Channel 4 need to understand where and how to plan portfolio and All4 promotional campaigns to maximise return on airtime.

We supplement Barb programme data with our own metadata identifying Channel 4 portfolio series and episode number. This allows us to identify the unique content promoted by a campaign, rather than simply using the generic title.

TRP Helix uses a bespoke in-house broadcast recording system to monitor 60+ channels every day of the year. Our metadata team uses these recordings to supply independent promotional campaign logs to Channel 4 for several competitor channels. Promo clips and logs are used by Channel 4 to keep up-to-date on other campaigns and content launches, alongside the ability to assess campaign performance in a like-for-like way.

We combine Channel 4’s own promo logs, detailing when and where a campaign aired with our in-house Barb respondent level databases. This allows us to track individual respondent behaviour and match viewers who watched a promo who also viewed a promoted programme. We measure the success of a campaign via the overlap (or ‘converted’) viewers as a proportion of everyone who saw the campaign.

Over many years of working with Channel 4 we have built up a catalogue of performance criteria and benchmarks with which to measure campaigns. Our service has evolved as we continually look for new ways to assess and measure performance. In recent years this has included assessing campaign uplift; viewers actively influenced by a campaign rather than heavier viewers who may potentially have watched anyway, and the impact of All4 campaigns in directing viewers to non-linear content.

Market proliferation has led to an ever-squeezed schedule and our reporting provides both a granular (campaign level) and topline (portfolio and network level) view of campaign performance. This allows Channel 4 to understand and quickly adapt to changes in the media environment and viewing behaviours, thus planning and promoting campaigns using the best possible media strategy. Decisions made based on our reporting include; length and weight of campaign required to support a new launch, number of campaigns or content supported per week, use of cross promotional strategies and optimal length of promotional spot.