About The BRC

The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRC) is a non-profit industry body which operates as an independent entity. Our goal is to provide objective, transparent data, which caters to the audience measurement needs of the radio, television, marketing and advertising industries in South Africa.

The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRC) was established in 2015.

We are also responsible for the reliable collection of contributions from media owners via a levy system, as well as the management of these funds.

Our main objectives include:

To commission and coordinate

We commission and give oversight to radio and television audience measurement research, that being BRC RAM (Radio Audience Measurement) and BRC TAMS (Television Audience Measurement).

Ensuring transparency

It is crucial that the data provided be objective and honest, which is why we ensure that the research, as well as the management and reporting thereof, is transparent and managed and audited through a battery of KPIs.

To make the research available

All broadcasters and media planners have access to audience measurement research (BRC RAM and BRC TAMS) via industry standard media planning software tools.

Funding the research

Through the contributions received from our media owner members we are able to fund the research in respect of both television and radio. We also contribute towards the industry-wide Establishment Survey.

Support and collaboration

One of our larger goals is to support and contribute to the funding of additional collaborative industry-wide research, namely the Establishment Survey.

Raising the standards

We promote and maintain fair and transparent standards for broadcast audience measurement.

How we operate

Television Research

The Television Research Committee is made up of television broadcasters, who meet every month to review the BRC TAMS KPIs and ensure that the data has credibility and is managed transparently.

BRC User oversight forum: TV broadcasters, media planners and agencies are invited to review the research. This forum ensures that those who are using the research are yielding its full benefit.

Radio Research

The Radio Research Committee is made up of radio broadcasters. The committee meets once a month to review the BRC RAM KPIs and thereby ensure that the data has credibility and is managed transparently.

BRC RAMS user oversight forum: radio broadcasters, media planners and agencies are invited to review the research. This forum ensures that those who are using the research are yielding its full benefit.

About the research

The BRC owns the data and all IP rights attached thereto from any and all research it commissions and gives oversight to.

BRC research products include:

Radio Audience Measurement Survey (RAMS Amplify™)

A multiplatform and intuitive survey that is respondent-friendly across all walks of South African life. This tool collects the most accurate data through a day-after-recall computer aided telephonic interview, across different geographies, locations, languages, and socio-economic landscapes. The BRC commissions RAMS Amplify™ through its research supplier, Ipsos, and the data is released quarterly each year.

Television Audience Measurement Survey (TAMS)

This high-quality television audience measurement system uses people meter technology, a tool used to measure the viewing habits of TV audiences. Management of this research ensures that it has proper controls, transparent reporting, and regular audits in place. The BRC commissions TAMS through its research supplier, Nielsen, and the data is released daily. Users access this data through industry standard media planning software tools.

Fusion

FUSION, a collaboration between The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRC) and Nielsen South Africa, stands as the most extensive media study ever conducted in Africa. This valuable resource is generously accessible to the media planning industry. FUSION incorporates data from TAMS (Television Audience Measurement Survey), and RAMS Amplify™ (Radio Audience Measurement Survey), along with NielsenIQ’s CPS (Consumer Panel Services – Home Panel), as well as Nielsen Media’s DCS (Digital Consumer Survey). FUSION offers a unified platform encompassing media channels such as TV, Print, Digital, and Radio. It also consolidates product and brand information across diverse sectors. These insights efficiently categorise consumers using popular segmentation tools. As an invaluable media planning tool, especially in the initial stages of profiling and understanding a target market, FUSION provides a holistic perspective.

Day to day

We keep a lean operational team to ensure the smooth running of day-to-day activities.

This team is made up of:

BRC Accountant – Perceverance Thakhudi
Research Executive : Television – Boitumelo Pooe
Office Manager & PA to the CEO – Anele N Ntuli

Our board

Antonio Lee (Chairperson)

Jonathan Procter

Fahmeeda Cassim-Surtee

Ursula Shikhati

Nick Grubb

Johan Van Rooyen

Alfie Jay

Somnath Malakar