The new Mediapulse radio research starts as of January 1, 2018

For seventeen years, radio usage in Switzerland has been recorded on the basis of an electronic measurement system. This involves equipping a representative panel of people with a measuring clock that records the ambient noise of the clock wearers as an audio signal. By comparing (audio matching) these audio signals with the audio recordings of all relevant radio stations, the radio use of the measurement panel can be identified and extrapolated to the population as a whole.

The measurement system, which was last optimized in 2013, has reached the end of its life cycle. In view of new market requirements, changing media usage and technological progress, Mediapulse AG, as the responsible research institute, has evaluated the future viability of radio research in collaboration with the Swiss radio market and decided to continue to survey radio usage in the future using the proven methodological setting (dial gauge, audio matching), but at the same time to subject it to a fundamental modernization and to develop a new measurement system to replace the previous one.

Green light after six months of testing and parallel operation

The new measurement system has been in use alongside the existing research system since July 2017. The six-month test and parallel operation enabled Mediapulse and the supplier GfK to set up and methodically test the new measurement system under real conditions. The extensive tests and analysis of results from the parallel operation will continue until the end of the year. Nevertheless, it can already be stated today that the new research system meets the test requirements and will therefore replace the previous system from January 1, 2018.

The new radio currency is not comparable with the old one

The design of the new radio research was developed in consultation with representatives of the radio industry in the area of conflict between continuity, modernization, quality improvement and financial viability. This means that the results of the previous and new radio research need not be identical and cannot be directly compared. A market convention adopted jointly with the Swiss radio market therefore explicitly states that direct comparisons of radio usage figures from the new measurement system with data from the old system are not permitted.

First publication from the new radio research will be published in July 2018

Mediapulse will continue to publish the live radio usage of the Swiss population aged 15 and over twice a year. The next publication from mid-January 2018 contains radio usage for the second half of 2017 and is still based on the old radio research. The Mediapulse Radio Data for the first half of 2018 from the new radio research will be published for the first time at the beginning of July 2018.