Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract details notice
Published 16 Jan 2026, 14:17 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Provision of industry TV audience viewing data

Official notice

Authority: Ofcom (Public body)

Direct award
Sectors: Research & Development (R&D) (73) Delivery: Delivery location not published
Awarded value£1,004,445published contract · exc. VAT
Awarded 14 Jan 2026no call for competition
Awarded to Broadcasters Audience Research Board (BARB)2 awards

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Provision of industry TV audience viewing data with permission for Ofcom to publish this for any regulatory purpose.

Ofcom requires this data in order to provide evidence in its regulatory duties in relation to PSB, aspects of Comms Act responsibilities and the recent Media Act legislation.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Direct award
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
16 Jan 2026, 14:17 GMT
Last source update
2 Feb 2026, 09:16 GMT
Authority reference
C20252627
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-008744
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0607bc Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights
Published justification

BARB is the TV industry body responsible for producing TV audience data mainly for measuring advertising and producing a trading currency for the broadcasters. Measurement of programme/channel viewing is an associated benefit of the currency. BARB is formed and run as a non-profit by the main broadcasters and the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA).

Ofcom requires the data in order to provide evidence in its regulatory duties in relation to PSB, aspects of Comms Act responsibilities and the recent Media Act legislation. There are no other suppliers of this data

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

27 Jan 2026 → 2 Feb 2026 · 2 dates
  1. Standstill ends273 days ago
    27 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
  2. Notice published267 days ago
    2 Feb 2026, 09:16 GMT

Notice history

4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 16 Jan 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    16 Jan 2026, 14:17 GMT
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    16 Jan 2026, 14:49 GMT
    UK6
  3. Contract details notice published
    2 Feb 2026, 09:16 GMT
    UK7
  4. Contract signature expected
    2 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 2
Awarded value £1,004,4451 contract exc. VAT · 1 repeated publication of the same award counted once
Contracts signed 1latest 30 Jan 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Broadcasters Audience Research Board (BARB)2 Feb 2026 – 31 Dec 2026£1,004,445same award published again · counted once14 Jan 2026standstill to 27 Jan 2026Standstill
Broadcasters Audience Research Board (BARB)£1,004,445 †—Awarded

Contracts

  • Contract 2 · Broadcasters Audience Research Board (BARB)

    Signed
    30 Jan 2026
    Value
    £1,004,445
    Period
    2 Feb 2026 – 31 Dec 2026
    Status
    active

    No agreed KPIs: KPIs are not mandated for reporting on contracts below £5,000,000 (inc VAT).

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Ofcom

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PQQZ-1663-NWMN Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London, London, SE1 9HAContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender