Research and Justifications

Audience Information

Audience measurements panels are often used ion the radio and television industry as a way of collectively sourcing the popularity of a programme at a specific time/channel and too a certain audience. Diaries are kept of how well the audience are reacting to the programmes. The information gained through companies such as BARB allow the broadcasting companies to evaluate the programmes popularity through viewing ratings. Special devices are connected to a wide variety of televisions with in homes (under homeowners consent) and monitor which family member is watching what and at what time.

Companies will look at their programmes ratings and will also set up face to face interviews, focus groups and questionnaires in which they shall be able to work out what gender and age enjoy different programmes. They can also find out what the viewers liked and dis-likes about the programme in order to improve the way the programme is structured in terms of the narrative, talent etc.
Programme profiling allows broadcasting companies to view who watches their programmes. This allows them to make changes to schedules of broadcasting to match the influx in views from a certain group pf people. Television research agencies such as tech monitor, who perform the above stages of research i order to learn what is in trend.

Sources of Information

Rate cards are created by companies with business sectors such as the media industry and state the cost of advertising placements during programmes advertising space. The rate card, is the document that states the cost of advertising on certain channels and at certain times.  Companies will research the most popular times and channels in which their target audience watch television. Advertising agencies will work in favor of the company wanting to advertise their service/products in order to reach the advertisements full potential in attracting sales. Advertiser information packs, include the rate card, insertion dates and publications dates. This package basically allows a company to begin advertising their service/products to the right people minimizing mistakes and errors.

Audience Classification 

The standard occupational classification system is used by federal statistical agencies as a way of classifying employees into sectors/groups of people. This allows a range of agencies to collect, manage and evaluate data in the world of employment. The data allows the government to to evaluate the current employment structure and ultimately make reforms or investment in struggling and successful sectors.  Analyzing the demographics of certain areas allows businesses to evaluate their business structure to focus on meeting their target audience. Population demographics simply determine the age and gender of that areas population.  Marketing companies use demographics to advertise to the correct audience. The demographics allow media advertising agencies to market for instance a film on billboards in the appropriate location to reach their target audience. Phychographics are the attitudes and lifestyles of people. Understanding peoples views and typical lifestyle choices allows media outlets to classify their target audience. 

Regulation

The advertising standards authority (USA) covers a wide range of media formats from, television to online advertising. USA's primary role is to withhold the advertising regulations set out by themselves and Ofcom. They mainly monitor all media outlets making sure that companies advertisements follow their strict rules and do not break their regulations. If a company were to have breached the regulations of advertisement, then add of any format will be removed from its location. Cases of breaches can be fairly common. The latest television and online advertising scheme introduced by Mountain Dew suffered heavy criticism and allegations of  sexism and racism. Ofcom and USA acted with speed and removed the adverts broadcasting rights on television and online. Ofcom have a set of codes that apply to advertising on a range of media outlets. These codes should be seen as rules for advertisement production companies in order to prevent adverts breaching both Ofcom's and USA's regulation as both Ofcom and USA have legal backing, they are able to impose fines and take companies to court if they do breach the set regulations.