Media Glossary
Percentage of homes out of the approached sample that are successfully recruited, installed and participate in the peoplemeter panel. In the case of addresses taken from an establishment or other survey, the acceptance/installation rate is calculated by multiplying the acceptance/installation rate from the approached sample (or "recruitment pool") by the response rate to the survey from which the addresses were taken. Precise operational definitions of the acceptance/installation rate can vary appreciably across different peoplemeter panels.
ACHAP (Chile)
Joint industry committee overseeing TAM data provision in Chile.
Active peoplemeter measurement
Peoplemeter measurement that registers viewer presence by means of remote control push-button handsets, where panel members are instructed to press at the beginning and end of each viewing session. Each person (family member) belonging to the panel is assigned their own button for purposes of individual identification, whilst additional buttons on the remote control handset are reserved for recording guest viewing. Today, all peoplemeter panels collecting audience data for TV advertising and programme purposes employ active measurement.
Adjacency
A commercial time period that is scheduled immediately preceding or following a scheduled programme on the same station in which a TV commercial spot can be placed. Opposite of an in-programme placement. Also called a break position. (see also Break Position)
ADSL (Asymmetrical digital subscriber line)
DSL variant that allows for greater bandwidth for incoming than outgoing signals.
Advanced Television (ATV)
Term used by FCC in USA for digital television (DTV).
Advertiser
Company or other organisation purchasing commercial airtime on television for promotional purposes.
Advertiser supported television (ASTV)
US term for original TV programming that is syndicated to independent TV stations for a reduced or zero fee on the back of financial support from one or more advertisers, in return for which the advertisers are granted commercial space within the programmes offered to the TV stations. The principle is similar to programme barter.
Advertising Agency
Agency responsible for the definition of the creative part of an advertising campaign
Advertising spot
A unit interval (e.g. 10-second, 15-second, 20-second, 30-second, etc.) containing a commercial message supplied by an advertiser for insertion in the transmissions of a TV channel
Aerial reception
Reception of off-air terrestrial transmissions by means of a collective aerial (MATV) or an individual household aerial that may be located (a) externally (e.g. on the roof), (b) internally and attached to the TV set or (c) internally and built in to the TV set. In some countries with large commercial MATV networks, MATV may be included under cable reception.
Affidavit
A notarised statement from a broadcast station that confirms the commercial actually ran at the time shown on the station's invoice.
Affiliate
A regional/local TV broadcast station bound by a contractual relationship with one or more networks to carry an agreed quantity of network-originated programmes and commercial announcements in parts of the schedule allocated for network programming.
Agency-of-record (AOR)
An advertising or media buying agency belonging to a group of agencies serving the same advertiser that has a privileged status in terms of being awarded special contracts or assignments that cover the group. (e.g. media buyer negotiating commercial airtime deals with TV stations on behalf of all agencies within the group, who may have a restricted role in supplying the advertiser with supporting media planning services only).
AGF (Germany)
Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fernsehforschung: Group of four (formerly six) TV station families underwriting TAM contract in Germany. AGF includes joint industry representation on the board and in the supervising committees.
Aggregated viewing data
Processed viewing data that have been converted into total viewing estimates (e.g. programme, commercial break, advertising spot, second-by-second, minute, 5-minute and quarter-hour etc.) and no longer contain information about specific individuals/panel homes (i.e. cannot be used for direct calculations of reach/frequency).
Algorithm
Computational procedure that usually involves a number of steps. For example, the "Algorithm for calculating ratings" is simply the set of sequential steps of computation for calculating ratings from the "raw" viewing data.
AM (Amplitude Modulation)
The transmission of audiovisual signals in which the amplitude of a transmitting wave is modulated as a function of its intensity.
Amount of viewing (daily/weekly average)
Total amount of live or consolidated viewing across all channels/other sources included under total viewing.
Analogue
General term for all radio frequency wave signals in the form of continuously variable quantities. Analogue signal information is superimposed on a modulated carrier wave. Analogue TV channels have two carrier waves: one for audio (FM) and one for video (AM).
Announcement
API (Application programming interface)
Set-top box interface that enables the display of EPG's and other interactive applications on the TV screen.
ARF (USA)
Advertising Research Foundation: US trade association for advertising research.
Aspect ratio
Ratio of width of TV picture to its height regardless of the size of the TV screen. Most conventional TV channels employ a 4:3 aspect ratio, but all HDTV, some DTV and some SDTV services employ a larger (typically 16:9) aspect ratio.
ATO (Czech Republic)
Group of TV stations and programme suppliers overseeing TAM services in the Czech Republic
Audience accumulation
Reach measure denoting the total number of different people (or homes) exposed to a medium over a specified period; such as a half-hour TV programme broadcast.
Audience appreciation (AA) data
Supplementary data collected by some TAM systems that quantify viewer appreciation of programmes on a simple scale (e.g. from 1 = very poor to 10 = very good). TAM systems that produce AA data nearly always collect them from the installed panel sample via the meters, although they could also collect them from independent survey samples using other methods.
Audience composition
The profile of measured audiences to a channel, programme, etc. with respect to selected demographic and/or other variables.
Audience Factor
In TV planning in the UK, a factor based on the number of commercial TV adults, housewives etc. per commercial TV home is applied to estimates of net commercial TV homes to achieve an estimate of audience when only homes data are available.
Audience share
Percentage of total TV viewing across a specified time interval of a given channel, programme or other use of TV set.
Audience turnover
The ratio of the cumulative audience to the average audience across a given period (e.g. programme, daypart).
Audio comparison method
Technique of signal identification in which the meter collects sample audio data from images displayed on the TV screen, which it matches against an array of known signals from a central reference source in order to establish the identity of the measured signals.
Audio matching
Auditel (Italy)
Joint industry committee responsible for TAM data supply in Italy.
Auditor (TAM)
Individual or company who evaluates the TAM system and its data quality.
Automated measurement of Line-ups (AMOL)
Avail
US term referring to the availability of a commercial position/time slot in a scheduled commercial break on a given TV channel/network that is available for purchase by an advertiser.
Average audience
The average number of individuals (or homes) viewing a TV channel over a given interval (e.g. programme, daypart).
Average quarter hour (AQH) ratings
Term used by some data suppliers that denotes the average audience across quarter-hour unit intervals.
Average revenue per user (ARPU)
Average monthly/annual revenues per household subscribing to pay-TV services. As well as basic pay-TV, premium pay-TV and PPV revenues, the figures include other transactional revenues (e.g. gambling, video games) that are earned by the platform operator/service provider. In recent years the ARPU has become a key indicator of operator performance.
Back channel
A return communications pathway between users and content providers, such as an Internet connection using a modem.
Bandwidth/Bandwidth capacity
Measure of transmission capacity that specifies the complete frequency range over which a circuit, transmission channel, or electronic system is allocated to function. Transmission channels requiring large capacity, such as digital TV channels with high levels of interactivity are sometimes described as "bandwidth hungry".
BAR (Broadcast Advertiser Reports)
A media research supplier concentrating on the reporting of television commercial purchases.
BARB (United Kingdom)
Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Joint industry committee responsible for TAM data supply in the United Kingdom
Base Unit
Meter installed on all TV sets within the home, generating statements of who and what is being viewed. (see also Slave Meter)
Basic Cable
TV and radio channels that may be included in the "basic" service agreement between a cable subscriber and a cable TV operator and for which the operator charges a monthly fee. The offer will comprise low pay channels, but exclude mini-pay TV channels on more advanced tiers and likewise exclude premium pay-TV channels and PPV/other on demand services.
BBM (Canada)
BBM Bureau of Measurement: Non-profit making tripartite co-operative originally established by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) and the Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA). It conducts its own audience measurement surveys for television and radio.
Between programme break
Commercial break placed between two different programmes.
Billboard
Airtime awarded to a programme sponsor at the beginning/end of a sponsored programme or at the beginning/end of commercial breaks within the programme for showing the sponsor credits.
Bit
Elementary unit of information/data stored as a choice between two mutually exclusive possibilities such as 1 or 0 in binary notation.
Bluetooth
Short-range digital radio technology allowing connections between a wide range of electronic devices.
Bouquet
Selection of general and thematic TV channels that are offered as a package to subscribing households.
Break
Break Position
A commercial aired between programmes as opposed to in-programme. Also called Adjacency. (see also Adjacency)
Broadband
Wired transmission pathway with greater bandwidth capacity than is required for high-grade voice communications. Term is also widely used to denote cable systems with high bandwidth capacity that are able to relay large numbers of TV channels and other electronic services, including Internet access, and provide return pathways that permit subscribers two-way communications and interactivity.
Broadband cable
Cable networks with high bandwidth capacity for delivering multiple TV channels and other electronic interactive services, such as cable telephony and Internet access, which may be marketed separately.
Broadband services
Term widely used to denote on-screen interactive services offered by broadband cable systems, such as e-mail and Internet access. Because of their high bandwidth capacity broadband cable systems have the potential advantage of offering faster access and communications than other competing technologies, as well as services such as video telephony or on-demand video that require large bandwidth capacity.
Broadcast
Over-the-air transmission of TV channel programming from a central broadcast source to multiple homes in the channel reception area via a network of land transmitters or via satellite.
Broadcast coverage area
The geographic area within which broadcast signals from a TV channel can be received according to technical criteria of signal quality. The broadcast coverage area is also referred to as the technical reach of the channel.
Broadcaster
Company/organisation broadcasting one or more terrestrial, cable and/or satellite TV channels.
Burst
Period of concentrated advertising activity, usually lasting several weeks, that is aimed at achieving high frequency and awareness at the time of the campaign and in the period immediately afterwards.
Byte
Basic data unit, comprising groups of 8 data bits that are processed together.
Cable franchise area
Geographic area in which a cable operator has been licensed to install a cable system.
Cable modem
A data modem that utilises the bandwidth of a cable system. Because of their much greater bandwidth capacity, broadband cable systems can offer Internet access via cable modems at much faster rates than conventional telephone lines.
Cable network
Cable operator
Company/organisation running a cable network.
Cable reception
Reception of television transmissions, from whatever originating source (i.e. whether terrestrial, satellite or cable) by a wired cable television (CATV) system serviced by a cable operator. TAM systems may sometimes classify MATV and/or SMATV as cable reception depending on local market structural distinctions that are found to be most relevant.
Cable telephony
Telephone services where users are connected directly to a cable network from which they rent their telephone lines. Broadband cable networks may offer cable telephony as a separate service, to which households can subscribe independently of taking out cable TV subscriptions.
Cable television system
Wired transmission system serviced by a cable operator, who receives television transmissions centrally and relays them to subscribers via a cable headend across a cable network.
Campaign
A promotional effort over a specified interval based on the same strategy and creative idea. TV advertising campaigns typically consist of a schedule of advertising spots that are transmitted in one or more discrete batches lasting several weeks or longer or at lower intensity over longer and more continuous periods. (see also Burst, Drip)
Campaign period (advertising)
Interval spanning from the first to the last days of a campaign schedule of advertising spots.
Campaign planning software
Predictive software used by media planners to estimate the audience for a schedule of advertising spots.
Canadian ARF
Canadian Advertising Research Foundation: National trade association for advertising research.
CAPI (Computer assisted personal interview)
Method of conducting face-to-face interviews with the use of a personal computer for prompting questions and recording answers.
Carriage fee
Small monthly fee per subscriber, which is normally paid by pay-TV service providers/platform operators to the channels they carry, although the reverse can also supply depending on available capacity, channel demand and conditions of service pricing, which vary greatly from country to country.
Cash Discount
A discount granted by the media supplier to an advertiser for payment within a certain period of time - e.g., a 2 percent discount if payment is made within ten days of invoice.
CATI (Computer assisted telephone interview)
CATV(1)
Conditional Access TV. The system used by pay TV operators to ensure that only paying subscribers are able to access their content. The system involves complex coding sent out from the broadcast headend and then interpreted within the STB by a smartcard or similar device.
