The system aims to give users new methodologies, improved geographical data and a new viewing panel.
Bjarne Thelin, chief executive of BARB, launched the ‘BARB 2010' service at a presentation to the industry in London today.
He said: ‘Much of the new system is similar in concept to the current one, but there are important changes, including a completely new viewing panel - so there will be some differences in the output.'
In a parallel run assessment for four weeks ending 8 November, overall viewing to BARB reported channels is around 4% higher with the BARB panel compared to the existing BARB panel.
The regional commercial overlapping areas, originally defined by analogue terrestrial reception, will be replaced by definitions that do not overlap. A map of the new reporting regions was sent to BARB subscribers in June.
A new panel is now in place, which Bars says it more epresentative of the UK television household population. It includes better ethnic profiles and improved representation by multi-platform homes, as well as metropolitan, urban and rural populations.
In December 2007 BARB awarded four new six-year contracts for the provision of research services that would support the BARB service from January 2010. In the two years since the award of the contracts, BARB has worked with its new contractors to establish the panel and monitor the service.
In 2010, BARB will be reporting approximately 300 itemised channels - channels that broadcasters request to be reported. All other channels are grouped together with their viewing combined and reported as ‘other viewing'.
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