New York - Mar 3, 2008 - In January, the Media Ratings Council (MRC) denied accreditation of the Aribitron Portable People Meter (PPM) system in Philadelphia and New York. The notice was revealed in Arbitron's annual filing with the SEC.

Arbitron attributes the decision to old field tests, and the ratings company is hopeful that data gathered from he field trials currently underway will convince the MRC to change its mind. Arbitron's current test has increased the sample size, which was one of the MRC's concerns. The MRC was created following a Congressional call in 1964 to establish standards for media ratings.

Arbitron has already delayed the PPM rollout in the planned markets.