The Media Audit
The Media Audit is a privately held, Houston-based syndicated media and consumer market research firm serving US ad agencies, advertisers, and media companies across 85+ markets via a subscription software platform delivering locally-sourced consumer survey data and analytic reporting modules.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What The Media Audit does
The Media Audit is a privately held, Houston-based syndicated media and consumer market research firm founded in 1972. It operates a Windows-based platform that delivers locally-sourced survey data on consumer demographics, lifestyles, behaviors, purchasing habits, and media usage across 85+ US media markets, with reach later expanded to 90+ markets. Data is collected through online interviews sourced from eight or more opt-in panels and web-based intercept surveys using US Census-based nested-quota sampling for age, gender, income, education, and geography, rather than being modeled down from national data. The platform exposes more than a dozen analytic report modules — including Crosstab, Target Profile, Media Ranker, Media Day Analysis, Audience Duplication, Reach & Frequency, Ad Campaign Planner, Duplicate Reach, Zip Code Mapper, Trending Reports, and Annual Consumer Buying Power — accessible via downloadable Windows software, a TSplus browser-based app, or Citrix remote access, with export to PowerPoint, Excel, and PDF.
The company serves three primary B2B segments: advertising agencies and media-buying firms (local media planning, media-mix decisions, and pitch-deck support), brand advertisers (ad-spend optimization and ROI defense), and media companies including broadcast TV, radio, PBS, print, and out-of-home operators that need third-party audience research to sell advertising. Vertical coverage spans Automotive, Real Estate, Political, Retail, Restaurants, Financial Services, Travel, Health, Sports, B2B, OTT, Social Media, Marijuana/CBD, and dozens of other consumer categories. Customer evidence includes South Florida PBS (long-term renewal covering WPBT and WXEL in May 2023), Smart Market Solutions, Person & Partners Automotive Advertising, and Power Marketing.
Revenue is generated primarily through recurring subscription access to the platform and its report modules. Distribution is direct sales, supported by a free helpline (832-521-1000), free software demonstrations, a free-report lead magnet, content marketing, and client testimonials. The firm has 11-50 employees, no disclosed funding, no parent company or subsidiaries, and no public ticker, indicating an owner-operated private business with no detected external capital activity. Notable operational differentiators include being the first nationally syndicated media research firm to add LGBT and cannabis-related survey questions, and an explicit methodological refusal to substitute nationally modeled projections for locally surveyed data.
The Media Audit firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Media Audit
- Legal name
- The Media Audit
- Website
- https://themediaaudit.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Media Audit is a privately held, Houston-based syndicated media and consumer market research firm serving US ad agencies, advertisers, and media companies across 85+ markets via a subscription software platform delivering locally-sourced consumer survey data and analytic reporting modules.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Media Audit industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Media and consumer market research
- NAICS
- Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audience Measurement & Media Research (Ratings, Attribution, Media Mix Insights) (MPAAALAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Media & Audience Measurement Analytics (BPAHALAO), Media Planning Currency, Verification & Accreditation Services (MRC/Industry Audits) (MPABAOAK)
Keywords
Where The Media Audit is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Media Audit business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Syndicated Research Subscription: The Media Audit operates as a syndicated media and consumer market research company. Clients subscribe to access its survey data platform, analytic reports, and market intelligence across US markets. The company serves ad agencies, advertisers, and media outlets on a subscription basis, with reports available through its Windows-based software platform and online access tools.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Media Audit product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Media Audit is a syndicated media and consumer market research firm that provides subscription-based access to locally surveyed consumer data across 85+ US media markets. Its Windows-based software platform (with Citrix and TSplus web access) delivers over two dozen analytic reports — including Crosstab, Target Profile, Media Ranker, Media Day Analysis, Audience Duplication, Reach & Frequency, Ad Campaign Planner, and Zip Code Mapper — used by advertising agencies, advertisers, and media outlets for media planning, buying, and audience valuation.
Product overview
The Media Audit is a syndicated local media and consumer market research company offering a unified Windows-based software platform. The core product provides access to consumer insights across 85+ US media markets through multiple report modules including Crosstab, Target Profile, Media Ranker, Media Day Analysis, Audience Duplication, Reach & Frequency, Ad Campaign Planner, Duplicate Reach, Zip Code Mapper, Trending Reports, and Annual Consumer Buying Power. The platform enables advertising agencies and media companies to cross-reference demographic and lifestyle characteristics against various targets using locally-focused survey data.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Media Audit Platform A Windows-based syndicated media and consumer market research platform providing subscription access to locally surveyed consumer data across 85+ (now 90+) US media markets. The platform delivers over two dozen analytic reports — including Crosstab, Target Profile, Media Ranker, Media Day Analysis, Audience Duplication, Reach & Frequency, Ad Campaign Planner, Duplicate Reach, Zip Code Mapper, Trending Reports, and Annual Consumer Buying Power — used by advertising agencies, advertisers, and media outlets for media planning, buying, and audience valuation. Access is provided via Windows software install, Citrix, or the TSplus online web app, with exports to PowerPoint, Excel, and PDF.
