It was set up in 1981 to provide the industry standard television audience measurement service for broadcasters and the advertising industry.
BARB is owned by BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, BSkyB and the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) and is a not for profit company limited by guarantee. Also BARB commissions research companies to provide the services that our users want, including the production of audience viewing figures. The audience measurement contracts are held by the following companies - RSMB, Ipsos MORI and Kantar Media (formerly known as TNS).
BARB currently have approximately 5,100 homes (equating to approximately 11,500 individuals) taking part in the panel. The box records exactly what programmes they watch, and the panelists show who is in the room watching by pressing a button on a remote control handset.
BARB currently have approximately 5,100 homes (equating to approximately 11,500 individuals) taking part in the panel. The box records exactly what programmes they watch, and the panelists show who is in the room watching by pressing a button on a remote control handset.
The data are collected overnight and published as overnight ratings at around 9.30 the following morning for use by TV stations and the advertising industry. The following week, final figures are released which are a combination of the overnight figures with timeshift figures (people recording a programme and watching it within a week).
BARB numbers are really important to commercial television stations. The trading model that is used by television companies and advertising agencies depends on the number of people watching the shows, and the commercial attractiveness of those people. The advertising agency will pay the television station a certain amount of money based on the number of people watching a show. The BARB numbers are used to work this out. Higher BARB numbers usually mean more advertising revenue for the television station.
BARB numbers are really important to commercial television stations. The trading model that is used by television companies and advertising agencies depends on the number of people watching the shows, and the commercial attractiveness of those people. The advertising agency will pay the television station a certain amount of money based on the number of people watching a show. The BARB numbers are used to work this out. Higher BARB numbers usually mean more advertising revenue for the television station.