Arbitron Q3 Down 4.3% Over CC, Cumulus Drops

RADIO ONLINE | , , | :am CT

Arbitron reported a third quarter revenue dip of 4.3% to $98.1 million from $102.5 million in 2008. Net earnings for the quarter declined to $13.7 million (51 cents per share), compared with $17 million (63 cents) in the year-ago period. The company points to a decision by Cumulus and Clear Channel to subscribe to Nielsen's diary-based radio ratings service for the drop and Univision electing not to subscribe to PPM.

"In the third quarter of 2009, Arbitron commercialized the Portable People Meter radio ratings service in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, St. Louis, Denver-Boulder, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, bringing to 25 the total number of PPM markets," said President/CEO Michael Skarzynsk. "In addition, we have built out the PPM panels and begun the pre-currency surveys for the eight additional PPM markets that we plan to commercialize in December 2009.

He continued, "We continue to receive positive feedback from the market that electronic measurement is improving broadcasters' programming and sales strategies. Our goal is to help the radio industry leverage the advantages that PPM can offer to increase the value and utility of radio for local and national advertisers in all markets."

With the start of the Fall 2009 survey in September, Arbitron is now sampling cell-phone-only households in all of its diary-based syndicated radio markets in the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii. Arbitron also created a cross-platform media measurement group, in an effort to expand PPM beyond the radio business.

For the full year 2009, Arbitron continues to expect revenue to increase between two percent and six percent as compared to full year 2008 revenue of $368.8 million.