Arbitron Strikes Ratings Deal With CBS Radio

Arbitron Inc., a company that provides ratings for radio stations, made a breakthrough toward establishing its new electronic audience measurement system with an announcement that CBS Radio had signed a seven-year deal to use its system.

Arbitron has been facing resistance from broadcasters for months against adopting its “portable people meter” electronic ratings system, and a 24-member group of radio broadcasters and advertisers set up to evaluate new ratings methods has yet to endorse it.