Quantifiable outcome
- Walmart shoppers spend 250+ minutes watching TV per day on average, and Amazon shoppers spend 238 minutes per day — demonstrating TV's outsized role in retail media consumption.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Media Audit
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Media Audit technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Media Audit partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- South Florida PBScoreSouth Florida PBS (WPBT Channel 2 and WXEL Channel 42, serving south Florida and greater West Palm Beach) has a long-term renewal agreement for The Media Audit research and training services. WPBT went on air in 1955 and WXEL in 1967, joining forces in July 2015 to form South Florida PBS — the 7th largest PBS market in the US. The Media Audit helps South Florida PBS demonstrate audience value to advertisers, showcasing its unique public television consumers to businesses of all levels.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Media Audit competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ipsos: Ipsos is a global market research firm providing consumer and audience research, including syndicated and custom media studies. It competes with The Media Audit for ad agency and advertiser research budgets, though at a much larger scale.
- GfK: GfK provides consumer and media research, including audience measurement and consumer insights for advertisers and media companies. It is a broader research incumbent that overlaps with The Media Audit's syndicated audience research value proposition.
- Kantar Millward Brown: Kantar is a global market research and consulting firm providing brand, media, and consumer insights. It overlaps with The Media Audit's syndicated media research offerings but operates at much greater global scale and breadth.
Emerging players
- Numerator: Numerator provides consumer purchase and media behavior insights by combining panel and first-party data. It is an emerging alternative to traditional syndicated research firms, competing with The Media Audit for advertiser and agency research dollars.
- Samba TV: Samba TV is a cross-platform TV measurement company using automatic content recognition to deliver audience analytics to advertisers and broadcasters. It represents a new, data-driven approach to audience measurement that competes with The Media Audit's survey-based syndicated research.
Direct peers
- Nielsen: Nielsen is the dominant provider of TV, radio, and cross-platform audience measurement in the US and globally. It competes directly with The Media Audit in local market audience measurement, particularly for TV/radio stations and ad agencies seeking standardized audience ratings.
- BIA Advisory Services: BIA Advisory provides local market advertising intelligence, including radio, TV, and digital media revenue forecasts and audience insights. It is a direct peer in the US local-market media research category alongside The Media Audit.
- Nielsen Scarborough: Scarborough (now part of Nielsen) measures local consumer media usage, shopping, and lifestyle behaviors across US markets. It is one of the most direct competitors to The Media Audit's local market syndicated research offering.
- Comscore: Comscore provides cross-platform digital audience measurement and consumer insights, serving advertisers, agencies, and media companies. It overlaps with The Media Audit in syndicated consumer research and audience analytics for media planning.
- MRI-Simmons: MRI-Simmons provides syndicated US consumer research on media usage, brand preferences, and demographics for agencies and media companies. It is directly comparable to The Media Audit as a syndicated media and consumer research subscription product.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Media Audit social profiles
Digital presenceThe Media Audit financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Media Audit leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
The Media Audit funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Media Audit M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Media Audit
What does The Media Audit do?
The Media Audit is a syndicated media and consumer market research firm that provides subscription-based access to locally surveyed consumer data across 85+ US media markets. Its Windows-based software platform (with Citrix and TSplus web access) delivers over two dozen analytic reports — including Crosstab, Target Profile, Media Ranker, Media Day Analysis, Audience Duplication, Reach & Frequency, Ad Campaign Planner, and Zip Code Mapper — used by advertising agencies, advertisers, and media outlets for media planning, buying, and audience valuation.
Is The Media Audit a public or private company?
The Media Audit is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was The Media Audit founded?
The Media Audit was founded in 1972. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Media Audit based?
The Media Audit is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Media Audit make money?
One revenue line is on record: syndicated Research Subscription.
Who are The Media Audit's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ipsos, GfK and Kantar Millward Brown. Emerging players are Numerator and Samba TV. Direct peers are Nielsen, BIA Advisory Services, Nielsen Scarborough, Comscore and MRI-Simmons.
Does The Media Audit have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Media Audit.
What industry is The Media Audit in?
The Media Audit's product category is Media and consumer market research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAALAM, Audience Measurement & Media Research (Ratings, Attribution, Media Mix Insights), with a secondary code of BPAHALAO, Media & Audience Measurement Analytics. Its NAICS code is 541910 and its SIC code is 7310.