National Readership Survey

The NRS was founded in 1956 to provide research into use of print and digital advertising trading across the United
Kingdom. Each survey covers over 250 of the UKs newspapers and magazines, focusing on the characteristics of the
audiences of each product. In 2012, they released a digital edition of the survey; NRS PADD - National Readership
Survey Print and Digital Data. Two years later, a mobile edition was released. The survey is governed and funded
mainly by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), Newspaper Publishers Association (NPA) and Professional
Publishers Association (PPA).
Broadcasters Audience Research Board
Created in 1981, the BARB is an organisation that measures and records the audience measurement and viewer
ratings of television shows aired in Britain. BARB is owned jointly by the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, BSkyB, and the
IPA. The board commission research companies to carry out what its users want to know; for example, viewing
figures for certain channels or shows. The audience measurement contracts are held by the following companies -
RSMB, Ipsos MORI and Kantar Media.
Audit Bureau of Circulation
The ABC is an industry body for media measurement, founded in 1931 by the Society of British Advertisers. The
organisation inspires market confidence with its stamp of trust in the media world; their data being used by various
groups of decision makers; media owners and agencies, advertisers, rights owners, investors and management. The
ABC is also governed by similar bodies; media agencies and owners, advertisers and trading bodies. They underpin
the way advertising is traded around the UK, agreeing on common standards.
Radio Joint Audience Research
RAJAR was created in 1992 with its main purpose being to align, design and operate an audience measuring system
for the UKs radio broadcasting industry - this served the BBC and all licensed radio stations. The organisation is also
partly owned by the BBC, as well as RadioCentre (a trade body that represents the majority of UK broadcasters).
RAJARs main focus is the strategy, governance and decisions of policy - they also meet as a group, the Technical
Management Group, which comprises of representatives of the BBC, commercial radio and advertising community.
Office of Communications
Ofcom is the regulator of communications across the UK; regulating the TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms,
mobiles, postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate. The organisation is responsible for
all communications services and protecting from users from scams, whilst allowing competition to thrive. Under The
Communications Act, Ofcom is required to further the interest of the public and appropriately promoting
competition; it is funded by the industry, for regulating broadcasting and communications networks, and by the
government.