Arbitron Rating Service - The rating service of the Arbitron Ratings Company (a subsidiary of Control Data Corp) was introduced in January 1958. Arbitron (a competitor of the A.C. Nielsen Company) gathers audience viewing data, that provides individual surveys of television viewing preferences in over 200 marketing areas nationwide. Their information is obtained by mailing 800-2000 pocket diaries to random households who record their viewing habits and then return the diaries to Arbitron. Surveys are followed up by telephone and personal interviews. Arbitron also offers data on the number of households subscribing to Cable television networks. During the 1988-89 season Arbitron introduced a new rating device similar to the People Meter earlier introduced by A.C. Nielsen. The Arbitron Ratings Company is located in Metropolitan Tower at 142 West 57 Street in New York, NY 10019. See also  - "A. C. Nielsen Rating Service"