the entire system is thoroughly checked and meets BARB’s high standards before releasing data.
Taken from the BARB Website - News Items
BARB is wholly owned by the ITV Network Limited, The BBC, BSkyB, Channel 4, Channel 5 and the IPA.
Contact Caroline McDevitt: Chief Executive, Tony Wearn: Director of Research, Suzanne Wilkinson: Commercial Director at BARB, on 020 7529 5529.
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