Arbitron: House Report On Minority Undercount Doesn't Add Up

Arbitron says the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is headed by Rep Edolphus Towns (D-NY), came to "erroneous conclusions" in an analysis of the company's Portable People Meters (PPMs). Those included that the ratings company was not sufficiently recruiting Spanish-dominant Hispanics for its survey. The committee has been looking into complaints that the PPMs undercount minority viewers, including African Americans and Hispanics. "Over the last four months, Arbitron has been actively engaged with Chairman Towns and the Oversight Committee Staff. Arbitron has been open and forthcoming, supplying detailed information, answering questions and providing proactive recommendations to address the challenges faced by minority broadcasters. We were aware of the Committee's contact to the Media Rating Council (MRC) and we are extremely surprised and disappointed at the analysis and erroneous conclusions reached by the Oversight Committee Staff and communicated in their press statement," Arbitron said.