The 5 companies who will supply survey data

In August it was announced that with the change next year from Nielsen to GfK, Commercial Radio Australia would be replacing Radio Advisor with a range of Gold Standard accredited software to access radio survey data.

5 companies have now been revealed by CRA, with full accreditation occurring later in the year after final testing.

• GfK Retail and Technology Australia Pty Ltd (GfK)
• Landsberry & James Marketing Pty Ltd (L&J)
• Roy Morgan Research
• Telmar International Inc
• Total Exact Solutions Australia Pty Limited

From the start of 2014 stations will get to choose which software they use.

CRA CEO Joan Warner said: “We’ve been very pleased with the response. By announcing the provisional certification of the initial five Gold Standard software providers, we aim to enable radio stations, advertising agencies and media buyers to commence reviewing and testing the software that will be on offer in order to choose a system that will suit their needs.”  

The administration of the Gold Standard has been undertaken by Ian Garland, Managing Director of Milton Data Pty Ltd, a media and analytics consultancy.

“Over the last few months we have worked closely with all of the applicants to test the rigor and reliability of their calculation engines,” said Garland.

“This meant ensuring that the different systems consistently reproduced industry currency results such as station shares, session averages, program performance and reach and frequency. All of the candidates have passed the first stages of testing and all will be able to provide reporting systems for CRA’s subscribers in 2014.”