The UNITAM system collects viewing data from meters in panel homes, identifies channels and activities through audio matching and IR key identification, and produces output for Nielsen's production and reporting systems. It has over 30 years of experience in audio matching and delivers daily data to over 20 countries. The audio matching process generates signatures from household audio streams and matches them to a reference database to identify channels, while IR keys are used as a secondary method to resolve ties or identify special activities like channel zapping. The crediting process merges meter data with audio and IR identification to validate viewing and produce output.

1. UNITAM SYSTEM
OVERVIEW
Damien Pilkington-Lewis
October 2013

2. Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
UNITAM SYSTEM - OVERVIEW
Meters
UNITAM-3 meters
in the field capture
viewing data from
each TV and
upload it to base
UNITAM System
Collects data from
meters, identifies
channels and viewing
activities and produces
output for production
system
Production and
Reporting
Receives output from
UNITAM, performs
weighting, validation
and prepares output
for clients
Key Points:
• Built on 30+ years of TAM experience, including 12 years of experience
with audio matching
• Delivering daily data in over 20 countries around the world
• Comprehensive and flexible, meeting the needs of the most
demanding clients
• Primary method of channel identification is audio matching
• IR hints are used as a secondary method to resolve ties and identify
special activities
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3. Collection & Crediting
Collection
Meters
Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
UNITAM – PROCESS FLOW
IR Key
Identification
Audio
Matching
Crediting
UNITAM Collection and Crediting Function
Collect data
from meters in
panel
Match IR keys
against Global DB
to identify keys
pressed
Match audio
signatures against
references to
identify channel
Merge data. Apply
crediting rules. Identify
special activities.
Produce output for
production system.
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4. HH 1
Internal FW
Production
Production
Production
Collection
External FW
DMZ
LAN
TV #1
Production HUB 1 - US
Internet
TV #2
Nielsen WAN
LAN
DMZ
Production
Production
Production
Collection
External FW
HH 2
Internal FW
Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
COLLECTION ARCHITECTURE
TV #1
Production HUB 2 - Europe
IP Based (GPRS)
Reliable
Secure
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5. Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
IR KEY IDENTIFICATION
Referencing
Field & QC
Local teams identify
unrecognized IR keys
using Quality Control
tools. Unrecognized
remotes are
referenced and sent
to GSC.
Global Support
Center
Validates reference
data received from
countries. If
validation rules are
passed then add to
Global DB
Global DB
Deployment
Updated IR DB is
deployed to
countries ready to
be used in overnight
processing
Matching
Meter
IR sensor captures IR,
generates IR
signatures for each
key pressed
Collection
Collection Facility
collects IR
signatures, sends to
IR matching process
IR Matching
Process
Matches IR
signatures from
meter with global IR
Database to identify
keys
Output
Output is fed
into the audio
matching and
crediting
processes
5

6. Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
AUDIO MATCHING – INTRODUCTION
Signature Generation
1001010100101001
1010010010010010
0011001010010100
0010010111001001
1110010100011100
0010110101010001
1001010100101001
1010010010010010
0011001010010100
0011001010010100
Audio Signal
10011101
Digital Stream
Signature
Matching
Audio Matching
Process
Sampled Content
(Households)
Reference Content
(TV Signals)
Viewing Statements
6

7. Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
AUDIO MATCHING – CHANNEL IDENTIFICATION
100100100
Ch 1
101101101
Ch 2
101010101
Ch 3
.
.
.
Ch 35
010101010
010101010
Household TV set
011011011
Digital
Comparison
.
.
.
Ch N
Reference Database
7

8. Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
AUDIO MATCHING – CHANNEL IDENTIFICATION
Ch 1
010010010001000010101010
Ch 2
100101010010100101001010
010010010010100101001010
Channel 1
Channel 2
Ch ???
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9. Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
AUDIO MATCHING – LIVE VIEWING
10:46:17
Viewing
Meter Signatures
References
Channel 1
Channel 2
Channel 3
Channel 4
…
Channel N
Live window (usually +/- 20 seconds)
9

10. Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
AUDIO MATCHING – TSV VIEWING
10:46:17
Viewing
Meter Signatures
References
Channel 1
Channel 2
Channel 3
Channel 4
…
Channel N
+20 Secs / -7 Days
10

11. Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
SIMULCAST RESOLUTION – AUDIO MATCHING
010010010001011101001010
Ch A
Simulcast
Unique
Simulcast
010010010110100101001010
Ch B
Ch 1 & Ch 2
Same Audio
Match
Only
with
Ch 2
Ch 1 & Ch 2
Same Audio
010010010110100101001010
Channel B
Ch ???
When there is simulcast (same audio) between multiple channels, we can identify
the channel viewed if there is any piece audio content that is unique to 1 of the
channels. The unique piece can be as short as a single commercial.
11

12. Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
SIMULCAST RESOLUTION – UNRESOLVED
Channel
A
Channel
B
Channel
C
The future starts here.
X
A, B or C?
Z
Ch ???
12

13. Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
SIMULCAST RESOLUTION – USING IR KEYS
The future starts here.
Audio Matching
X
A, B or C?
Z
Ch ???
IR Keys
46
+
• Almost all channel changes are made using IR keys with a remote
control
• Even if audio is identical, IR keys present at the channel change time
can be examined and used to identify the channel
• Nielsen has developed a proprietary algorithm using 9 years of
experience of IR crediting to support a wide range of IR activities
13

14. Copyright ©2012 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary.
CREDITING PROCESS
Crediting Process
IR Keys
IR keys pressed by
the Panel Member
Audio Matching
Channels
identified by
audio matching
process
Statements
TV On, Members
etc
IR, Audio, Statement Data Merge
Meter Data Validation
Zapping Identification
(Periods when Panel Member is changing
channels quickly)
Production and
Reporting System
Teletext Identification
(Periods when Panel Member is using a
Teletext service)
Non-Tracked Activity (NTA) Identification
(Program Guide Usage, Mute, Standby,
Play/Pause/FF/Rew, Non-Broadcast etc)
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