Radio consumer survey questioned

Arbitron, the radio industry's top consumer research firm, disqualified two fall 2009 diaries from the Watertown metro area.

The diaries came from "a household whose participation in the survey was disclosed to a media-affiliated individual," according to a statement from Arbitron to subscribers in the market. "Audience estimates for WBDR-FM may be substantially affected."

WBDR-FM 106.7, or "The Border," is owned by Community Broadcasters LLC, which also owns seven other radio stations in Watertown and the St. Lawrence Valley.

"To the best of my knowledge, nobody on my staff was involved," said James L. Leven, president and chief executive officer of Community Broadcasters.

The broadcasting company does not subscribe to Arbitron, the only firm that does radio audience estimates in the Watertown market, Mr. Leven said.

Arbitron had about 1,070 listening diary keepers during fall 2009, a spokeswoman said.

"It's two diaries — I'm not terribly concerned," Mr. Leven said. "I am always concerned about the integrity of the process."

Arbitron does not allow the households of media-affiliated people to act as diary keepers, and those who participate are not allowed to make their status as diary keepers known to those who work in media.

Audience estimates for stations that "received limited amounts of listening in the diaries" or weren't recorded in the deleted diaries also may be slightly affected. The new audience estimates will be released Aug. 4.