Evolution of digital audience measurement in the Spanish market: state of the art and future challenges

Abstract

Online audience measurement has always been difficult for various reasons, including the search for a suitable methodology to study particular characteristics of this media. The internet has been called the most well-measured media (Lamas, 2010), but many questions remain unresolved today. The aim of this study is to study the digital audience measurement system in the Spanish environment in order to provide indicators and parameters, as well as the technology used to measure the digital audience in the Spanish market. The current system for measuring digital audiences in Spain is analyzed based on a mixed methodology including statements by experts. The official measuring company, comScore, bases its work on the census, sampling, and data from other collaborating digital operators. The results of the hybrid methodology provide digital consumption data for Spain. The experts´ opinions indicate that the system is not perfect and presents various deficiencies and challenges. A consolidated and consensual system remains far off, mainly because, since the object of study is in constant transformation due to technical advances, measurement systems must also be adapted to these new needs as well as to improvements in financing. Despite the introduction of new monitoring technologies, the current model barely reflects digital consumption in Spain.