By Stuart Thomson

UK audience measurement outfit BARB has awarded a panel expansion recruitment contract to Ipsos. 

Ipsos will be responsible for recruiting additional homes to BARB’s nationally-representative panel of UK households, in order to grow it from 5,150 homes to 7,000 homes.

Ipsos is expected to have recruited enough homes to grow the panel to its larger size by the second quarter of 2024.

BARB’s intention to increase the size of the panel was previously announced as part of its awarding of long-term research contracts from January 2024, which it says are fundamental to its delivery of the industry’s standard for understanding what people watch.

Ipsos already holds the contract to run BARB’s Establishment Survey until the end of 2024. The Establishment Survey is a continuous survey of 53,000 household interviews per year. It collects a range of data on the characteristics of UK households to ensure that the BARB panel accurately represents the UK population. It also identifies new homes to join the panel.

BARB’s research operations director, Caroline Baxter said: “Ipsos won the panel expansion recruitment contract thanks to their innovative and flexible approach to panel recruitment and their deep understanding of BARB’s needs.We look forward to the panel expansion to 7,000 homes, an increase that demonstrates the continued commitment of the UK TV and advertising industry to the independent and objective insight that comes from panel-based measurement.”

Global CEO, audience measurement, Ipsos, Liz Landy said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by BARB to help them deliver on this important initiative.  It is fantastic to have our expertise recognised by such an important, long-term partner and is a testament to the strength and rigour of our operational capability.”