FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is OzTAM?
How do I access OzTAM data?
How does the audience measurement process work?
Can I join the panel?
What is the Gold Standard?
OzTAM measuring digital terrestrial television?
Is OzTAM reporting digital terrestrial television?
What is OzTAM?
OzTAM manages and markets television ratings data covering all channels for the five city metropolitan areas and nationally for Subscription TV.
OzTAM television ratings information is the currency by which television is bought, sold and evaluated. It is used by organisations such as television networks, advertisers, advertising agencies, media buyers and program suppliers. They use the data to assist them in assessing program and network performance and to understand viewer behaviour.
OzTAM encourages joint media and advertising participation to address relevant industry matters. OzTAM is owned by the three metropolitan commercial television networks Seven, Nine and Ten.
Network ABC, Media Federation of Australia (MFA), Advertising Federation of Australia (AFA), Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) and Australian Subscription Television & Radio Association (ASTRA) have observer status at OzTAM board meetings.
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How do I access OzTAM data?
The majority of OzTAM subscribers receive data through annual subscription. A selection of standard weekly viewing reports are available from the Viewing Reports section of this website. Adhoc reports, which are tailored reports based on specific client requirements, can also be purchased from OzTAM.
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How does the audience measurement process work?
Panel Selection
Households are recruited to OzTAM's panel via a large-scale Establishment Survey. The Establishment Survey defines the population to be represented and its characteristics.
The Establishment Survey is conducted to a high standard via telephone interviews throughout the year. In managing the recruitment process and monitoring turnover, the panel is an accurate representation of the population we provide data for.
Data Collection
Once a household has been recruited, all television sets are monitored by the meter system. The meter records and stores time, date, television set on/off, channel to which each television set is tuned, capturing all broadcast viewing. All residents and guests register their television usage using a remote control.
Data Delivery & Reporting
Every night the data is retrieved automatically via modem telephone software (silent phone call). The production system performs the collection, processing, validation, weighting and final production of each household's data.
Once the production processes have been completed, the television program information and ratings are integrated. All data undergoes rigorous quality control both electronically and manually. All results are released the following morning and the data is made available to our subscribers via a secure website.
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Can I join the panel?
OzTAM's panel is anonymous. Panel households are recruited via a random digital dialing system. Before being recruited, panel households must meet specific demographic requirements to enable accurate statistical reporting.
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What is the Gold Standard?
OzTAM's Gold Standard is a ratings analysis software benchmark that ensures consistency across the industry.
OzTAM supplies access to minute-by-minute ratings data. Subscribers to this data may choose the software system they wish to use for its analysis.
As a result, OzTAM has developed a Gold Standard, covering the arithmetical procedures for standardising the calculation of television audience measures.
Only Gold Standard accredited software can be used for analysing OzTAM data.
The OzTAM Gold Standard enables our clients to achieve consistent calculations of television ratings when analysing OzTAM data.
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Is OzTAM measuring digital terrestrial television?
OzTAM has measured all SD and HD digital terrestrial channels since August 2005.
In regards to new digital terrestrial channels, OzTAM starts collecting (i.e. measuring) how many people are viewing as soon as that new channel commences broadcasting.
Percentage of Households Estimates (pdf, 123k) - Digital Terrestrial Television in the metropolitan area.
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Is OzTAM reporting digital terrestrial television?
ABC2 is an SD channel and began to be separately reported in the OzTAM service on 1st June 2008.
SBS TWO is an SD channel and began to be separately reported in the OzTAM service on 28th June 2009.
ONE is an HD and SD channel, which began to be separately reported in the OzTAM service on 12th April 2009.
ONE includes audience data to ONE's high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) when they transmit unique content (i.e. Do not simulcast with the main TEN channel). Viewing to simulcast broadcast of TEN's main channel and ONE HD will continue to be reported back to TEN's main channel.
Viewing to ABC HD and SBS HD is included in the viewing to the broadcaster’s primary channel ABC1 and SBS ONE respectively.
Viewing to 7HD and 9HD is included in the viewing to the broadcasters’ primary channel, whether the content is the same (simulcast) or different.
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