how do radio stations know how many listeners they have?

[pulpp]

was just wondering after hearing one of those NPR fund drives, they say that the local stations are paying NPR more now beacuse NPR started charging them by the number of listeners, how can AM/FM radio stations tell how many listeners they have?

 

[CattyKathy]

good quesiton... hmm...

 

[aznmist]

You see...inside your radio, they have a transmitter that sends out a signal back to the radio station stating that you are tuned to their channel....

 

[Jex]

Populus cross section probably. Just like tv viewers.

 

[rlism]

I think Jex is right, they just ask a bunch of people 'whadya listening to?' and make an estimate based on their results.

 

[PliotronX]

<< I think Jex is right, they just ask a bunch of people 'whadya listening to?' and make an estimate based on their results. >>


Yeah, they also forget to mention 'margin of error +/- a few million'.

 

[pulpp]

<< Populus cross section probably. Just like tv viewers. >>




that makes sense i guess...

 

[Moonbeam]

Actually I think they have special equipment at toll gates and stop lights that listen to what you are listening to on your radio and tabulate the results. It would be a simple matter to laser home or apt windows to get the same kind of data.