S'pore agencies to suspend TNS ratings support

Singapore's 4As has confirmed that the organisation's media agencies will cease using TNS terrestrial ratings data, rather than pay the proposed fee being requested by the research house (Media, February 27). <BR><BR> "We are asking for, at the least, a compromise on the fee, which should be less than the proposed one," said 4As president Anthony Kang. The data, which was previously provided to agencies free, is now being charged at - on average - S$40,000 per year, depending on agency size. <BR><BR> TNS MD Phillip Jones said: "Our stance would be that we can't continue to supply the service to people who can't pay for it." <BR><BR> Earlier, Kang pointed out that the agencies were disappointed they were not consulted about the proposed charge, which followed the consolidation of sole terrestrial broadcaster MediaCorp's ratings contract with TNS. Kang said that agencies would now approach MediaCorp TV directly for necessary data based on media plans.