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TVM4

 

The TVM4 is a reliable and flexible peoplemeter, incorporating new technologies, to provide Clients with a peoplemeter capable of meeting the technological needs of today's broadcasting environment.

The main design guidelines followed by the development team were reliability, non-intrusiveness and ease of installation and maintenance. Thus, the TVM4 incorporates innovations in non-intrusive data acquisition, ensuring a "plug-in" installation for all TV sets, on all VCR's and on all receivers and decoders equipped with a serial port.

The TVM4 is capable of identifying all channels available via analogue and digital platforms, and has the capability to recognise video recording and time shifted viewing. It also measures all guest viewing, including basic demographic information.

Identifying Digital Broadcasts

Digital Broadcasts with Service Information

The TVM4 is capable of receiving any type of code or information passed from the broadcast signal to the meter, via the digital receiver. Where these codes are present, the channel is identified by the unique broadcaster code.

Digital Broadcasts without Service Information

Where Service Information is not provided, TVM4 uses the proprietary Content Tracking System (CTS) for channel identification. CTS is based upon the comparison of digital signatures extracted from the audio signals, using specific algorithms developed internally. The audio signal from the unknown content is converted in a continuous signature stream and then compared to a set of reference streams, which identifies the original content, and thus, the channel viewed.

Time-Shifted Viewing

While CTS is used for the identification of digital broadcasters who do not provide any form of service or banner information; it was developed primarily for the identification of time-shifted viewing. Where CTS is used for this purpose, during the playback of recorded material, as the content and the channel are identified, the statement is recorded within the TVM4.

The TVM4 is also equipped with the capability to monitor the use of the infrared signals of the remote control, providing a further source of channel identification for back-up purposes, but also allowing the meter to register viewing of teletext pages.

Each TV set in the home is monitored by its own meter (the Base Unit). Each meter communicates with a central Transmission Unit, installed near the telephone, via a radio frequency link, thus eliminating the need for any additional cabling within the home. The Production centre, via the telephone line, retrieves the data from the Transmission Unit daily.

The TVM4 has the ability to be equipped with a GSM modem, which allows the Production centre to retrieve data at any time of the day.

Using the SMS facility of the GSM modem, it is also possible to collect data in 'real-time'.

Identifying Analogue Broadcasts

Sync Comparison

The primary method for identifying channels is accomplished by a comparison between the sync of the channel viewed and the sync of all channels available, through the broadcast source (antenna, cable connection, etc.). The meter is connected to the same source of the broadcast signal and by means of an inductive pick-up, to the outer casing of the TV set.

Video Signal Comparison

In the event that the TV set is equipped with a SCART or A/V plug, the meter identifies the channel viewed by comparing the video signal of the channel with those of all channels available.

Audio Comparison

In the event that it is not possible to distinguish the sync or the video signal, for comparison, the channel is identified by means of an external audio comparison, attached to the external casing of the TV set.

In all three instances, the meter is connected to the TV set externally, rendering the 'installation' completely non-intrusive.