CATV(2)
Community Antenna Television - Another term for cable television system or cable network. Key defining criteria are that the CATV system must relay cable transmissions to multiple dwellings on multiple premises and is serviced by a cable operator who charges a monthly per subscriber fee.
Cell Panel Control
Panel control consisting of two or more interlocking variables.
Cell-matrix panel control
Panel control consisting of two or more interlocking variables.
Cell-matrix weighting
Method of weighting that employs a single matrix of interlocking variables for adjusting the actual sample profile to the target sample profile.
Cellular interface
Meter interface with cellular phone connection.
Central processing base
Term sometimes used to refer to the central data collection, storage and processing system at the offices of the data supplier.
Chain Break
The time between network programmes when a network-affiliated station identifies itself to viewers and during which commercial announcements are aired. (see also Break)
Channel coverage
Number of individuals/TV homes that can receive a channel, as determined by technical reach data or by other distribution and/or marketing criteria. Channel coverage is often expressed as a percentage of the total survey population.
Channel frequency map
List of TV channels/other signal sources and their associated frequencies that are found and recorded for each monitored TV set in the home during an exhaustive tuning check by the panel technicians and later used to identify signal transmission sources in meter systems that measure frequencies.
Channel mapping
A feature of some TV sets, VCR's and set-top boxes which allows them to receive the transmissions of a TV channel in the same tuning position even if it has moved to a different frequency.
Channel penetration
Estimated percentage of TV homes within the survey universe that (a) can receive and (b) have one or more of their TV sets tuned to a given TV channel. The definition may include stipulations about acceptable picture quality.
Channel reception
TV channels that can be received by a given TV set or TV home, as determined by an exhaustive check of tuning frequencies.
Channel share
Channel tuning/viewing via satellite receiver
Selection of satellite TV channels via the tuner belonging to the satellite receiver.
Channel tuning/viewing via VCR
Selection of TV channels during viewing by means of the VCR tuner.
Channel viewing repertoire
Average number of channels that viewers within a selected population group (e.g. Satellite TV homes, multichannel TV homes, etc.) watch at least once during a specified interval (e.g. day, week, month).
Churn (rate)
Index of turnover applied to commercial pay-TV systems as a whole or to channel packages, especially premium pay-TV services. It is an important indicator of pay-TV service performance, which may be defined in several ways. The usual method of estimating churn is to divide the number of subscriber disconnections during a set period by the average number of subscribers during that period. This produces a result representing an annualised percentage.
CIM (Belgium)
Centrum voor Informatie over de Media/Centre d'Information sur les Medias: Non-profit-making joint industry committee overseeing circulation audits for press, internet sites and outdoor posters as well as being responsible for all audience measurement to do with the display advertising media.
Claimed weight of viewing
Panel classification variable based on separate establishment survey data that record claimed weight of household viewing. Some Tam systems use claimed weight of viewing as a panel control as a precaution against sample bias due to differential acceptance/installation rates amongst heavier and lighter viewing households.
Coaxial cable
Transmission technology used by broadband data and cable systems that consist of transmitting electrical signals down conducting wires with protective insulation.
Co-channel interference
Interference on a channel due to another signal on the same channel.
Coincidental study of viewing (CSV)
Parallel surveys of viewing for checking the accuracy of the main survey. CSV's are either "internal", based on the same sample as the main survey, or "external", being based on a separate independent sample. External CSV's are rarely used in TAM research, but most peoplemeter panels employ internal CSV's (usually once or twice a year) as a systematic quality control for checking (a) the accuracy of key panel classification variables that are liable to change (e.g. household size, number of TV sets) and (b) the accuracy of viewer registration through comparing the CSV claims with contemporary meter records.
Commercial airtime quota
Airtime minutage that is available for advertising according to international and national rules that vary greatly across different countries. The rules may also vary for different types of TV station within the same country. For example, public service stations that receive mixed public and advertising funding may be subject to stricter quotas than other channels. Likewise, licensed terrestrial commercial analogue services are often subject to more stringent quotas than other cable and satellite channels as a condition of their licences. Lastly the rules will often additionally specify the distribution of commercial minutage by time of day, the frequency and positioning of commercial breaks within and between programmes, the duration of commercial breaks and other requirements, such as the obligation on some TV channels to sell all their airtime in order to limit TV channel manipulation of advertising demand and consequent airtime prices.
Commercial and Programme Logs
Record of all commercials and programmes transmitted by TV channels. The information may be provided by the TV channel itself or by an independent source and is matched against processed individual viewing statements so as to permit viewing figures for specific commercials and programmes. The logs may contain additional information, such as programme genre codes, which can be used to estimate and report audiences for different kinds of programming.
Commercial break
An interval during which advertisements are shown within television transmission.
Commercial ratings
Audiences for advertising commercial spots. Different TAM systems employ different algorithms for computing commercial ratings/GRPs for minute by minute or second by second GRP measures. (see also GRP)
Commercial TV
Profit-making TV channels/services that rely on commercial advertising, pay-TV or other (e.g. telephone voting) payment revenues from their audiences.
Completed interview (CI)
Interview with eligible survey respondent that has been successfully completed and validated.
Compression/Data compression
Technology for improving the transmission rates and/or decreasing the bandwidth requirements of digital TV services that entails the reduction of the digital data files through removing redundant information. The compression technology is fundamental for allowing service providers to squeeze multiple digital TV channels and other services on to a single carrier frequency that would permit only one analogue TV channel.
Computer bureaux
Concentration Index
A number indicating a percentage difference between one value and a benchmark value for comparison. The benchmark value, however defined, is fixed at 100. Accordingly, an index of 110 indicates a positive absolute difference of 10 percentage points (or 10% relative difference); whilst an index of 90 indicates a negative absolute difference of 10 percentage points (or a -11% relative difference).
Concurrent viewing
Same individual registered as viewer for two or more TV sets at the same time.
Conditional access
Encryption technology for preventing unauthorised access to TV channels and other services. (see also Encryption)
Confidence interval
Term used in parametric statistics to specify the margin of error associated with a particular survey estimate for a given level of significance. For example, 95% confidence interval denotes the range of values surrounding the survey estimate within which there is a 95% probability that the true population value will lie. Depending on the level of certainty required, higher or lower probability values may be used to specify the confidence interval.
Confidence Limits
The lower and upper boundaries/values of a confidence interval, that is, the values which define the range of a confidence interval.
Consolidated viewing
Sum of live and all timeshift viewing of television transmissions within a set time interval after the transmissions (Note: definition allows for the same viewer to count more than once as a viewer of a transmission).
Constant viewing
Long viewing session without any change in registered set use or viewer presence. Constant viewing is used by some TAM systems as a quality control during data validation.
Content tracking system (CTS)
Content identification technology based on comparison of audio signatures used for a variety of TAM applications. Its principle of operation includes generating signatures from the unknown content's audio track and comparing those signatures against identical signatures generated for all measured content streams (e.g. "TV channels").
Contract period
Period of data purchase/delivery as agreed between the data supplier and its clients. Formal JIC or MOC industry contracts typically run from five to ten years, with extension options included.
Contract specification
Technical terms of survey content, data delivery and terms of purchase as laid down in TAM contracts between data suppliers and their clients.
Contracting party(s)
Parties to JIC, MOC and TRCC organisations that contract TAM services from one or more data suppliers.
Contractor
Data supplier contracted by an industry body/organisation to supply TAM data as specified by the contract.
Convergence
The delivery of several types of content (e.g. TV broadcasts, Web TV, hi-fi audio, etc.) to a single receiver and output source. The introduction of digital technology has greatly expanded the potential for convergent applications on the TV screen.
Conversion Factor
An assumed scaling factor that may be used for converting a measure classified by one criterion (e.g. household rating) into a measure classified by a different criterion (e.g. Adults 25-44).
Converter
Device for changing the frequency of a signal. Converters are commonly used (a) by cable and other TV distribution systems that entail reception of incoming signals and retransmission to viewers on locally available frequencies as well as (b) for enabling reception of digital TV signals on analogue TV sets (see also Decoder)
Cost efficiency
Financial performance measure of a schedule of advertising spots that is calculated by dividing the price paid by the audience delivery with reference to the target audience(s) of the advertising campaign. The principal measures of cost efficiency are Cost per rating point (CPR) and Cost per thousand (CPT or CPM).
Couch Potato
A name given to individuals who watch large amounts of television.
Cover
Derivative terms like 1+ cover and 4+ cover denote the percentage of the target audience that has been exposed to a schedule of advertising spots at least a certain number of times (e.g. at least once, at least four times, etc). (see also Reach)
Coverage
Number of individuals/homes that can receive or are exposed to a medium. (see also Channel Coverage)
CP
Campaign period.
CPM
CPP (Cost per rating point)
The average cost of achieving one commercial rating point (i.e. advertising GRP) with a 30 second advertising spot (or other standard unit of airtime) for a given target audience. CPP's are widely used as a measure of the cost efficiency of advertising campaigns or for comparing price differences across different TV stations. The alternative widely used measure of cost efficiency is advertising Cost per thousand (CPT or CPM).
CPT (Cost per thousand)
The average cost of achieving 1,000 advertising impacts against a specified target audience. CPT's/CPM's are widely used as a measure of the cost efficiency of advertising campaigns or for comparing price differences across different TV stations. The alternative widely used measure of cost efficiency is advertising Cost per rating point (CPR).
Criterion of viewing
Instruction to survey respondent on when to record himself/herself as viewer. In peoplemeter measurement, this equates with the instructions of when panel members or their guests should register their presence as viewers (e.g. "In the room with TV set on and watching", or "in the room with TV set on", etc.)
Cross-border overspill
Overspill of domestic TV station signals into neighbouring countries.
Cross-sectional data analysis
Analysis of aggregated data, that is based on sample estimates of audience size/volume and composition per unit time interval. Key output measures are audiences ratings, amount of viewing and audiences share.
Cume (Cumulative) Rating
Daily reporting sample
Data accessibility
Degree to which client users can access data generated by a TAM system. Different users may enjoy different levels of access. The degree of access is partly a function of the data which users are permitted to examine and partly a function of the software options for analysis.
Data availability
Availability of TAM data to different interest groups: not just the primary users comprising advertisers, media buyers and media owners, but also secondary users comprising software houses/computer bureaux, market research companies, trade press and other potential interest groups.
Data reporting threshold
Threshold of acceptable sample size for permitting data access. There are considerable practive variations across different TAM systems. Within Europe, about half the TAM systems employ thresholds for warning users when sample sizes for analysis are low and consequently unstable. Slightly fewer employ blocking thresholds that prevent access when sample sizes are considered unacceptably low for analysis.
Data supplier
Market Research company engaged in the collection and production of TAM data for delivery to the market.
Datacasting
Broadcasting of information and other data services via digital TV, often as a supplementary offering to enhance the appeal of digital TV channels.
Day after recall
Method of collecting audience data in interview surveys or self-completion questionnaires that asks respondents to recall their viewing or other activities on the previous days. Some surveys change the recall period to more than one day (e.g. two-day recall or up to seven-day recall) or may use past 24 hour recall as an alternative to day after recall.
Daypart
Division of the broadcast day constituting a single timeband (e.g. early morning: 06.00-09.00; peak or prime time: 19.00-23.00, etc.). Most TAM systems divide the day into about eight dayparts (e.g. Early morning; Mid to late morning; Lunchtime; Early to mid afternoon; Late afternoon; Peak/Prime time, Late evening; Night). The dayparts correspond with broad variations in audience size and composition across the broadcast day.
Decoder
Device (also called Converter) that decodes digital transmission signals and converts them for display on to the TV set.
Decoder interface
Interface between a meter and a set-top decoder that permits the monitoring of signals passing through the decoder.
