Description of Methodology (DOM)

At RSS.com, we follow the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) guidelines to ensure our podcast analytics reflect accurate and consistent measurements.

This document explains the core methods behind how we track and report podcast downloads, unique listeners, and other metrics relevant to advertisers.

Measurement Window

We use a fixed 24-hour measurement window starting daily at 00:00 UTC.

This window ensures each day’s data is clearly separated, making it easier to evaluate and compare podcast performance over time.

Some metrics (like hourly download counts) may refresh multiple times a day, but the principal window remains 00:00 UTC to 23:59 UTC.

Unique Listeners

A “unique listener” is identified by combining User Agent information and a hashed IP address.

• User Agent: We capture the app or browser details to distinguish different devices or players.
• Hashed IP Address: We take the IP address, truncate it if needed (especially for IPv6), and then hash it to protect listener privacy.

This process lets us track individuals accurately enough to avoid double-counting while still preserving anonymity. If a listener downloads multiple episodes or re-downloads the same episode within the same 24-hour window, our system recognizes it as a single unique listener.

Handling IPv4 and IPv6 Addresses

We hash and truncate IP addresses to protect user privacy and meet IAB standards:

• IPv4: We hash the full address to anonymize it.
• IPv6: We use standard 64-bit truncation and then hash the truncated address. Only the first 64 bits (the network portion) of the IPv6 address are used.

This ensures we do not store the full IP information, further protecting individual identities.

Exclusion and Inclusion Lists

In line with IAB requirements, we remove non-human or invalid traffic from our data:

• ASN Databases: We match each request against our Autonomous System Number (ASN) databases to detect traffic from known data centers, cloud service providers, top Tier 1 and Tier 2 carriers, or other non-consumer IP ranges.
• Weekly Updates: We update these databases once a week, ensuring our exclusion list remains accurate.

Requests from these IP ranges are filtered out to avoid inflating download or listener counts with automated or bot-driven traffic.

Additional Metrics and Insights

Beyond these core metrics, RSS.com also offers:

• Download Trends: Hourly or daily patterns to help spot spikes or dips in engagement.
• Geolocation: A world map and city-level breakdown to see where your audience is most active.
• Devices and Apps: Insight into which platforms or apps your listeners prefer.
• Rolling Average Subscribers (RAS): A snapshot of average subscribers over time, updated hourly for 24 hours after a new episode is published.

These supplemental metrics help advertisers pinpoint high-engagement regions, popular listening apps, and overall audience growth.

The IAB Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines exist to ensure a consistent set of standards for counting downloads and unique listeners.

By adhering to these guidelines, RSS.com provides:

• Transparent Data: You and your advertisers can trust that the numbers presented are not inflated by bots or repeat requests.
• Actionable Insights: Reliable data helps you shape advertising strategies, identify listening habits, and develop content that resonates with your audience.

This ensures you receive reliable, privacy-friendly podcast analytics that meet IAB standards, helping you make informed decisions about your podcast advertising campaigns.