Arbitron Begins Cross-Platform Work For ESPN

Arbitron says data collection will take off in the first six months of 2013 for its cross-platform measurement project for ESPN. The initiative, announced last year, is being conducted along with comScore.

According to Dave Goetzl at mediapost.com, the Arbitron-comScore project calls for measurement of five screens --radio, TV, PCs, smartphones and tablets -- where ESPN has a notable presence. Among the tools to be employed are TV set-top-box data from comScore and Arbitron’s portable people meter.

Arbitron and comScore said the plan is to develop a measurement service that would be available to all media companies and agencies.

Arbitron and ESPN signed a three-year deal in 2011 for Arbitron to measure NFL and college football games on TV and radio. Nielsen has a deal to acquire Arbitron, so the fate of the comScore partnership could be in question, since Nielsen competes with the company.

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