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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BROADSIGN CONDUCTS A PROOF OF PLAY AUDIT USING ARBITRON’S PPM TECHNOLOGY
The First in a Number of Planned Tests Succeeds in Detecting
Ad-embedded Codes on Screens, Making it Possible to Audit Playback Compliance in
a Hi-Tech Manner
MINNETONKA, MN., NEW YORK, NY – January 14, 2008 –BroadSign
International Inc., a leading worldwide provider of hosted software for managing
digital signage networks, today announced that Arbitron, Inc. (NYSE: ARB) has
launched a series of tests aimed at enabling third-party audits of BroadSign’s
proof of play reports, using Arbitron’s PPM technology.
The goal of the first test, conducted in December 2007, was to verify whether
the PPM devices could accurately detect Arbitron’s inaudible code embedded in
the loop of media files played on screens in a real store environment. The test
was carried out in two convenience stores in Vermont. Both stores are part of
the digital signage network operated by Digital Promo Network with the help of
BroadSign’s hosted software solution BroadSign™ Suite.
According to Arbitron, the PPMs accurately detected the embedded code and the
PPM’s times of code detection precisely matched the media file play times as
shown in the BroadSign proof of play reports. This high level of matching
indicates that the programming loop and all its components played as scheduled
during the test period.
“Arbitron is excited to work with BroadSign on identifying alternative
applications for leveraging the PPM technology,” said Pierre Bouvard, president
of sales & marketing for Arbitron. “The place-based media space is a growing
opportunity which needs trusted third-party measurement in order to maintain
credibility with the advertising community.”
“This is the first step in what we foresee as a major breakthrough in resolving
the difficult issue of accountability of digital signage advertising,” said
Brian Dusho, chief strategy officer of BroadSign International. “Third-party
audits of proof play reports will eliminate a lot of questions from advertisers
and will help justify the billing and facilitate make goods. Audited proof of
play reports will also add validity to impression counts and sales conversion
numbers in retail.”
The success of the first test opens the way to a series of additional tests
before Arbitron’s proof of play audits can become a commercialized service that
can be used by any network run on BroadSign’s software.
About BroadSign International Inc.
BroadSign International is a leading worldwide provider of hosted
software for managing digital signage networks. The BroadSign™ Suite resolves
the challenges facing operators of digital signage networks: the need for full
campaign execution functionality, accountability and true scalability. The
software enables operators to target out-of-home audiences, sell network
airtime, reliably play back scheduled content on each screen and account for
campaign performance. The enterprise-scale software makes it easy to manage
media space inventory, view avails, as well as target campaigns by demographic
and geographic criteria. BroadSign combines extensive expertise in digital
signage software, media, advertising, and information technology and is a member
company of the Out-of-home Video Advertising Bureau (OVAB), OAAA, POPAI,
In-Store Marketing Institute and The Screen Association. The BroadSign™ Suite is
used by digital signage networks in 25 countries around the world. The company's
corporate office is located in Minnetonka, Minn., USA. For more, visit
www.broadsign.com
About Arbitron
Arbitron Inc. (NYSE: ARB) is an international media and marketing
research firm serving the media - radio, television, cable, online radio and
out-of-home - as well as advertisers and advertising agencies in the United
States and Europe. Arbitron's core businesses are measuring network and local
market radio audiences across the United States; surveying the retail, media and
product patterns of local market consumers; and providing application software
used for analyzing media audience and marketing information data. The company
has developed the Portable People MeterTM, a new technology for media and
marketing research. Arbitron's marketing and business units are supported by a
world-renowned research and technology organization located in Columbia,
Maryland. Arbitron has approximately 2,100 employees; its executive offices are
located in New York City. Through its Scarborough Research joint venture with
The Nielsen Company, Arbitron provides additional media and marketing research
services to the broadcast television, newspaper and online industries.
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