Arbitron reschedules 4Q earnings report

Arbitron reschedules 4Q earnings report

COLUMBIA, Md. — Arbitron Inc. said Thursday it has rescheduled the release of its fourth-quarter and year-end earnings report after the company’s CEO resigned for making a false statement to Congress.

The radio ratings company will now report the results on Feb. 18 before the market opens and hold a conference call at 10 a.m. that day.

An Arbitron spokesman said board member William Kerr, the company’s new CEO, had other commitments when the company originally planned to release the earnings.

CEO Michael Skarzynski stepped down after telling the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee last month that he was part of a training visit with Arbitron panelists in November that he did not in fact attend.

Panelists’ activity is used to measure radio audiences.

The House committee was looking into whether Arbitron’s Portable People Meter, its new method of tracking radio audiences, undercounted members of minority groups, an issue that has sparked lawsuits in at least three states.

The Portable People Meter uses pager-like devices to track listening habits, replacing paper diaries in most markets.

Shares of Arbitron, based in Columbia, Md., rose by 36 cents to $25.85 in afternoon trading.