Arbitron Creates Advertiser / Agency Advisory Council.

Arbitron Inc. announced that it will establish an Advertiser / Agency Advisory Council as a standing forum for collaboration with advertisers and their agencies.

“We are organizing this council as an important source of input as we shape our services and define the direction of our business to meet evolving needs of the media and marketing industry,” said Owen Charlebois, president, U.S. Media Services. “In particular, as we make the transition to electronic measurement, we need advertisers and their agencies to be as involved in the process as broadcasters are.”

The goals of the council are to:

provide insight and counsel into the evolving business needs of advertisers and agencies in the area of media and marketing information and research;

create a formal venue for advertisers and advertising agencies to have a dialogue with Arbitron senior management;

define the business issues and identify the decisions that the industry needs to make in our transition to electronic measurement;

determine additional ways of serving the information needs of multicultural and emerging markets, and;

implement new measures of accountability and return on investment.

“This council will complement the current work we do with the 4As Media Research Committee and the ANA Radio Committee, but we intend to go beyond research issues and use this forum as a means of getting more input on key business issues,” said Mr. Charlebois.

A number of key agency and advertiser executives have accepted Arbitron’s invitation to participate in the inaugural meetings of the council.

Jean Pool SVP, Operations Director – Universal McCann
Kathy Crawford President of Local Broadcast – Mindshare
Phyllis Maguire SVP, Group Media Director – MPG
Sue Johenning EVP, Director of Local Broadcast – Initiative
Kate Sirken (Lynch) SVP, Global Research Director – Starcom Worldwide
Bruce Goerlich EVP, Director of Strategic Resources – Zenith Media Services, Inc.
Larry Goldstein VP, Research and Development – PHD USA
Mary Barnas Director, Spot Radio & Spot TV – Carat North America
Brad Adgate Research Director – Horizon Media
Megan Bearden Manager, Media Information, – Coca-Cola North America
Vicky Champlin Director, Media Planning – Busch Media Group
Ken Martin VP, Group Media Director, – PHD Los Angeles
John Maher SVP, Director of Planning US – International Media
Joe Caponigro SVP, Executive Media Director – WestWayne Inc.
Larry Kelley EVP, Dir. Media/Research – Fogarty Klein & Monroe
Jim Elms SVP, Media Director – Barkley Evergreen & Partners
Laura Marella SVP, Chief Growth Officer – Casanova Pendrill Publicidad
Linda Jefferson SVP, Media Director – Burrell Advertising

The first meeting of the council will take place on November 9-10, 2005 in Washington D.C.