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Clear Channel Kicks Radio Groups Off PPM RFP Committee

Clear Channel’s senior VP of research, Jess Hanson, sent an email yesterday to radio groups that have signed for Arbitron’s portable people meter service kicking them off the RFP evaluation committee that CC established to examine Arbitron PPM alternatives, Billboard Radio Monitor reports.

“Since you have decided to choose an electronic audience measurement vendor prior to the conclusion of the team’s work, we do not feel it is appropriate to ask you to continue to serve on the team,” Hanson wrote.

Clear Channel issued its RFP last June. At its inception, the CC electronic measurement evaluation team members included radio companies (ABC, Bonneville, CBS Radio, Clear Channel Radio, Cox Radio, Emmis, Entercom, Greater Media, Journal, Regent, and Susquehanna), media buyers (CIA Media:Edge, Initiative, Mediacom, and MPG), and advertisers (Ford Motor Company). The four agency representatives have also already signed for Arbitron’s PPM service when it rolls out to the top 50 markets.The two solutions still being evaluated include Arbitron and Media Audit.

Agencies representing more than 90 percent of national spot dollars have signed PPM contracts. Radio groups that have signed are CBS Radio, Emmis, Greater Media, Lincoln Financial Media, Bonneville International, Beasley Broadcast Group, Spanish Broadcasting System, and WBEB-FM in Philadelphia.

Even as CC continues its RFP process, several sources requesting anonymity said CC is in negotiations with Arbitron for the PPM service.

Arbitron has not yet been able to begin its rollout of the PPM, originally scheduled go begin with Houston in July because it has not secured Media Rating Council accreditation of its PPM system and stands by its commitment to not replace diary-based radio ratings in Houston with Portable People Meter radio ratings until the Houston PPM service receives Media Rating Council accreditation.

Last week, Clear Channel said that PPM’s inability to secure Media Rating Council accreditation proved that “PPM is not ready for prime time.”