• Dow Jones, Tuesday, September 22, 2009 9:47 PM

An independent media ratings auditor has found "persistent problems" with Arbitron's Portable People Meter that tracks radio audiences, according to the House Oversight Committee and its Chairman Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y.

According to the Oversight Committee, the Media Rating Council reports that Arbitron consistently undercounts minority populations across the country. In New York City, for example, Arbitron undercounted Hispanic and African American populations by several percentage points, it said. The rating council also says Arbitron's sample sizes were "unacceptably low" to accurately measure minority audiences' listening habits, according to the committee.

The Media Rating Council conducts extensive audits of ratings services like those provided by Arbitron, Nielsen Media Research and Mediafax. Council members include broadcasters, media firms and Internet companies, such as Time Warner Cable, CBS and Microsoft.

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