I Want to Remember This!

I hope somebody will show me that there is no need for concern about the following:

Page 19 from the Arbitron April 2008 Update has this information:

"In-tab rate benchmark: Percent who provide 8+ hours of motion each day (5+ hours for ages 6-17)
»Total Panel: 75%+
»18-34 demos: 80% of the overall in-tab goal (.8 X 75% = 60%) for first two currency years of a panel"

Here's my attempt to translate this to English. See if it matches yours:

Unlike the diary, where we wanted every minute of listening to be recorded, we are happy if the meter is used for just 8 hours a day (5 hours if the panelist is a teen).

And we're actually happy if only 75% of the sample does even that much.

And we're really very happy if only 60% of the 18-34 panelists manage to carry the thing around for at least 8 of the 16 or so hours they are awake.

Anybody have a different interpretation? If so, I'll be happy to share it in this blog.

I'm truly saddened by the simplistic thinking that is behind the cheerleading by some people in this industry. It is sort of "Ooh... digital GOOD. Paper BAAAD. Bad digital MUCH BETTER than paper."

Entire thought process. We've got to raise rather than lower our standards.