Definitive viewing (data)
Final complete set of viewing statements from which quantitative estimates of viewing are generated.
Delayed broadcast (DB)
The term given to a network TV program that is delayed for airing in a given market at a different time than the time it airs nationally.
Demographic variable
Population variable for classifying individuals or households in terms of personal or family characteristics. Examples include Region; Type of settlement; Household size; Age; Sex; Social grade/Socio-economic level; Work status; Occupation; Education; Presence of children; Life stage.
Diary measurement
General term for family of TAM methodologies in which survey respondents record their viewing in diaries. Diary samples may be discrete or they may constitute short or long term panels. TAM diaries normally consist of booklets with one page, or a double-page spread, for each day of the week. There is considerable scope for variation in terms of format, unit intervals of measurement (e.g. quarter hour/five minute), criteria of viewing, selection of sample (i.e. household or individual), instructions on when to fill in and methods of administration and collection. National diary TAM systems have given way to national peoplemeter TAM systems in most countries, but diaries are still commonly used in larger countries for regional/local audience measurement or for collecting data from rural areas.
Digital
General term for all radio frequency wave signals that have been transformed into binary units of data (bits). The transformation of all video and audio signal information into bits is fundamental to expanding the opportunities for multimedia and convergent applications sharing the same output source (i.e. TV or PC screen).
Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)
International transmission technical standard for digital radio services.
Digital cable TV (DCT)
Digital television services transmitted via cable.
Digital satellite television (DST)
Digital services transmitted via satellite and received directly by means of individual satellite dishes or via SMATV connections.
Digital Television (DTV)
General term for TV services that are transmitted into the home digitally, where they are received either by a set-top box decoder, which converts them into analogue form for display on a conventional analogue TV set, or by an integrated digital TV receiver.
Digital terrestrial television (DTT)
Digital TV broadcasted terrestrially over the air for reception by aerial antennae.
Digital versatile/video disc (DVD)
Disc containing audiovisual materials in video for display on the TV screen by means of a DVD player.
Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB)
Organisation with over 220 members in 25 countries worldwide, which has devised a set of standards for digital TV transmissions by satellite, cable and terrestrial sources.
Direct broadcasting by satellite (DBS)
Hangover term coined during the eighties to refer to WARC (World Administrative Radio Conference) international provisions for direct broadcasting by satellite. The WARC plan envisaged allocating each country five K band frequencies for high power analogue satellite transmissions that would permit nationwide reception with dishes no greater than 90 cm in diameter. Several national projects were developed during the early eighties; however, the DBS projects were rapidly superseded by major technological advances that created room for a far greater number of TV channels to be broadcasted by medium power satellites using a different part of the radio frequency spectrum and at much lower costs.
Direct frequency measurement (DFM)
Method of identifying channels by means of metering their frequencies and comparing these against the channel map for the TV set or other input source being monitored.
Disaggregated viewing data
Same as Elementary or Respondent level viewing data - Processed viewing data held at the level of individual respondents. The basic components of disaggregated viewing data are individual viewing statements consisting of complete time records across each broadcasting day of all viewing sessions by every family member and guest on all metered TV sets in the home. (see alsoIndividual Viewing Statements)
Dish
Parabolic reception antenna for receiving satellite signals.
Disproportional sampling
Sampling in which different sub-populations have different probabilities of selection, resulting in over-sampling/under-sampling of some groups compared with others. Disproportional sampling by selected region(s) is quite common in TAM research.
Distribution platform
Method of delivering a TV service consisting of large number of TV channels and other offerings that are marketed as a single entity. Term mainly applies to DTV services, which may occupy satellite, cable or terrestrial platforms, but may also cover commercial cable and satellite subscription services in analogue.
Domestic TV channel
Any TV channel whose programmes and/or advertising are specifically targeted at national, regional or local audiences within the country of reception. The definition is independent of the point of origin of the broadcasts. At the same time the same TV channel may be broadcasted as a domestic service to more than one national market.
Downlink
Signal pathway from the satellite to the earth.
Downstream
Term used widely in interactive TV (iTV terms) to refer to the signal pathway from the service provider (e.g. cable operator) to the home. This will usually have higher bandwidth demands than the upstream return path from the home to the service provider.
Drip
Continuous low intensity advertising over an extended period, usually aimed at giving regular reminders to viewers.
Drop-down menu
On-screen text menu offered by interactive digital TV channels that viewers can call up with their remote control handsets.
DSL (Digital subscriber line)
Generic term for technologies that permit the delivery of broadband services over voice telephony networks.
DTH
Direct to home satellite transmission and reception - TV transmissions via satellite intended for "direct-to-home" reception in households equipped with parabolic dish antennae.
Duplication
Audience overlap across successive unit intervals of measurement.
DVD (Digital video disc) player
Device for playing, but not recording digital video discs.
DVR (Digital Video Recorder)
Devices that allow TV viewers to time shifht, pauese, and fast forward (until real time) using hard drive video storage. (see alsoPersonal Video Recorder)
Dynamic variable
Variable that is unstable in terms of a rapidly changing population profile. This is most likely to apply to equipment and other TV related variables (e.g. multiset homes, cable , DTH reception, digital reception, Internet access, etc.) during periods of strong growth.
EACA
European Association of Communications Agencies (formerly European Association of Advertising Agencies): European trade association for advertising agencies/media specialists.
EBU
European Broadcasting Union: International professional and trade association of national television and public radio service broadcasters in 52 countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East and 45 associate members in 28 countries from other regions.
e-commerce
Purchase of products and services over the Internet.
Editing in/out
Phase of cleaning polled meter records (i.e. "raw" meter statements) during data processing/validation. The rules may either be for editing data in (very largely for assigning uncovered viewing) or for editing data out (e.g. elimination of unassigned uncovered viewing, deletion or partial deletion of viewing records when concurrent viewing is encountered).
EEET (Cyprus)
Epitropi Elenhou Ereynon Tileorasis (TV audience research control committee): Joint industry committee of TV stations, advertisers, media buyers and market research companies supervising TAM data supply and surrounding technical issues in Cyprus.
EEET (Greece)
Epitropi Elenhou Ereynon Tileorasis (TV audience research control committee): Joint industry committee of TV stations, advertisers, media buyers and market research companies supervising TAM data supply and surrounding technical issues, in Greece.
Effective frequency
The level of exposure frequency at which reach is deemed "effectively" delivered. (see also Effective Reach)
Effective reach
The number of percentage of a target audience that is exposed to a schedule of advertising spots at a set level of frequency. This will typically specify a lower threshold value indicating the minimum level of exposure deemed as sufficient for "effective" advertising purposes (e.g. 4+ cover) and an upper threshold (e.g. 12+ cover) above which additional exposures are considered as waste.
Effective sample size
Efficiency
EGTA
European Group of Television Advertising: European trade association of airtime sales organisations or departments representing the interests of about 100 TV stations in 26 countries in Europe (and Korea).
Electronic diary
Diary where respondents record their viewing on a small portable display screen using a light pen.
Electronic programme guide (EPG)
On-screen electronic guide to channel programme offerings and other services carried by a DTV platform.
Elementary viewing data
Same as Disaggregated viewing data - processed viewing data held at the level of individual respondents.
Eligible address/respondent
Contacted address/respondent that is eligible for selection within the sample.
Multimedia correspondence over the internet.
Embedded gap
Term used in data editing to denote an interval of uncovered viewing sandwiched between two intervals of covered viewing
Embedded signal
Supplementary signal (e.g. unique programme code, teletext code, genre code, etc.) contained in TV channel transmissions, which is not part of the audiovisual images appearing on the TV screen, but may be used by the viewer or other party for other purposes; TAM data suppliers may use it for channel or program identification purpose.
EMRO
European Media Research Organizations: International group of experts in national media audience measurement (mainly representatives of market research companies engaged in media research or members of industry committees overseeing media research).
Encryption
Signal encoding employed by pay-TV operators to confine reception to authorised users equipped with Smartcards for de-encrypting their signals and prevent unauthorised "pirate" reception of their signals.
Enforced (panel) turnover
Homes dropped from a panel on the initiative of the data supplier. The principal categories of enforced turnover are (a) turnover in order to preserve/improve panel balance, (b) turnover to reduce panel age as a precaution against creeping panel bias and/or panel fatigue (with some TAM systems setting a maximum length of service), or (c) turnover due to faulty compliance with panel viewing instructions.
Enhanced TV
Television programming supplemented with extra datacast materials and/or coverage options in order to enhance its appeal to viewers (e.g. drop-down menu displays giving details of accommodation and sightseeing opportunities at a holiday destination described in a travel programme).
Entry package
Minimum basic package of channels and services to which subscribers to analogue or digital pay TV services must sign up.
Enumeration survey
Survey aimed at providing a population count of households/household size. Enumeration surveys may be conducted on their own, independently of any other survey (as in USA) or as the initial phase of an establishment or other survey phases, where they are used in order to (a) update population estimates and (b) provide a sampling frame of addresses for designating the establishment survey sample.
Equipment/TV-related variable
Household variables designating the type of reception, number and type of TV sets and other audiovisual equipment in the home (e.g. ownership of VCR's, DVD's, video games consoles, PC's etc.). They may also related to viewing habits (e.g. claimed weight or claimed balance of viewing).
Equivalent sample size
Estimate of the effective size of a sample based on sample error after removing the effects of weights and dependencies within the sample caused by clustering (i.e. individuals within the same sample population living in the same household). In practice, measures of effective sample size are usually calculated by examining the effects of panel weights alone. For single audience measures, the effective sample will always be lower than the actual sample on the basis that, the greater the variability of panel weights within the selected sample/sub-sample, the lower the effective sample size. (see also Statistical Efficiency Value)
ESOMAR
European Society for Opinion & Marketing Research: World Association of Opinion and Marketing Research Professionals.
Establishment survey (ES)
Large-scale survey for collecting establishment, demographic and other household data. The ES provides the basis for deriving population profile estimates and determining target profiles for selected panel control variables (unless taken from other external sources). The ES samples are also generally used as a source of addresses for panel recruitment.
Excess viewing
Measure daily individual viewing that exceeds TAM system threshold criteria of extreme length (e.g. 20+ hours). Many TAM systems employ excess viewing as a quality control criteria during data validation.
Exit interview
Interview conducted with home leaving the panel, usually for future panel management purposes.
Expansion Factor
Exposure
A person's physical contact with an advertising medium or message. In the case of television, exposure to an advertising spot is treated as equal to the measured audience for that spot.
Extension option
Extra period (typically one or two years) that a TAM contract may run beyond its initial expiry date at the discretion of the contracting party.
Face-to-face interview (FtF)
Methodology of data collection by means of a questionnaire, which an interviewer administers face-to-face with the survey respondent.
Fibre optic to the curb
Variant of FTTH where fibre optic cabling extends to the street, but conventional copper wiring is used for entry into the home. (see also FTTH)
Fibre optics
Technology of data transmission that involves the passage of optical signals along bundles of glass filaments with extremely low signal attenuation.
Fieldwork control
A procedure for checking the quality of data collection and ensure that the survey procedures are being adhered to.
Fieldwork period
Interval over which fieldwork is being carried out.
Finger-printing
Technique of inserting an extra signal code in a source appearing on the TV screen that enables later recognition. The technique is typically used during video timeshift recording of TV channel transmissions for later identification of timeshift video playback.
Fixed Position
Specification by the advertiser/media buyer of the commercial break (or even position within the commercial break in some markets) that an advertising spot is to appear.
Flat screen TV
TV sets lacking the conventional cathode ray tube that can be hung on the wall like pictures.
Flighting
The scheduling of advertising for a period of time, followed by a hiatus, then another "flight" of advertising.
FM (Frequency Modulation)
The transmission of audiovisual signals in which the frequency of a transmitting wave is modulated as a function of its intensity.
Footprint
Geographic, elliptically-shaped reception zone covered by the signal beam of a satellite.
