Broadnet, Newlink Research Launch Polling Partnership in the Dominican Republic

Dominican Pulse Marries Broadnet's Technology and Newlink's Research in Year-Long Effort

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dominican Pulse, a unique partnership gauging public opinion in the Dominican Republic, was launched in early August with the broadcast of new survey results on Telenoticias, the Dominican Republic's top rated evening newscast.  Each week for the next year, approximately 1,000 residents of the Dominican Republic will be surveyed on topics ranging from public affairs issues and politics to music and culture.  Survey respondents are drawn from a random sample of the nation's mobile and landline phone numbers.

Three weeks into the effort, Dominicans have been asked their opinions about a bill pending before Congress that would regulate public sector salaries; the state of public safety in the country, and on who Danilo Medina, the country's new president, should select for his new cabinet. 

The partnership brings together Colorado-based technology company Broadnet, the Miami opinion research firm Newlink Research, and Grupo Corripio, the largest media conglomerate in the Dominican Republic whose  properties include the television channels TeleAntillas and Telesistema as well as newspapers Hoy,  El Nacional  and El Dia.

Newlink Research pioneered telephone polling in the Dominican Republic with its proprietary Newbot technology that was used mainly to conduct electoral tracking polls.  When Mauricio de Vengoechea, Managing Partner at Newlink met Broadnet CEO Steve Patterson a logical alliance developed.  Newlink brought to the table decades of polling experience in Latin America and Broadnet added state of the art technology.   

The Dominican Pulse polls are powered by Broadnet technology, which can reach over 100,000 people in a matter of seconds.  Approximately 20,000 outbound calls will be made each week to generate survey responses. Broadnet's technology also enables a completely automated survey, with respondents using their touchtone keypads to answer the survey questions. 

For each poll, Newlink Research develops a questionnaire based on topics selected by a panel of journalists at Grupo Corripio.  Newlink Research analyzes the data and provides Telesistema with a graphically dynamic presentation.  Roberto Cavada, the show's popular host presents the results during his highly rated primetime show.  A colorful summary of the presentation also appears on the front page of Grupo Corripio's Hoy the very next morning.   

"We are very excited to partner with Newlink and Corripio to measure public opinion on a range of timely issues in a new way.  With our cutting-edge technology, Newlink's sophisticated analysis, and Grupo Corripio's enormous reach, we can measure the pulse of a nation.  By simply answering their phone when it rings, hundreds of thousands of people in the Dominican Republic will be heard like never before," noted Steve Patterson, CEO of Broadnet.  "That we are launching this program as a joint effort, bringing together companies in Colorado, Florida and the Dominican Republic, demonstrates the power of Broadnet technology.  We get people talking around the world."

"The results of this partnership with Corripio and Broadnet have been extraordinary," says Mauricio de Vengoechea, Newlink's Managing Partner. "Dominicans of all walks of life are providing their opinions on the key issues facing the country, and they believe that the combination of technology and reputable expert analysis insures that their views are not manipulated .We are so excited about these early results that we are already exploring similar relationships elsewhere in Latin America."

Roberto Cavada, the evening show's popular anchor notes that "in just a few weeks the Dominican Pulse has become a household name. Newlink Research's analysis and the technology that Broadnet provides has helped us improve the quality and credibility of our program.  We are certain that our ratings will continue to improve."

Broadnet facilitates the open exchange of ideas by enabling real-time, personal and efficient conversations on a massive scale.  In the era of tweets and texts, we help people connect on a human level.  Every day, Broadnet helps tens of thousands of people engage in a dialogue, share information and take action.  Since 2004, the Highlands Ranch, Colorado-based company has conducted more than 10,000 TeleForums connecting more than 54 million people – including more than 200,000 on a single call.

CONTACT: Scott Douglass, +1-202-524-6501, [email protected], for Broadnet

SOURCE Broadnet