In short time, a system was set up, logs were parsed and reports were generated: MyBroadband were able to unequivocally show that some previously reported figures were, as suggested by Shaun Dewberry, grossly inflated.

MyBroadband’s founder and managing editor, Rudolph Muller said in a report on Sunday "To ensure accuracy MyBroadband used the services of the European based TouchCast SA … TouchCast SA has specialized software, called CasterStats, which is used specifically for creating online radio listener statistics from server log files."

Using a belt and braces approach MyBroadband also called in some local IT experts to analyse the SHOUTcast logs. Their findings were in line with the reports produced by CasterStats Reporter. Since MyBroadband published its report there has been a rapid climb down from the previously litigious positions taken by the radio stations concerned.

“In just a few hours of log file parsing, our CasterStats software was able to produce extended reports based on real counts of listeners”, said Jean-Luc Halleux of TouchCast. “CasterStats Reporter made it easy to distinguish facts from illusions. Accurate audience data is needed to create confidence between broadcasters and advertisers. We help broadcasters to increase confidence and the business that comes from it.”

Specially designed for online broadcasters of all forms, TouchCast produces desktop and server software as well as an online service giving audience and infrastructure analytics. The CasterStats suite of products fully supports Wowza Media Server, SHOUTcast, Icecast, Windows Media Server and all W3C compatible server formats.

For more information please visit www.casterstats.com.