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SDS Radio Software Secures Agreement with Eastlan Ratings

Radio stations in the United States can now benefit from a leading broadcast management solution that incorporates the power of Eastlan Ratings data. Specialty Data Systems (SDS) Inc., a leading North American provider of broadcast management software based in Toronto, has announced that it is now a third-party provider of Eastlan Ratings for radio stations in the U.S. 

Eastlan Ratings, a privately-held media research firm headquartered in Sammamish, Washington, provides radio audience measurement data to over 450 subscribing radio stations in more than 90 markets across the U.S.  Under the new contract, radio broadcasters using SDS’s broadcast management technology, SDS Sales, can easily import and use Eastlan Ratings’ up-to-date audience measurement research to produce sophisticated and accurate sales presentations.   

SDS Sales, a component of SDS’s flagship broadcast management system SDS Symphony, can be used as a stand-alone application or as part of the enterprise-wide SDS system. It is a simple-to-use, professional sales presentation tool, designed to help sales representatives quickly prepare, and electronically send, custom-tailored proposals. The technology’s features include the ability to: automatically build proposals in seconds, based on live avails; send and receive orders electronically to and from traffic operations; speed up sales approvals via electronic routing; and combine or separate data from an unlimited number of radio and television stations, or networks, for presentations or buys.  

“We are excited to partner with SDS because the SDS Sales system, coupled with Eastlan Ratings, provides an immediate benefit to broadcasters that continue to look for ways to reduce costs in a tough economy,” said Mike Gould, president and chief executive officer of Eastlan Ratings.  

“SDS is pleased to further our functionality with Eastlan because it demonstrates our focus on the customer,” said Dave Cole, SDS president. “With Eastlan’s ratings data now available from within the SDS Sales system, broadcast sales teams have an extremely powerful, high-quality alternative to existing ratings-based sales solutions on the market.”  

Established in 1993, SDS delivers a unique unified, on-line approach to sales, traffic, programming, operations and accounting through its multi-directional broadcast management solution. The SDS Symphony system – used by radio stations, television stations and cable networks across North America – enables a two-way, real-time flow of data to be shared across departments and eliminating the need to re-key information or use paper.  

SDS clients include such major broadcasters as Bell ExpressVu, CanWest Global, Impulse Media Sales (IMS), World Wrestling Federation Entertainment (WWE), Newfoundland Broadcasting System, Stornoway Communications, Campesina Radio Network, and Horizon Broadcasting.   

Media information, or to set up interviews:  

Gail Bergman or Indira Tarachandra

Gail Bergman PR