"Now that a full 12-month dataset has been achieved, the BRC has conducted testing on Reach and Frequency (R&F) data," says the BRC's CEO Gary Whitaker.

The BRC says that the R&F data was initially based on Yesterday recall, as RAMS Amplify™ relies on Day After Recall (DAR) methodology via Computer Aided Telephonic Interviews. The ideal scenario, however, is to achieve R&F data based on longitudinal data or P7D data.

"This requires innovative modelling," adds Whitaker. "To this end, the BRC and Ipsos have secured the services of Ian Garland to design a model for R&F data that is based on P7D listenership for the South African market."

Garland is the managing director of Milton Data and has pioneered work for the likes of:
  • Oztam
  • Commercial Radio Australia
  • Fox Sports
  • BBC
  • NBC Universal, and
  • IAB Australia.
In 2018, Garland won the Tony Twyman Award for Best Paper at ASI for his paper City Mouse – Country Mouse: bringing the Big Smoke to the Bush. Garland described the development and application of an innovative new approach to how diary data from metropolitan markets in Australia could be used to model R&F estimates for smaller regional markets for which only DAR studies are practical.

The judges felt that the paper handled a complex topic in an accessible way and that the approach used could have applications in several markets around the world.

Garland has completed a data review of RAMS Amplify™ and checked various criteria for the viability of the P7D modelling. The anticipated timings for building and applying the model is six to eight weeks and a test phase will be required before releasing this data to the industry.

The data will be freely available via the nominated software bureaux as long as the standard software bureau licences are in place and access to RAMS data has been granted by the BRC.

For more information, visit www.brcsa.org.za