Foreign TV channel
Any TV channel that is either an overspill channel (e.g. cross-border terrestrial or satellite channel) targeted at viewers in a different country from the country of reception, or is targeted at an international audience regardless of the location from which it is broadcasted.
Free-to-air
Television channels broadcasted terrestrially or by satellite that are offered free to the end users, who do not have to pay a subscription fee in order to receive them. This category includes publicly funded channels and channels that are financed by advertising only or by a mixture of public funding and advertising revenues.
Free-to-view
Television channels or services for which viewers do not have to pay a subscription or other fee in order to receive them.
Freeze frame
Display of a single (frozen) frame of video.
Frequency
The average number of times that members of a target audience who have counted at least once as viewers to a schedule of advertising spots (or sequence of programmes), have counted as viewers.
Frequency Discount
A rate discount given to an advertiser who purchases a specific schedule within a specific period of time, e.g., six ads within one year.
Frequency distribution
Distribution showing the percentage of the target audience population who have viewed a schedule of advertising spots (or sequence of programmes) at each level of frequency.
FTTH (Fibre to the home)
Wired broadband communications technology in which the entire network to the home is constructed out of fibre optic cable. Benefitting from a significant decline in material prices, FTTH is emerging as a viable two-way residential communications technology in several countries, including Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, Italy and the Nordic countries.
GEAR
Group of European Audience Researchers; Association of audience research professionals within public service broadcasting organisations belonging to the EBU.
Generalist channel
General entertainment TV channel without specific thematic content.
Geodemographics
The demographic description of people living in specific geographic regions and types of environment (e.g. settlement size, type of housing, etc.).
GGTAM
Global Guidelines for Television Audience Measurement: International guidelines sponsored and published by the EBU in collaboration with the Audience Research Methods (ARM) Group comprising representatives from nine international trade associations or groups of professionals: ARF (USA); Canadian ARF; EAAA (now EACA); EGTA; EMRO; ESOMAR; GEAR; PETR; WFA.
Gold standard
Industry declared correct audience values, most often used in connection with viewer ratings. The object of laying down "gold standards" is to prevent disputes between buyers and sellers of commercial airtime over the correct audience figures that have arisen on account of them using different software yielding different estimates of viewing.
Gross impressions
Gross panel size
Total sample of panel households/individuals, regardless of whether or not they contribute to the reporting samples.
Grossing up factor
GRP (Gross Rating Point)
Unit of audience volume, which is based on the percentage of the target audience population that has viewed a transmission across a unit interval (usually minute by minute audience, but some TAM systems base their GRP estimates on the second by second audience). For example, a GRP of 10 implies an audience size that is equal to 10% of the audience being measured. Meanwhile the total GRP delivery of a schedule of advertising spots is equal to the sum of commercial GRPs/ratings across all the spots contained in the schedule. GRP totals or averages may be estimated for a wide range of different time periods, programme or commercial selections. For purposes of calculating commercial GRPs, commercial GRPs for each advertising spot are typically adjusted to a standard 30 second advertising spot interval.
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)
A Pan-European (and increasingly global) standard for mobile telephony.
GSM interface
Interface between a meter and digital GSM phone connection.
Guest
Person not belonging to the household and in any case not part of the designated panel member set, who watches for a certain period of time a TV-set together with some panel members.
Guest viewing
Viewing derived by guests. Guests viewing is registered through specific buttons on the handset together with a limited set of characteristics (usually sex and age). Final data may be processed with or without guests; anyhow, target groups with no information about guest characteristics may be processed only without guests.
Guest viewing button(s)
Button(s) on a remote control handset for registering guest viewing.
HD/DTV
Digital HDTV.
HDTV (High definition TV)
TV signals with at least twice the horizontal and vertical resolution of conventional broadcast TV signals, thereby giving a richer picture with less noticeable grain.
Headend
The control centre of a cable television system where incoming transmissions are received, processed, converted and re-transmitted across the cable network.
Heavy viewer
Person whose average daily viewing levels satisfy TAM system threshold criterion for classifying that person as a "heavy" viewer.
HH
Commonly used abbreviation for Household or Home, the two terms being equivalent.
Hiatus
A period of non-activity - the period between advertising flights.
Home shopping
On-screen shopping services that may take the form of TV broadcast channels dedicated to home shopping as well as additional interactive text and services.
Homes connected
Number of homes connected and subscribing to one or more services offered by a cable network, including cable television.
Homes passed
Number of homes passed by a cable network that can be connected to it and are available for marketing.
Hours of transmission
Number of hours per day during which a television channel is on air (i.e. transmits programming). The total may vary by day of week or by region.
Hours of viewing
The average daily/weekly number of hours of viewing by a selected audience category to a given TV channel or in total across a selected interval (usually monthly, quarterly or annual).
Housewife/housekeeper
Widely employed demographic classification that specifies the person who spends most time looking after the home. Precise definitions vary. For example, some systems specify one and only one housewife/housekeeper per household, who may be a man of woman. Others may specify that the housewife/housekeeper has to be a woman. And so on.
HUT (Homes Using TV)
The percentage of homes using (tuned in to) TV at a particular time.
Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC)
Most commonly found wiring format of cable television systems, where the main trunk cables and larger feeds consist of high capacity fibre optic wires, whilst the local feeds to the home are coaxial.
IARB (Israel)
Israel Audience Research Board: Joint industry body responsible for TAM data supply in Israel.
iDTV (Integrated Digital TV)
TV sets with built-in converters that can receive and display digital TV channels transmitted in the clear without the need of set-top boxes.
Impact
Unit measure of commercial audience delivery, with one impact being equal to one person's viewing of one 30 second advertising spot. Impacts also referred to as Gross impressions.
Impact delivery
Sum of impacts across a schedule of advertising spots. Impact delivery is most commonly used as a measure of the total commercial audience delivered by a TV channel.
Impact weights
Weights applied to advertising spots of different lengths in order to adjust them to the standard 30 second length. Impacts may be weighted by (a) duration (e.g. impact delivery of a 15 second advertising spot treated as equivalent to 50% of its value for a 30 second advertising spot) or (b) ratecard prices (e.g. impact delivery of a 10 second spot with a ratecard price that is 50% of a 30 second advertising spot, being treated as equivalent to 50% of its value for a 30 second advertising spot).
Impulse pay-per-view (IPPV)
Pay-per-view service where viewers can order programmes directly from the screen using their remote control TV handsets.
In directory sample
Installed base of panel households equipped with meters less homes that are out of production for long periods and have been classified as off directory. The in directory sample may include some out of production homes that are under observation (e.g. newly installed run-in homes or homes with technical problems that are under repair), being polled but not produced in the daily reporting sample.
In home viewing
TV viewing that takes place in the home.
In production sample
Meter panel households that are available for polling and inclusion in the net daily reporting samples.
In vision teletext
Teletext superimposed on the normal broadcast picture (as with subtitles for hard of hearing).
Independent station
A commercial TV station serving a regional/local market that is independently owned, although it may be affiliated with a network.
Indiv.
Individual.
Individual viewing statements
Converted meter records (raw data) after data processing (i.e. after editing, validation and assignment of weights) into summary statements of individual viewing over time. Each statement contains information concerning (a) Start and end time of the viewing session; (b) identification of signal source and TV set being viewed; (c) identity of viewer; (d) coded demographic and other information about the individual's identity; (e) the individual's daily weight. Processed individual viewing statements constitute the basic components of disaggregated viewing data.
Infomercial (Infomercial)
An extended commercial message, usually lasting upwards of two minutes, that features product/service information, including product demonstration.
Installation date
The date when a recently recruited meter panel household is installed with one or more meters for measuring TV viewing.
Installed base (panel homes)
Gross panel size of samples equipped with meters (setmeters or peoplemeters), including some off directory homes, which are out of production for long periods.
In-tab sample
Interactive advertising
Advertising which allows for viewer interaction with on-screen image using the remote control handset in order to access further information or other materials. Interactive advertising is restricted to digital television services.
Interactive cable
A cable system with two-way communications that allows the cable TV viewer to respond (interact) to what is being telecasted via a remote control handset, which transmits his/her messages directly to the cable operator.
Interconnect
Two or more different cable systems which are linked together to air locally sourced programming or commercials simultaneously. A "hard" or "true" interconnect is linked by cable or microwave. A "soft" interconnect is a group of systems with an agreement to insert commercials into programmes or time periods.
Interlocking variables (weights)
Variables employed in (cell-matrix) combinations for weighting survey data (e.g. Age x Sex x Region).
Interview call-back attempt(s)
Maximum number of attempts that an interviewer will make in order to request an interview at a designated household address or telephone number after receiving no answer on previous attempts.
Interviewee selection
Method of selecting interviewees at household addresses or telephone numbers.
Invalid data capture
Collection of meter data in mode different from the established mode for data processing.
Invalid meter statement
Meter statements from devices other than the established ones or statements that do not observe the established formats in other respects (e.g. wrong dates).
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
Telephone network that employs digital switching and transmissions. Compared with analogue networks, which they already replaced in many countries, ISDN systems offer much higher data transmission rates, but lower than the more recently introduced DSL technologies, which have become increasingly popular for fast speed Internet access.
ISP (Internet service provider)
Commercial organisation offering users access to services over the internet.
iTV (Interactive television)
Television services that permit viewer interaction. The concept of interactivity can be applied at many different levels. In the field of digital television, it currently refers to services that allow viewers to choose and control extra coverage options or make use of other interactive services directly with their remote control handsets.
Java
Widely used general purpose computer programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. Programs written in Java can run on any platform, including set-top boxes, provided they contain a Java Virtual Machine.
JICTAR
JIC responsible for TAM data provision in Malaysia.
Joint Industry Committee (JIC)
Form of survey organisation in which a joint industry grouping of TV station, advertiser and media buyer representatives holds a contract with one or more data suppliers for a fixed time period (usually lasting between five and ten years). The functions of the JIC generally include contract specification, supervision of the TAM service, ownership of data copyright and determination of the conditions of data release.
KPI (Key Performance Indicators)
Utilised in the audit process to measure the performance of the panel against agreed specifications.
Lazy viewing
Form of uncovered viewing in which no family member registers his/her presence for an entire viewing session when the TV set is on. Many TAM systems employ lazy viewing above set threshold values as a quality control during data validation.
Lead-in/Lead-out
A programme preceding/following the time period of the programme being analysed.
Leading gap
Term used in data editing to denote an interval of uncovered viewing at the beginning of a TV viewing session that is followed by an interval of covered viewing.
Licensed software
Application software for analysing viewing data for programming/advertising purposes that has been licensed to the data supplier (or other party delivering data to the market) by a separate, independent company.
Licensed user
A client organisation subscribing to the TAM viewing data. Fees may be variable depending on the level of access required.
Life stage
Household classification based on time of life characteristics of family (e.g. young couple without children, family with young children, retired person/couple with grown-up children who have left home, etc.).
Lifestyle
Classification variable based on individual behaviours, such as leisure activities, recreational habits or product purchase/consumption behaviours.
Light viewer
Person whose average daily viewing levels satisfy TAM system threshold criterion for classifying that person as a "light" viewer.
Line-up
The listing of stations carrying a TV programme.
Live streaming
Multimedia content transmitted over the Internet that begins playing upon the arrival of the first packets and simulates real-time delivery.
Live viewing
Viewing of live broadcasts at the actual time of transmission, therefore not including any playback or time shifted viewing.
Local feed
TV channel transmissions that are modified in order to meet the needs/requirements of a specific market segment (e.g. Pan European channels with different language feeds and/or variations in programming/advertising to cater for different national markets.
Local oscillator frequency (FLO)
Frequency emitted by tuner in TV set, which permits Direct Frequency Measurement (DFM).
Local TV
TV services serving local communities/sub-regions.
