Agency

Leaders of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) expressed disappointment and concern over today’s premature launch of Arbitron, Inc.’s Portable People Meter (PPM), which was not scheduled for commercialization until October 8 th. AHAA joins the cultural broadcasting community in criticizing the new PPM radio ratings system citing flawed methodology and sampling issues. Despite numerous attempts at resolution, and increased political and legal pressure, Arbitron moved ahead with its planned rollout of PPM without reform, which may cause devastating financial effects on Hispanic broadcasters and agencies, and eventually may mean the demise of many cultural stations.

“Arbitron’s decision to release its unreliable and unaccredited radio ratings system is an affront to racial and ethnic minorities in New York and around the country. The Attorney General’s Office cautions all advertisers and broadcasters against using these prematurely released ratings as we believe they are flawed and will be the subject of ongoing litigation. Arbitron’s unwillingness to defend the validity of their system on its merits proves it places its own economic incentives over the interests of minority broadcasting. As a monopolist, Arbitron owes consumers an explanation for its decision to force feed the PPM system to broadcasters. Their irresponsible decision threatens the existence of diversity in radio and muzzles the voices and viewpoints of millions of Americans. Obviously, the Attorney General’s Office will continue to seek justice in this case.”

Spokesman Alex Detrick – NY Attornet General Office.

“We are outraged by Arbitron’s decision to start its flawed PPM system earlier than previously announced. Their action is in blatant disregard to the concerns from dozens of entities including the radio industry, advertisers, the New York Attorney General’s office, Members of Congress, civil rights organizations, minority-owned stations and community leaders.

Arbitron Inc. announced that it has commercialized its Portable People Meter radio ratings services in eight new markets. Arbitron has released radio audience estimates for the September 2008 PPMTM survey month (August 21-September 17) to its subscribers in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Nassau-Suffolk, Middlesex-Somerset-Union, Riverside-San Bernardino and San Jose.

Arbitron Inc. announced that it has asked the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, for a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief against the Attorney General for the State of New York to prevent any attempt to restrain Arbitron’s publication of its Portable People Meter listening estimates.

PPM Coalition applauds New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for taking action to protect radio listeners from Arbitron’s new radio ratings system that undercounts the listening preferences of Hispanic, African American and other minorities.

A Silver Telly, the top distinction from the Telly Awards, fell upon the creative work for McDonald’s Snack-Wrap developed by d expósito & Partners to coincide with the celebration of the Latin Grammy 2007 Edition. The agency’s campaign was one of 14,000 entries from Hispanic, Ethnic and General Market submitted to the 29th Annual Telly Award.

The current economic slowdown has taken a far greater toll on non-citizen immigrants than it has on the United States population as a whole. The median annual income of non-citizen immigrant households–a group that accounts for 7% of all U.S. households and 52% of all immigrant households–fell 7.3% from 2006 to 2007. In contrast, the median annual income of all U.S. households increased 1.3% during the same period.

There were 11.9 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in March 2008, according to new Pew Hispanic Center estimates. The size of the unauthorized population appears to have declined since 2007, but this finding is inconclusive because of the margin of error in these estimates.

Fewer product differences, a barrage of repetitious brand promises, and a marketplace “fish bowl” are fast making the customer “experience” the next frontier where the battle for the hearts, minds, and wallets of customers will be fought.

You are hereby notified that the Attorney General intends to commence litigation against Arbitron, Inc. (“Arbitron”) pursuant to New York Executive Law Section 63(12), Article 22-A of the General Business Law (“GBL”), Sections 349 and 350, Article 23-A of the GBL, Section 352, and Section 40-c of the New York Civil Rights Law, to enjoin unlawful and deceptive acts and practices in which Arbitron plans to engage, has engaged and/or continues to engage, and to obtain additional injunctive relief, penalties, damages and such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.