SRDS Media Planning

SRDS is a comprehensive media research database giving planners and buyers access to 125,000+ media properties with ad rates, audience demographics, and contact data across digital and traditional channels.

Media Planning Audience Analytics

Category

Media Research Database

Pricing

Subscription

Key Features

4 core features

Perfect For

Media planners
Media buyers
Research teams

The media industry’s go-to database for rates, contacts, and audience data across 125,000+ properties

SRDS (Standard Rate and Data Service) has been a reference standard for media planners and buyers for decades. The platform provides structured, comparable data across digital and traditional media properties—making it easier to evaluate options, pull rates, and build media plans without tracking down individual media kits. It is now part of the Adwanted Group and sits alongside BIA Advisory Services data for local market analysis.

Key Features

Media Property Database

  • Access to 125,000+ media properties including digital, print, broadcast, and out-of-home
  • Standardized ad rate cards and demographic data for each property
  • Media contact directories for sales reps and ad managers
  • Local Market Profiles with ad spend data (powered by BIA Advisory Services)

Audience Research Tools

  • Detailed audience demographics by property and market
  • CPM and CPP planning calculators built into the platform
  • Market-level targeting and reach estimates
  • Cross-media comparisons using standardized data fields

Planning Workflow Support

  • Side-by-side comparisons of media properties
  • Exportable data for use in external planning documents
  • Integration with media buying workflows
  • Historical rate data for benchmarking and negotiation

Research and Analysis

  • Advanced search and filtering across all media categories
  • Market-level analysis and competitive intelligence
  • Ad spend data integration through BIA partnership
  • Adwanted Consulting Services for custom research needs

Business Impact

  • Speed: Centralizes media property research that would otherwise require dozens of individual media kit requests
  • Consistency: Standardized data fields make apples-to-apples comparisons possible across media types
  • Depth: 125,000+ properties means coverage from national networks to niche local publishers
  • Negotiation: Historical rate data provides leverage in rate negotiations

Pricing

SRDS does not publish pricing publicly. The platform uses a subscription model priced per media category (older pricing showed approximately $1,000–$1,500/year per category for single-user access). Custom enterprise plans are available through the sales team. Contact SRDS directly at 800.851.7737 for current pricing.

Perfect For

  • Media Planners: Needing standardized audience and rate data across many properties
  • Media Buyers: Requiring current rate cards and contact information for negotiations
  • Research Teams: Conducting competitive analysis and market intelligence

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SRDS free to use? No. SRDS is a paid subscription service. Pricing is not listed publicly and is structured per media category. Contact the sales team for a current quote.

How much does SRDS cost? Pricing is custom and not disclosed publicly. Historically, per-category access has started around $1,000–$1,500 per year for a single user. Enterprise and multi-category plans are available via sales.

What media types does SRDS cover? SRDS covers digital, print, broadcast (TV and radio), out-of-home, and direct mail media properties—more than 125,000 in total. Coverage spans both national and local markets.

How does SRDS compare to Bionic? Bionic is a media planning workflow platform focused on building and managing plans, while SRDS is primarily a research database for finding and evaluating media properties. The two tools are complementary rather than direct substitutes.

Does SRDS integrate with other planning tools? SRDS data can be exported for use in external planning documents and workflows. Native integrations vary by plan; contact SRDS for current integration options.

What is the BIA Advisory Services partnership? In July 2025, SRDS added BIA Advisory Services ad spend data into Local Market Profiles. This gives planners spend-level context alongside property rates and demographics for local market planning.

Is SRDS still relevant with so much digital-first planning? SRDS remains a go-to for planners working across traditional and digital media, particularly for local and regional buys where standardized data is harder to find. Its value is strongest for cross-media planning that includes print, radio, and broadcast.

User Reviews & Social Proof

SRDS has limited public reviews on major review platforms. Available G2 feedback reflects its core strengths and a notable limitation:

“Needed to incorporate print plans into buying schedule and SRDS helped with the planning of those practices. Interface is easy to follow and good for getting quick info.” — G2 reviewer

“Lots of titles available for print to help with planning.” — G2 reviewer

“Info available is not always updated so I end up having to weed through extra info.” — G2 reviewer

The platform’s review volume on G2 is low, which is consistent with its position as an enterprise research tool used by professionals rather than a broadly consumer-facing product.

SRDS vs Alternatives

SRDS vs Bionic

Bionic is a media planning platform for building and managing media plans collaboratively. SRDS is a research database for discovering and evaluating media properties. Most full-service planners use both—SRDS for research and rate discovery, Bionic for plan creation and management.

SRDS vs Mediaocean

Mediaocean is a full campaign management and buying platform. SRDS does not handle buying or trafficking. If you need an end-to-end workflow from planning to invoicing, Mediaocean covers more ground; if you need deep media property research, SRDS is more focused.

SRDS vs Comscore

Comscore provides audience measurement and planning data focused on digital and cross-platform reach and frequency. SRDS is oriented toward media property discovery, rate data, and contact directories. They serve different research functions and are often used together.

SRDS vs Nielsen Media Impact

Nielsen Media Impact focuses on cross-platform audience measurement and scenario planning. SRDS focuses on media property databases and rate information. Both are research tools but address different planning questions.

SRDS vs SQAD

SQAD provides media cost estimating and negotiation data. SRDS provides rate cards alongside property demographics and contacts. Planners focused on cost benchmarking may use SQAD; those who need a broader property database typically turn to SRDS.

Recent Updates (2025–2026)

  • July 2025: New data partnership with BIA Advisory Services adds local market ad spend data into SRDS Local Market Profiles, giving planners richer context for local buys.
  • 2025: Launch of Adwanted Consulting Services, offering custom research and media intelligence support as an add-on to the core platform.
  • 2025–2026: Continued integration with Adwanted Group ecosystem, expanding data partnerships across European and North American markets.

Explore More Media Planning Tools

  • Bionic — Collaborative media planning platform for building, managing, and presenting media plans
  • Comscore — Cross-platform audience measurement and planning data
  • Nielsen Media Impact — Audience measurement tool for cross-platform media planning
  • Mediaocean — End-to-end campaign management from planning to billing
  • GWI — Global consumer research platform with deep audience profiling
  • Resonate — Audience intelligence platform for consumer insights and targeting
  • Halliard — Media planning tool built for modern agency workflows

Visit SRDS Media Planning →