Longitudinal data analysis
Analysis of disaggregated viewing data, that is based on individual viewing records over time. Key output measures are audience reach and frequency, although longitudinal analyses can, like cross-sectional analyses, also supply estimates of ratings, amount of viewing and audiences share.
Low pay
TV services that are part of a basic subscription package giving a low average cost per channel.
Main income earner (MIE)
Demographic classification that specifies the person in the household who earns the main income providing for the needs of the household.
Main shopper
Widely used demographic classification that specifies the person in the household who is mainly responsible for purchasing household goods. As with housewife/housekeeper, precise definitions vary across different TAM systems.
Makegood
Extra advertising spots in compensation of a scheduling error/alteration by the TV station or failure to deliver an audience guarantee target during the campaign period.
Master meter
Installed meter that has extra functions of collecting and storing data from other installed meters in the household, which it delivers to the central processing base of the data supplier during polling.
MATV (Master antenna television)
Mini-cable system connecting multiple homes on a single premise (e.g. apartment block, housing estate) to a central collective antenna for picking up terrestrial over-the-air signals.
Maximum to minimum weight ratio
The ratio of the individual with the highest weight to the individual with the lowest weight in a survey sample. For proportional samples, the maximum to minimum weight ratio provides an important index of the variability of a sample or its degree of balance. In general, the better the balance, the lower the ratio. For disproportional samples a high weight ratio is mainly derived from the different sampling rates.
Mean
Arithmetical average calculated by summing numerical values across a list of items and dividing the sum by the number of items on the list.
Mean weight
The average weight of individuals or households within a sample. Most TAM systems are only concerned with individual weights, as viewing is nearly always reported for individuals rather than households.
Media buyer
Agency responsible for the purchasing of commercial airtime on behalf of advertisers; they also often provide support to the advertisers for planning, optimisation and control of the performances.
Media buyer
Agency responsible for purchasing commercial airtime on behalf of advertisers; they also often provide support to the advertisers for planning, optimisation and control of the performances.
Media dependent
Media planning/buying specialist dependent on a creative agency in common ownership.
Media independent
Media planning/buying specialist on behalf of creative agencies under separate ownership.
Media mix
The combination of different display advertising media in an advertising campaign.
Media owner
General term used in TAM research to refer to TV stations, TV airtime sales houses, programming organisations, trade associations or other parties belonging to the television sector.
Media Owner Contract (MOC)
Form of survey organisation in which one or more media owners (i.e. TV stations, including airtime sales houses) holds the main contract with the data supplier that guarantees the production and delivery of TAM data. MOC systems vary appreciably in terms of how far the media owners involve themselves in the supervision of the TAM services or in determining commercial policies for releasing TAM data to other parties.
Media schedule/plan
A plan for an advertising campaign which specifies details of the selected media, advertising content, dates and timing dates.
MediaCorp (Singapore)
MOC organisation responsible for pay-TV contract in Singapore.
Mediametrie (France)
Private research company under tripartite ownership operating TRCC in France. It both acts as TAM data supplier and sub-contracts some fieldwork to other parties. Mediametrie includes non-shareholders in its supervisory committees.
MediaWorks (Singapore)
MOC organisation in charge of main television advertising industry contract in Singapore.
Meter sensitivity
Timelines with which meters can detect changes in set use: typically in the order of one second or less.
Meter time drift
Time difference between the meter clock and the central computer clock of the data processing system, as registered during data polling.
MHP (Multimedia home platform)
A Java-based platform supported by the Digital Video Broadcasting project which allows inter-system compatibility between different conditional access systems sharing the same platform.
Mini-pay
TV channels, usually offered as packages of channels, that carry an incremental subscription charge compared with channels offered in basic packages, but cost less than premium TV channels.
MMDS (Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service)
Terrestrial over-the-air transmission of TV channels and other audiovisual content via short-range microwave frequencies.
MMS (Multimedia message service)
Video message service over the telephone.
MMS (Sweden)
Mediamatning I Skandinavien: Private research company under tripartite ownership (mostly media owners) operating TRCC in Sweden. MMS contracts data provision to external data suppliers, but controls the marketing and release of the data to client users.
MOC
Mode
The most frequently found numerical value in a series of items with associated numerical values.
Modem
A modulating and demodulating device that converts digital signals for transmission (e.g. for sending/receiving faxes or e-mail via the telephone network).
MPEG (Motion Picture Expert Group)
A widespread international family of compression standards for digital video, of which MPEG 1 and MPEG 2 are the most significant for TV broadcasting. The technically superior MPEG 2 uses DCT (discrete cosine transform) compression.
MRC (USA)
Media Research Council: multimedia joint industry body, whose functions include auditing and commenting on the quality and accuracy of TAM data.
MSO (Multiple System Operator)
Cable operator that operates multiple cable TV systems.
Multicasting
Broadcasting of several programmes at the same time on a digital TV channel.
Multichannel TV home
TV homes that are equipped to receive extra TV channels in addition to the locally available free-to-air terrestrial analogue channels. The extra TV channels include additional cable and satellite analogue channels as well as extra digital satellite, cable and terrestrial channels and services.
Multimedia buys
The purchase of advertising in more than one medium owned by a media supplier, or by media suppliers who have a cooperative agreement. Multimedia buys can encompass multiple media vehicles within a media form (e.g. several magazines) or different media forms (e.g. magazines and TV).
Multi-platform home
TV home that can receive extra channels in addition to the locally available free-to-air terrestrial analogue channels via more than one distribution platform.
Multiplexing
Process of partitioning and combining more than one digitally compressed channel on to the same carrier frequency. The channels are subsequently separated and decompressed on reception by means of a set-top box.
Multi-set homes
Homes with two or more TV sets.
Multi-stage stratification
Sample stratification in more than one step (e.g. stratification by region/sub-region followed by stratification by settlement size, etc.). (see also Stratification)
NAB (USA)
National Association of Broadcasters: National trade association of TV broadcasters in USA.
Narrowband
Relative to broadband, narrowband systems carry a narrow frequency range (sometimes defined as bandwidths less than 1 MHz). Voice telephony (3 kHz) is an example of a narrowband system and television (6 MHz) an example of a broadband system.
Narrowcast
TV transmissions via a wired network (e.g. cable television system, telephone network, etc.).
National media survey (NMS)
National media survey covering one or more of the main display advertising media (usually at least print media or radio). A number of European countries use NMS's that employ interview methodology with large samples as an alternative to establishment surveys.
Natural (panel) turnover
Panel turnover due to natural causes (I.e. not enforced by the data supplier), of which the principal category is resignation by the panel household; but also moving house or severe technical problems may be causes of natural turnover.
Net daily reporting sample (in-tab sample)
The final sample yielding audience measurement data on a given day after polling and validation: It is equal to the in production sample less households that were not successfully polled and households that were successfully polled, but rejected during validation for technical or behavioural reasons.
Network
A broadcast service, usually covering a large geographic area, composed of a number of TV stations that broadcast a mixture of central "network" and regional/local programming and/or advertising. Many different types of network exist in terms of ownership ties, programming and commercial agreements, management structures and market coverage. Affiliate networks are commonly found in geographically large countries like Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Russia and the USA. In Europe, where national land areas are much smaller, a number of countries have regional/local TV networks, mostly publicly funded and under central state ownership.
Network overlap
Signal overlap of TV stations belonging to the same network
Niche channel
Thematic TV channel catering for a specific interest group (e.g. children's channel, DIY channel, etc.) and usually targeting a specific audience demographic subgroup.
Nielsen Mark II meter
Meter used by Nielsen Media research in the USA and other countries.
Nil viewing
Processed daily viewing statements without any registered viewing. Nil viewing may refer to (a) household nil viewing, (b) individual nil viewing or (c) nil viewing by TV set. Types (b) of nil viewing may serve as panel controls of sample compliance with the button-pressing instructions.
Non-interlocking variables (weights)
Variables employed on their own, independently of other variables in weighting survey data (e.g. Age on its own, Sex on its own, Region on its own).
Non-intrusive meter
Meter that can be installed without any interference with the TV set or other equipment to which it is attached.
Non-standard set use
Use of TV set for purposes other than viewing conventional live broadcast/narrowcast programming (e.g. channel tuning via VCR, timeshift video recording and playback, pre-recorded video cassette viewing, video games, etc.).
Non-terrestrial TV
TV channels that are both transmitted and received via cable or satellite. Precise definitions may vary from country to country. In the UK, for example, non-terrestrial TV is often used to refer to all channels, including DTT-only channels, apart from the five national/regional terrestrial analogue services. Elsewhere, there may be a question of whether channels like MTV, which are broadcasted via satellite, received by an intermediary station and re-broadcasted terrestrially, should be classified as terrestrial or non-terrestrial. It is a matter of deciding which distinction is most useful in the country or market concerned.
NTSC
US technical broadcast standard for analogue TV transmissions named after the National Television Systems Committee.
Number of days polling
Number of days allowed for the collection of definitive viewing data. Where more than one day is allowed, data polled on the first day are augmented with data from homes that were not successfully contacted on the first polling day, but were successfully contacted on subsequent polling days (usually a small addition that improves the overall production levels).
NVOD (Near video on demand)
Restricted form of on demand programming, where the programmes made available for selection are broadcast at staggered (e.g. 15 minute) intervals on a group of channels, so that the viewer can choose the most convenient start-time. PPV services offering premium films are a form of Near video on demand, as the same film is transmitted a large number of times. NVOD services do not necessarily carry a subscription charge, though.
Off directory
Installed meter panel households that are out of production because they cannot be polled (e.g. cannot be polled due to non-payment of telephone bills, moving house, undergoing house alterations, problems with the modem of the meter, etc.). The precise criteria for placing homes off directory vary across panels.
Official source(s) of population statistics
National sources of population estimates, such as census data (including interim projections of changes in population size and distribution) or personal or household population registers that are used as basic reference sources for arriving at population estimates. The quality of official statistical sources and the degree to which TAM systems borrow from them vary appreciably across different countries.
Omnibus survey
Regular or periodic survey containing a variable battery of questions covering a heterogeneous selection of subjects. Such surveys are occasionally used by TAM systems for collecting establishment data.
On-demand streaming
Streamed multimedia content that is available over the Internet at the request of the viewer. On-demand streaming is commonly used for news and sports services.
Optimisation software
Campaign planning software that aims at achieving the best spread of commercial airtime across the spot schedule with respect to selected audience objectives.
OTS (Opportunity to See)
A commonly used term in Europe denoting frequency of media exposure. For television it is synonymous with frequency.
Out of Home Viewing
Non-domestic viewing that takes place outside the home (e.g. viewing at a friend's house or at a public venue, such as in pubs, clubs, hotels or work places). Out of home viewing may be particularly important for some broadcasters, e.g. niche satellite channels.
Out of production sample
Installed meter panel households that are not available for production, because they have been classified as off directory or have been withheld for other reasons (e.g. newly installed run-in homes or homes with technical problems that are being monitored, etc.).
Overnight viewing data
Viewing data delivered the next day. The term is sometimes used in a narrower sense to refer to initial data output covering a restricted selection of key target audiences that is delivered to clients at the earliest opportunity the next day (i.e. during the morning).
Overspill station
TV station, which can be received outside its target market or geographic coverage area. The overspill may be national or regional/local and likewise broadcast or via cable retransmission. (see also Cross Border Overspill)
Own service (OS)
Form of survey organisation in which the data supplier operates the TAM service as a private enterprise, holding multiple contracts of varying lengths with individual client subscribers. It is the most common form of TAM data provision, especially outside Europe.
Own software
Application software for analysing viewing data for programming/advertising purposes that has been developed by the data supplier or other party delivering data to the market.
OzTAM (Australia)
Private company under ownership of three main commercial networks in Australia that operates a MOC TAM data service covering the metropolitan areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
PAL
Most widespread global technical broadcast standard for analogue TV transmissions.
