The new measurement system is available to Nielsen radio clients on the jācapps v4 platform, and will generate ratings congruent with Nielsen’s on-air measurement. The result is potentially a more holistic audience view and higher-value streaming. Stations will be able to sell ads across platforms based on consistent third-party measurement, and/or monetize their mobile streams more effectively.
jācappas CEO Paul Jacobs emphasized the value for publishers: “Until today, program directors have been reluctant to heavily promote their mobile app for fear of losing listening credit. Now mobile streaming data will be additive for broadcasters and will help them showcase expanded reach.”
“With its certification, jācapps will now be able to help its radio broadcasting clients more effectively quantify the size and nature of their listening audience across broadcast and digital platforms,” said Nielsen EVP Matt O’Grady.
Nielsen’s foray into streaming audio measurement has been long in development, and incremental in its rollout. Last September Nielsen SVP Jeff Wender told the RAIN Summit Indy audience that digital audio was one of the company’s biggest priorities, and that announcements would be forthcoming. He said that technical development was complete at that time.
In February, Nielsen certified WideOrbit’s Clarity platform (since renamed WO Streaming) as the first distribution partner for Nielsen’s streaming audience ratings.