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Align your audience planning with TV and digital viewing behavior

Updated: February 19, 2026 by Experian Marketing Services 4 min read December 19, 2022

At A Glance

The Device and Account Sharing (DASH) study, developed by the ARF, provides insights into how American households consume TV and digital media. By combining DASH data with Experian Marketing Data, advertisers can create audience segments based on real-world viewing habits, helping campaigns reach the right people with greater accuracy. This collaboration provides a clearer, evidence-based view of how people watch TV today.

Viewers shift between streaming services, live TV, and on-demand content across multiple devices, making it harder to know exactly who sees your message. Instead of wondering if your ads are reaching the right viewers, it’s important to have a clearer understanding of viewing behaviors so you can focus your efforts on the audiences that matter most to your campaign.

Experian has collaborated with The Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) to create new opportunities for marketers. By combining data from the ARF’s DASH (Device and Account Sharing) study with Experian Marketing Data, we’ve developed a new way for you to understand and reach modern TV viewers. Instead of estimating who might see your message, you gain a clearer view of viewing behavior and can align activation with the audiences that matter to your campaign.

What is the DASH study?

The DASH study, developed by the ARF together with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) and seven industry sponsors, including Experian, provides a detailed picture of how American households consume TV and digital media. This research offers an unbiased and accurate view of media habits, measuring everything from device usage to streaming account sharing.

When this viewership data is combined with Experian Marketing Data, it allows for the creation of unique audience segments. These segments are built on real-world media and device usage, providing a more accurate representation of how people watch, share, and engage with TV content. This combination of identity and connectivity helps marketers understand exactly how people engage with media, technology, and their favorite brands.

“Television viewing behavior has undergone a massive transformation, making it challenging for advertisers to reach their target audience and optimizefrequency. These audiences give advertisers invaluable tools for managing their campaigns in an increasingly fragmented environment.”

ExperianDoug McLennan, Director of Product Management

How do DASH audiences help?

By using the DASH study, Experian developed TV audience segments that reflect how people truly interact with content. These audiences provide the insights you need to align your campaigns with actual media consumption habits, helping you reach viewers with more relevant messages.

This approach moves beyond basic demographics. It allows you to connect with people based on specific behaviors, such as co-viewing, screen preferences, or household streaming habits. The result is a more focused and efficient advertising strategy that delivers better outcomes.

“DASH has established itself as a reliable and unbiased calibration set, a “true North”, for media measurement. Our collaboration with Experian puts the power and precision of DASH in the hands of marketers and advertisers as well.”

ARFPaul Donato, Chief Research Officer

Which audience segments help you target viewers more effectively?

These audience segments make it possible to find specific types of viewers and align your marketing campaigns with their media usage. Whether you’re connecting with people who are receptive to ads, households that enjoy shows together, or individuals who are frequent streamers, you can approach campaigns with greater accuracy and confidence. We’re pleased to introduce these segments and continue our partnership with the ARF, creating new opportunities to help you build effective connections with your target audiences.

Explore some of our key audience segments:

  • Ad Acceptors: Viewers who are more open to watching advertisements.
  • Ad Avoiders: People who actively try to skip or block ads.
  • Co-Watchers: Households where multiple people view content together.
  • Solo Watchers: Individuals who typically watch TV by themselves.
  • Paid TV High Spenders: Households that subscribe to multiple paid TV or streaming services.
  • Large Screen Viewers: People who primarily watch content on large television screens.
  • Small Screen Viewers: Individuals who prefer watching on smaller devices like tablets or phones.

How can I use these audiences?

Experian’s DASH audiences are available in your demand-side platform (DSP) of choice, ready for activation across all offline and online channels. This easy access means you can build more effective campaigns without changing your existing workflow.

Using these segments, you can manage your advertising with greater confidence. You gain the tools needed to navigate the fragmented media environment and ensure your campaigns are seen by the right people. This targeted approach helps you maximize the impact of your marketing efforts and achieve your goals. Strengthen your TV planning and activation with DASH audiences.

Are you ready to connect with your audience in a more meaningful way?

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FAQs

What is the DASH study?

The DASH study, developed by ARF, provides an unbiased view of how American households consume TV and digital media. It measures device usage, streaming habits, and account sharing to create a detailed picture of media consumption.

How does Experian help advertisers understand media habits?

Experian combines its Marketing Data with insights from studies like DASH to create audience segments based on real-world behaviors. This allows advertisers to align their campaigns with how people actually consume content.

What types of audiences can I target with these segments?

Audience segments include Ad Acceptors, Co-Watchers, Solo Watchers, Paid TV High Spenders, and Large or Small Screen Viewers, enabling precise targeting based on viewing habits.

Why is understanding viewing behavior important for advertisers?

By focusing on actual media consumption habits, advertisers can deliver more relevant messages, reduce wasted impressions, and improve the overall effectiveness of their campaigns.


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