Panel
Representative survey sample from which data is collected over time. Panels may be short term and employ discrete one-off samples (e.g. some diary surveys) or long term with samples that change over time according to the number of homes that leave the panel and are replaced by new homes.
Panel age (distribution)
Panel household classification according to length of service on the panel.
Panel balance
Conformity of actual panel allocation to the ideal panel allocation for the selected panel control variables.
Panel control
Demographic or other variables used for maintaining the representativeness of the panel sample over time as homes leave the panel and are replaced by new panel homes. The panel controls specify target profiles for each selected panel control variable, which the panel management staff try to match as closely as possible during initial panel recruitment and replacement. The selected variables may be treated individually or employed in cell-matrix combinations with other variables.
Panel fatigue
Deterioration in quality of panel measurement as a function of the length of time that households/individuals have belonged to a panel (e.g. possible increased levels of measured nil or uncovered viewing as panel members co-operate less with their button-pressing instructions over time).
Panel maintenance
Panel staff functions of preserving panel balance over time and likewise accuracy of panel classifications and quality of panel response through the exercise of regular and periodic quality control procedures.
Panel member button
Button(s) on a remote control handset for registering viewing by panel members, with each member having his/her own designated button.
Panel turnover
Index of change in the gross panel sample, which is often defined as the number of homes leaving the panel during the course of each year as a percentage of the installed base at the beginning of the year. Panel turnover, may, however, be defined in several ways depending on the account taken of differences in gross panel size at the beginning and end of the interval and of homes that enter and leave the panel within the interval.
Panel weight
Scaling factor used for correcting imbalances in the daily reporting sample with respect to the weighting variables. The weights also contain a "grossing up" factor for projecting from the achieved weighted sample sizes to the population estimates.
Paper diary
Diary where respondents record their viewing in a paper booklet.
Parabolic (dish) antenna
Receiver for collecting and amplifying off-air signals, which is necessary for domestic reception of satellite TV transmissions. Amplification is achieved through the parabolic shape of the receiving surface, which reflects the incoming signals on to a single point. Hence, the larger the diameter of the parabolic signal the stronger the signal reception.
Parallel run
Side by side running of two different TAM systems for comparison and control purposes. Parallel runs are common when there is a change of contractor in JIC or MOC controlled TAM systems, the objectives being to assess the differences between the new and old TAM, make any necessary adjustments to the new system and assist continuity in the use of the viewing data for programming and advertising purposes.
Passive sensing
Form of peoplemeter measurement that dispenses with active participation from panel members in favour of alternative "passive sensing" methods of individual identification (e.g. image recognition, thermal sensing, etc.). Various passive sensing methods have been tested. None has been successfully implemented so far and all current peoplemeter TAM systems employ active peoplemeter measurement. This could change in the future, although the successful implementation of passive sensing methods will need to address concerns over respondent privacy as well as technical issues of accurate person identification.
Pay cable
Mini-pay or premium subscription channels/services offered to basic cable subscribers for an additional fee (e.g. HBO). Term mainly used in North America.
Pay to basic ratio
Ratio of number of premium TV service subscriptions (which may be more than one in any given household), to the total number of basic cable TV subscriptions.
Pay-per-View (PPV)
Programming (usually special live events or newly released films), which viewers must request and pay for in order to view. PPV film services are usually offered in staggered rotation on a group of channels as a form of near video on demand.
Pay-TV
(1) General term for all subscription TV and on-demand TV services. (2) Pay-TV is often used to refer more specifically to premium pay-TV channels such as Canal+, HBO, Premiere or Telepiù. In many countries (e.g. Benelux, German-speaking or Nordic countries, Canada, USA, etc.) where basic cable services are treated as a semi-public or near semi-public utility the term "pay" is usually reserved for mini-pay and premium pay TV services.
Peak
Penetration
The percentage of people (or homes) within a defined universe that are physically able to be exposed to a medium.
Peoplemeter measurement
General methodology for collecting TAM data by means of a household panel sample equipped with a dual metering system that register (a) TV set status (i.e. which channel is being tuned to) and (b) viewer presence. Peoplemeter TAM research is currently restricted to measuring in-home audiences with meters attached to each TV set. Introduced commercially during the mid eighties, peoplemeter measurement now predominates over all other method TAM methodologies throughout the world. Its key advantages for the advertising community are that it offers highly detailed (minute by minute or even second by second) continuous audience measurement for 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, and is impartial, being free from the recall interview methodologies.
Persistence threshold
Minimum uninterrupted interval required before a meter records a change of either TV set status (TV persistence threshold) or viewer presence (Viewer persistence threshold). In the case of TV set status, the main purpose of persistence thresholds is to reduce data loads significantly by cutting out very short viewing statements (e.g. bouts of zapping). Until a permanent change of channel is recorded, the meter will continue to record the most recent channel/set use as if no change(s) had taken place. This entails the assumption that consequent errors of attribution are balanced across channels.
Picture in picture
TV display in which one picture is embedded in another picture.
Picture matching
Technique of signal identification in which the meter collects sample visual data from the images displayed on the TV screen, which it matches against an array of known signals from a central reference source in order to establish the identity of the measured signals.
Platform
(1) Marketed TV service consisting of a large number of TV channels and other offerings that may be on subscription or free-to-view. (2) Signal processing unit (e.g. set-top box) responsible for the decoding, conversion and selection of TV channels and other applications for on-screen display. It is possible for more than platform operator or other TV channel provider to share the same platform (i.e. set-top box) with the assistance of computer programs that allow for compatibility of different conditional access systems, although most platform operators operate solely with their own proprietary conditional access systems. (see alsoDistribution Platform)
Platform operator
Company/organisation responsible for co-ordinating and marketing a platform.
Pod
US term referring to within programme breaks.
Polled sample
In production meter sample that has been successfully polled by the central processing base of the data supplier and is available for inclusion in the net daily reporting sample.
Polling
Procedure for collecting data from meter panel homes, usually by means of a telephone call from the central processing base of the data supplier, which downloads in the early hours of the morning meter data from the previous broadcast day(s) via a modem connection with the central meter data storage unit in the home. Alternative cellular radio or one-way connections methods may be used in order to collect data from non-telephone households. At the same time, polling takes place in a few systems via telephone calls from the household to the central processing base of the data supplier rather than from the data supplier to the home.
Post (campaign) evaluation
Evaluation of a media schedule at the end of a campaign with audience delivery data in the case of TV advertising.
Post campaign analysis software
Software for analysing and evaluating the audience delivery of a campaign/schedule of advertising spots.
Pre-defined sample
Pre-designated interview or self-completion questionnaire sample. The pre-defined list of names or addresses may be drawn from a sampling frame or determined by a specific sample selection procedure (e.g. random route or random telephone dialling)
Pre-emption
The displacement of an advertising spot in a commercial break by another advertising spot for which a higher price has been bid.
Premium channel
Subscription pay-TV channel offered on its own or in small package of channels (e.g. Group of premium sports channels, which may be subscribed to individually at relatively high price, or at a group discount with much reduced costs per channel).
Pre-recorded (video) cassette viewing
Viewing of pre-recorded video cassettes as opposed to timeshift viewing of recorded video cassettes.
Primary sampling unit (PSU)
Sampling point from which one or more survey interviews are taken. Face-to-face interview procedures invariably entail some clustering of interviews at selected PSUs (e.g. building-blocks, local postal area codes, electoral districts, etc.). By contrast, telephone and postal surveys usually have only one interview per PSU.
Primetime
Daypart associated with largest audiences, generally between 19.00 and 23.00, though precise times may vary slightly by country.
Probability sample
Sample of households/individuals selected on the basis of known probabilities. In the case of simple random sampling, the probabilities are presumed to be equal. By contrast, disproportional sampling involves the deliberate over-/under-sampling of selected variables (e.g. region, telephone ownership), which are later corrected through weighting. One alternative to probability sampling is Quota sampling.
Processed viewing statements
Processed individual viewing statements after editing, validation and conversion of raw meter records into basic units for calculating ratings and reach, as per the algorithms for assigning ratings. (see also Individual Viewing Statements)
Product placement
Paid for placement of an advertiser's product within a programme.
Programme (release) window
Term used in programme rights discussions concerning feature films, TV entertainment series and occasionally other programming. The window refers to a hierarchical sequence of distribution outlets, which are arranged in descending order of the revenues per viewer that they can generate; e.g. feature films made available successively via cinema, video/DVD, PPV, pay-TV and finally free-to-air broadcast release. The window is the period when the programming is first made available in one distribution outlet in the chain of release windows before being made available to the next distribution outlet in the chain.
Programme barter
Offer of programming to a TV station by an advertiser or programme supplier in exchange for commercial airtime.
Programme delivery control (PDC) code
Unique code inserted by programming source (e.g. TV channel) in TV signal transmission as a means of identification.
Programme genre
The classification of programmes by type e.g. Sport, drama, chat show etc.
Programme loyalty
Measure of constant programme audience across a series of episodes. Numerous different operational definitions may be sued to define programme loyalty.
Programme schedule
Sequence of programmes scheduled for transmission over a given period (e.g. day, week) that is released in advance in print or electronic form.
Programme sponsorship
Promotion in which advertiser pays for an association with a TV programme or series of programmes. In return for his payment, the advertiser is granted sponsor accreditation, which may take several forms subject to international and national regulations (e.g. accreditation in programme guides, billboards at the beginning/end of the programme, break bumpers, product placement, sponsor mentions within the programmes as well as outdoor advertising and billboards featuring the sponsors logo in the case of broadcast live events). Programme sponsorship deals are often linked with advertising deals in the surrounding commercial breaks.
Programme syndication
Programming distributed to a group of independent regional/local TV stations which may broadcast as a network transmission or broadcast at different times on different stations, which may or may not belong to a single network group.
Programme, Break & Spot Database
By recording the broadcast of each channel, the programme, break and spot database is built ready for integration with the viewing data.
Programme/viewing analysis software
Software for analysing viewing to programmes and general audience patterns, including audience shifts/flows between different TV channels, constancy of viewing habits, etc.
Progressive Scan
Used in digital TV sets and computer screens and displays all the horizontal lines of a picture at the same time. This contrasts with interlaced scanning used in TV formats PAL, NTSC and SECAM,. Which display lines in two phases. The first phase shows all the odd numbered lines with the second displaying all the even numbers. To the human eye these appear as a single image.
Promo
Non-paid for promotional message by TV stations aimed at attracting audiences to their programmes.
Prompt payment discount
Discount on airtime costs for early payment within a negotiated time period.
Proprietary software
Analysis software that is the exclusive property of an organisation and sold or licensed to other users.
Primary Sampling Unit">PSU
Public service broadcaster
Non-profit organisation responsible for one or more broadcast TV/radio channels/networks, which is publicly or state owned and obliged to fulfil various public service duties as laid down by the government or by other national public broadcast authority. Many public service broadcasters are part or wholly funded by licence fees or other public subsidy, but many also carry advertising and a few offer subscription-based services (e.g. NHK satellite subscription channels in Japan).
Public service remit
Public service obligations which a TV broadcaster must satisfy as a condition of its public service charter or its broadcast licence.
Push-button peoplemeter measurement
Push-button refers to the buttons/pads on remote control handsets in peoplemeter measurement, that are used for registering viewer presence and for fulfilling selected other functions, such as collecting guest age and sex demographic details or signalling that the panel home is absent on holiday. (see also Active Peoplemeter Measurement)
PUT (People Using TV)
Term mainly used in the USA to denote average percentage of People using TV across all channels within a set time period. (see also HUT)
PVR (Personal Video Recorder)
A device, also called Digital video recorder, which uses a hard drive to record and store digital video content. An important feature of the PVR is that it enables viewers to pause, fast-forward and rewind live programmes. Some of the appliances also have the capability to suggest programmes for users by recognising their viewing behaviour. Companies offering this technology include ReplayTV and TiVO.
Quality control procedures
Systematic and periodic procedures employed by panel management for purposes of checking the quality of data output.
Quota sample
Alternative to probability sample whereby a sample is selected according to demographic or other quotas and without known probabilities of selection.
Radio frequency
Portion of electromagnetic wave spectrum used for audiovisual transmissions that is located above the audio and below the infrared frequencies.
Random combination
A mathematical formula for estimating the reach of two or more media.
Random route
Method of face-to-face interview selection, whereby the interviewer follows a set random procedure for contacting households/individuals in a sample, beginning with a set starting point within the designated PSU.
Random sample
A sample in which every element in the population has an equal chance of being selected.
Rate card adjusted impact delivery
Measure of commercial impacts that has been adjusted to a unit interval (standard 30 second spot length), but taking into account different price levels. (see also Impact Weights)
Rating
Raw data
Polled meter statements prior to data processing and editing/validation.
Reach (or cover/cume)
The cumulative percentage or total (usually expressed in thousands) of a population that has counted as viewers at least once during a specified interval. Examples of commonly used reach measures are TV channel daily/weekly/monthly reach, advertising campaign reach, programme reach/programme series reach, daypart reach and so on. Commonly used synonyms are Cume and Cover
Rebate
A payment to the advertiser by a medium when the advertising schedule exceeds the contractual commitments originally agreed to and the advertising schedule earns a lower rate.
Recruitment date
Date when a home is recruited on to a panel.
Recruitment survey
Survey other than the ES conducted for the purpose of recruiting homes on to the panel.
Reference signal
Source used for comparisons in picture bad audio matching methods for signal identification.
Regional TV
TV channels targeted at geographically defined regions within a country.
Regular visitor
Person who is a regular guest viewer and may be assigned his/her own button in order to avoid the more cumbersome, time-consuming process of recording guest age and sex at the start of every viewing session. Though treated in exactly the same way as panel members with respect to task instructions, regular visitors are still classified as guests in the processed viewing data output.
Remote control handset/unit
Remote control handset employed for registering viewer presence and other designated functions.
Reporting Homes
The number of panel homes that contribute to the daily ratings. Where failure to meet quality control standards or communication related problems occur, such installed homes are eliminated from the reporting panel.
Reporting sample
Final validated sample of eligible survey respondents from data are reported.
Reporting universe
Demographic or other classification for reporting viewing data, which is specifically weighted for so as to conform to a constant population estimate.
Respondent level viewing data
Same as Disaggregated viewing data - Processed viewing data held at the level of individual respondents.
Response bias
Bias in survey data due to measurement methods (e.g. recall bias in diary or day after recall TAM research, or panel fatigue in peoplemeter measurement).
Response rate (RR)
Index of survey response in surveys employing interview or self-completion questionnaires. The RR is typically defined as the total number of successfully completed interviews expressed as a percentage of the total number of addresses/individuals approached during a survey: the main reasons for non-response being absences and refusals. Precise operational definitions are highly variable, though.
Rim (Random Iterative Method) weighting
Random iterative method - Method of weighting that puts selected non-interlocking and grouped interlocking variables in isolation through an iterative sequence of weighting adjustments. The sequence adjusts for each rim in turn and then repeats itself as many times as are required in order to obtain a convergence, in which the sum of the weighted rims matches the target population estimates, or is as close as it is possible to achieve.
Roadblock
A programme or commercial scheduling device used by broadcast networks to increase or maximise reach at a given time (e.g. Scheduling a commercial on all local market stations at 9:00 p.m.).
ROI (Return On Investment)
Generally refers to the advertiser's desire to have a return on the advertising funds invested in media.
Rolling sample
Reporting sample, where data are reported at regular intervals for periods that overlap with preceding periods (e.g. last 12-month data reported quarterly).
Roll-Out
A marketing procedure where advertising is progressively expanded into more geographic areas over time.
Run-in
Period (usually from two to seven days) when a newly installed home is under observation before it enters the panel sample. The home is placed in directory and polled, but withheld from production in the net daily reporting sample.
Run-of station
Placement of advertising spots at the discretion of the TV station within the terms of the negotiated guarantees of audience delivery.
SAARF
South African Advertising Research Foundation: Multimedia joint industry organisation responsible for TAM data provision in South Africa.
Sales House
Separate organisation or department within TV station responsible for selling commercial airtime.
Sample bias
Bias due to lack of representativeness within a sample. It is a wholly distinct concept from sample error. Unlike the latter, sample bias cannot be calculated statistically, but can only be established empirically by comparing two or more samples with different known composition. Latent bias is often used to refer to potential unknown or hidden biases in the data which cannot be assessed.
Sample composition
Sample structure or profile, as determined by the full set of sample classification variables (e.g. Age; Sex; Household size; Number of TV sets in the home; etc.)
Sample dispersion
Geographic dispersion of sample. Dispersion is a function of the clustering of PSUs or number of interviews per PSU. Peoplemeter panels usually apply rules for improving dispersion by limiting the number of homes recruited per PSU and/or restricting the proximity of panel homes with one another.
Sample error
Statistical measure of the possible deviation of a sample estimate from the true population value, assuming the sample to be representative of the population from which it has been drawn. The sample error is normally expressed as a margin of difference either side of the reported value within specified confidence limits (i.e. "there is an x% probability that the true population value lies within y units either side of the sample estimate"). Sample error is wholly distinct and not to be confused with sample bias, for which no parametric statistical assumptions can be made.
Sample stratification
Sampling frame
Source of addresses/household telephone numbers from which a pre-selected probability sample of identified individuals or households is drawn for interview. Usually the sampling frame is external (e.g. official population register of households/individuals, telephone lists, lists of postal addresses and electoral lists). Where such pre-existing sources do not exist, data suppliers may create their own sampling frames by means of conducting a micro-census or by carrying out a prior enumeration study of households in areas selected for the establishment survey fieldwork. Alternatively, they may work without a sampling frame, but in that case the selection procedure would not be completely random.
Sampling interval
Fixed interval with randomly chosen starting point for selecting items on list with equal (or known other) probability of inclusion in the survey sample. The term also applies to the selection of addresses at a PSU, although the term step function is also commonly used.
Sampling point
Satellite reception
Direct reception of satellite TV signals by means of an individual (DTH) or collective (SMATV) satellite dish receiver. Operational definitions employed by TAM systems may differ slightly (e.g. inclusion of SMATV under cable reception) depending on structural distinctions that are found most relevant in the local marketplace.
Satellite Station
A broadcast station that rebroadcasts the transmission of another station (generally operating in a nearby market) to an area that cannot otherwise be serviced by that station.
Satellite TV
General term for all TV channels and other services that are transmitted via satellite and can be accessed via DTH or SMATV reception.
Scart
A plug and socket with 21 pins. Used to link audiovisual equipment including Set-top boxes.
Scatter
Purchasing commercial time in broadcast media in many different programmes. Also refers to the purchasing of network TV time, which is not purchased during an "upfront" media buy.
Scrambling
Process of interfering with a signal so that a decoder is needed in order to receive it for on-screen display. Scrambling is commonly used by free-to-air TV cable and satellite channels in order to restrict cross-border overspill and protect against infringements of their programme copyright agreements.
SECAM
International technical broadcast standard for analogue TV transmissions that is employed in France and some other countries.
Server (video)
Computer system with large video and audio storage capacity (typically in order of 500 Gb for broadcast services) that is connected to a network of client users and intended for transmission and distant access (e.g. on-demand video programming).
Setmeter measurement
General methodology for collecting household TV viewing data TV using meters that only collect information on set/equipment/channel use: i.e. do not collect any information on individual viewing.
Sets in Use
Previously referred to as the number of TV sets in use (turned on) at a given time. Currently referred to as HUT. (see also HUT)
Set-top box (STB)
Device that receives, processes, converts and displays incoming TV signals, for display on TV sets. The set-top box may be designed to receive signals in analogue or digital form and from cable, satellite and terrestrial sources.
Set-top box interface
Interface between the meter and the set-top box.
Share
Share of audience is the percentage of HUT (or PUT, PUR, PVT) tuned to a particular program or station. "Share of Market" is the percentage of total category volume (dollars, units, etc.) accounted for by a brand. "Share of voice" is the percentage of advertising impressions generated by all brands in a category accounted for by a particular brand, but often also refers to share of media spending.
Signal injection (technology)
Technology of facilitating later signal identification by means of boosting the incoming transmission with a high frequency burst which can be detected by a sensor attached to the TV set.
Signal sampling
Meter collection of visual or audio data samples that are used later in picture and audio matching methods of signal identification.
Simulcasting
Simultaneous broadcasting of a TV channel or programme on two or more different transmission systems (e.g. TV channels broadcast simultaneously in analogue and digital formats).
Single source data
Two or more sets of data from the same sample. The term is often used in media research to refer to surveys that combine the collection of product/service purchase/consumption patterns with media consumption habits from a single household or individual source).
SKO (Netherlands)
Stifting Kijk Ondersoek: JIC responsible for TAM data provision in the Netherlands.
Slave meter
Meter installed on a TV set or other equipment that is "subservient" to another "master" meter in the household, which controls some of its functions (e.g. time synchrony) and collects data from it for temporary storage and delivery to the central processing base of the data supplier during polling.
Slot
The position of a programme or commercial break within a TV programme schedule.
Smartcard
A plastic card (the size of a credit card), which is inserted into the set-top box and whose functions are to verify the user's entitlement to access a given TV channel or other service and monitor use. Smartcards are normally used for determining pay-TV access, but may also be required by some free-to-air channels.
SMATV (Satellite master antenna television)
MATV system equipped with one or more satellite receivers for picking up additional TV channels via satellite. (see also MATV)
SMS (Short message service)
Text messaging facility over the telephone: in particular via mobile telephony.
Software house
Third party company developing its own software applications and undertaking TAM data analysis on behalf of licensed users.
Software supplier
Company supplying application software for purposes of programming/advertising analysis.
Spill-In/Spill-Out
Spill-in is viewing of television broadcast from a different market (e.g., people in San Diego viewing Los Angeles stations). Spill-out is viewing outside the originating TV market (e.g., Los Angeles stations delivering audiences in San Diego).
Split screen
TV screen partitioned so as to allow simultaneous display of two or more video tracks.
Spot
Refers to the purchase of TV commercial time on a market-by-market basis as opposed to network (national) purchases. Also commonly used in lieu of "commercial announcement".
Standard definition television (SDTV)
Digital TV formats that do not achieve the picture quality of HDTV, but are equal or superior to conventional analogue picture quality.
Standard error (of the mean)
Standard deviation of the sample error distribution of sample mean estimates. 1.96 standard errors denotes the upper and lower bound margins of sample error that correspond with 95% confidence limits. (see also Sample Error, Confidence Limit)
Station average price
Estimated cost of unit audience delivery on a TV station based on advertising Costs per rating point (CPR's) or advertising Costs per thousand (CPT's or CPM's) with reference to a time period in the year (usually calendar months) and to a specified target audience.
Station promo
Statistical efficiency value
Index of sample variance, usually expressed as a percentage, which compares the variance of the actual sample with the variance of a simple random sample of the same size. Thus, a statistical efficiency value of 85% means that the measurement accuracy of the weighted reporting sample is the same as the measurement accuracy of a wholly representative unweighted sample that is 0.85 raised to 2 (= 0.72) of its size.
Step interval
Common term for the fixed sampling interval between addresses selected for interview at chosen PSUs. (see also Sampling Interval)
Stratification
Means of improving the quality of a probability sample by selecting sample elements according to population variables with known distribution profiles in order to determine a proportional or disproportional allocation of the survey sample. Examples of commonly used stratification variables are "region", "type of settlement" and "household size".
Streaming
The delivery of video or audio content stored in bits which enables it to be played in real time and without viewers having to wait for all the data to arrive.
Sub-contractor
Research company(ies) sub-contracted by the main data supplier to handle part of the data provision. This practice occurs most often with the Establishment Survey.
Subliminal
Very short commercial messages below the threshold of conscious perception that could be inserted in advertising, rules permitting.
Subscriber
TV household or other entity (e.g. hotel) that pays a regular subscription charge in order to receive a specific TV channel or programme service offering a variety of TV channels and other services.
Subscriber management system (SMS)
Management system employed by subscription platform operators for handling subscriber payments and queries.
Survey frequency
Frequency with which a survey is carried out.
Survey population
Total eligible population belonging to a survey universe.
Survey universe
The total population that is being measured or reported, as defined by a selection of demographic, geographic, housing, equipment and other criteria (e.g. nationality/language/ethnic origin). Within the total universe, TAM services may further designate one or more narrower universes (e.g. cable/satellite, region, etc.) that are controlled for and weighted separately.
Sync Measurement Scanning
Channel identification method used when there is no scart (or similar) connection in place and an internal tuner is connected to the same signal source as the household TV. An external pick-up compares sync pulses from the TV set with sync pulses coming from the internal tuner.
Systematic sorting procedure
A systematic objective procedure for organising a sampling frame list of names or addresses for subsequent selection with equal or known probabilities.
TAM
Widely used acronym for television audience measurement.
TAM system/service
Data supplier system/service for measuring television viewing and delivering TAM data.
TARP (Target audience rating point)
Unit GRP with reference to a specified target audience.
T-Commerce
Transactional commerce via interactive advertising, including Internet pages accessed via the TV screen as opposed to the PC or mobile telephone.
Telecontrol series
Series of meters developed by Telecontrol.
Telephone interview
General methodology for conducting survey interviews over the telephone.
Teletext code
Signal code carried by TV channels offering teletext services that provides an additional means of channel identification.
Teletext use
Measured viewing of teletext pages. TAM systems vary greatly in the level of detail with which they measure teletext use and in how they treated it later: in particular, over whether they report it separately or ignore it, assigning all teletext use to the channel carrying it.
Terminal education age (TEA)
Classification variable based on age at which individual completed his/her educational studies.
Terrestrial analogue only TV home
TV home that is only equipped to receive locally available channels broadcast in analogue via aerial reception. The category is mutually exclusive and exhaustive with Multichannel TV home.
Terrestrial only TV home
Generally used as abbreviated form of Terrestrial analogue only TV home. But with the introduction of digital terrestrial TV services, reference to analogue has become necessary in order to avoid misunderstanding. Future use of term will probably cover both analogue and digital terrestrial channels as distinct from additional cable and satellite channels.
Terrestrial TV
TV channels broadcasted terrestrially in analogue or digital and can be received off-air.
Test Market
A market (or markets) chosen for the purpose of conducting a media test.
Thematic channel
TV channel specialising in a particular kind of programming (e.g. showing children's programming, films, sports, weather, news, different kinds of documentary, etc.).
Third party access
Data access by parties other than the primary user group of advertisers, media buyers and media owners.
TIAK
JIC in charge of TAM data provision in Turkey.
Tiering
Offering of subscription packages of TV channels and other services in a tiered sequence, such that subscribers must first sign up to a basic package before being allowed to subscribe to additional packages for an incremental charge.
Timeshift recording
Recording of live TV transmissions on video cassette.
Timeshift viewing
Later viewing of timeshift video recordings of live television transmissions (i.e. Playback of recorded live transmissions).
TNS series
Series of meters developed by Taylor Nelson Sofres.
Tolerance margin
Latitude of acceptance of the deviations of the actual sample allocation from the target sample allocation before attempting corrective action.
Total video playback
Sum of pre-recorded video cassette viewing and timeshift viewing of recorded video cassettes.
Total viewing
Trailing gap
Term used in editing to denote an interval of uncovered viewing at the end of a viewing session.
Transmission logs
Exact records (usually electronic) of television channel transmissions, as supplied by the TV channel or by an independent monitoring agency.
Transmission Unit
Meter installed in every household that has the function of storing an retrieving the data from the base unit. Polling of the household data is achieved trough a phone connection, which downloads the data to the central processing base of the TAM supplier. (see also Master Meter)
Transnational TV
TV channels targeted at audiences across two or more countries with limited modification in terms of locally sourced programming and advertising.
Transponder
Satellite receiver/transmitter unit receives uplink signals, which it amplifies and retransmits as a downlink signal back to earth.
Tripartite research company contract (TRCC)
Form of survey organisation whereby the contracting party delivering TAM data to the market is itself a research company, but with tripartite ownership of media owners, advertisers and advertising agencies/media buyers. The research company/organisation at the centre of a TRCC contract may sub-contract part or all of the fieldwork to other market research companies.
TRPs (Target Rating Points)
Tuner meter
Meter that identifies channel frequencies by subsuming the functions of the TV set tuner or other receiving equipment (e.g. VCR, satellite dish) that may be used to select channels on the TV screen.
TV channel
Identity of single TV service transmitting programmes on a specific frequency (-ies), usually on its own but sometimes sharing frequency with other TV channels/services, which transmit on the same frequency at different specified times of day. The term "TV channel" is almost always used interchangeably with "TV station", though it is more likely to be used when the emphasis is on a specific licensed frequency, whereas TV station is most likely to be used when emphasis is placed on the programme service or organisation operating the TV channel.
TV market
Designated geographic reception area or population at which a TV service is targeted for commercial purposes. It is distinct from and may be smaller or greater than the technically defined coverage area. (see also Channel Coverage)
TV station
TV channel, or organisation operating one or more TV channels. Depending on context, TV station may also cover sales houses that sell television airtime on behalf of one or more TV channels/stations. Although the term TV station is most often used interchangeably with TV channel, the terms can carry different points of emphasis. (see also TV Channel)
TVCR
TV set with a built in video recorder.
TVIRC (Hong Kong)
Television Research Committee: JIC responsible for TAM data provision in Hong Kong.
TV-M (Finland)
TV Mittaritutkimustoimikunta: JIC responsible for TAM data provision in Finland.
TVM Series
Series of Peoplemeters developed by the LMRB.
TVR (Television viewer rating)
TVRC (Philippines)
Television Research Committee: JIC responsible for TAM data provision in the Philippines.
TVRO (Television Receive Only)
Satellite system equipped only to receive signals from, but not to transmit signals to a satellite.
Twisted pair
Early wired electrical transmission system, now superseded by coaxial and fibre-optic technology, formerly employed by cable television systems with low channel carriage capacity for purposes of extending reception of off-air terrestrial signals for a limited number of TV channels.
Type of reception
Method of receiving television pictures (e.g. cable, satellite, terrestrial, etc.). It may also include pay-TV reception, otherwise classified under channel reception.
UHF (Ultra High Frequency)
Bandwidth reserved by international agreement for television broadcast channels 14-83 on a TV set. UHF has replaced the former VHF bandwidth, although national governments may still choose to allocate VHF bandwidth for TV broadcasts.
Uncorrelated viewing
Unidentified viewing measured by picture or audio matching techniques, whereby the data production system is unable to match the meter statements with centrally generated records of the channels being monitored.
Uncovered viewing/set use
Meter statements indicating that the TV set is switched on, but without any persons registered as present.
Unexpected viewing
Viewing to an unexpected source, as defined by the TAM system.
Unidentified channel viewing
Viewing to an unknown frequency as ascertained by DFM or tuner meters. The frequency is usually presumed to belong to a channel, although it may indicate a separate output source (e.g. video games console).
Unidentified viewer
Persons (not a guest) registered as present in the viewing records, but not found in the records for the panel home.
Universal television programme code (UTPC)
Unique TV transmission code indicating identity of source.Other information can be found in Automated measurement of Line-ups (AMOL), Programme delivery control (PDC) or Video programming system (VPS) codes. (see also AMOL, PDC, VPS)
Universe
Unscrambled
TV signal that is transmitted in the clear and which viewers can receive without the need of a decoder.
Upfront (buy)
Tem mainly used in USA, to denote booking of TV commercial airtime well in advance of its due transmission dates (I.e. booking airtime in autumn of one year for the whole of the following year). The practice of advance booking of a substantial proportion of commercial airtime and reserving the rest for tactical buys is common practice in the USA and similar principles apply in many other countries, although precise trading practices vary appreciably across different national commercial airtime markets.
Uplink
Signal pathway from the earth to the satellite.
Upstream
Term used widely in interactive TV (iTV terms) to refer to the signal pathway from the home to the service provider (e.g. cable operator). This will usually have lower bandwidth demands than the downstream signal pathway from the service provider to the home.
Validation
Phase of processing in which viewing data are examined for irregularities that indicate actual or possible technical problems or suspected faulty compliance by panellists. In extreme cases, the application of validation criteria leads to rejection of panel homes from the daily reporting samples.
VCR (Video cassette recorder)
Device for recording and playing video cassettes.
VHF (Very high frequency)
Former bandwidth reserved by international agreement for television broadcast channels, but now replaced by UHF. (see also UHF)
Video playback
Video programming system (VPS) code
Programme code identifying source of transmission.
Video signal scanner (VSS)
Variant of picture matching technology consisting of an internal TV tuner connected to the same source as the TV set, which scans sequentially through a pre-programmed list of channels and compares them with the video signal displayed on the TV screen until a match is found.
Video timeshift
Viewers per 1,000 Households
The number of people within a specific population group tuned to a TV programme per 1,000 receiving households.
Viewing behaviour analysis software
Software for analysing viewing of programmes and general audience patterns, including audience shifts/flows between different TV channels, constancy of viewing habits, etc.
Viewing card
VOD (Video-on-demand)
Specified video programming that can be accessed from a distant source at any time at the request of the viewer.
Volume discount
Price discount offered to advertisers who purchase a specified volume of advertising from the TV station. Volume discount deals may be negotiated in various ways. Common examples are volume discounts based on (a) total TV advertising spent on TV station by advertiser, (b) proportion of TV advertising budget allocated to the TV station, (c) year on year increase in total allocated advertising budget, or (d) total volume purchased by the media buyer acting on behalf of the advertiser.
Walled garden
Restricted group of interactive Internet pages that are offered by an intermediary service provider (e.g. satellite platform operator offering its subscribers a home shopping mall from a database of selected Internet pages, which are broadcasted in digital for access on the TV screen).
Wearout
A level of frequency, or a point in time, when an advertising message loses its ability to effectively communicate.
Web TV
Internet services, including e-mail and online chats, that are displayed on the TV screen via a special Web TV set-top box.
Weekly channel patronage
Measure of channels' weekly reach, as recommended by the GGTAM guidelines, that employs a raised 5 consecutive minute threshold (basis of most reach estimates is a one minute interval), as the minimum duration of genuine viewing to a channel. Term is mainly intended for public broadcasting use.
Weight Factor
Multiplication factor for converting the size of a sample to the population estimate for the survey universe.
Weighted Average
Generally refers to the arithmetic average obtained by adding the products of numbers "weighted" by a predetermined value.
WFA
World Federation of Advertisers: International trade association of advertisers.
Whole gap
Term used in data editing to denote an interval of uncovered viewing that lasts the entire viewing session.
Widescreen
General term for screen displays with a wider aspect ratio than the 4:3 aspect ratio employed by conventional TV broadcast channels. HDTV employs a 16:9 aspect ratio. Most feature films also employ widescreen aspect ratios, some times greater than 16:9.
Wireless cable
Local distribution systems using broadcast technology (e.g. MMDS) for delivering extra channels locally to subscribers
Within programme break
Commercial break within a programme.
World wide web
Global telecommunications network giving access to the Internet.
Zapping
Flicking through different TV channels, often to avoid a commercial break
Zipping
Fast Forwarding through recorded commercials when watching a home-recorded videotape.
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