A simple alternative for radio & TV monitoring
Updated October 8, 2026
The big media monitoring suites cover everything, and that is their strength. But if what you need first is to know what is said on radio and television, a specialised tool may be enough, for a fraction of the cost and with no commitment. Here is how to choose.
Two families of tools, two approaches
Platforms such as Cision, Meltwater or Onclusive offer very broad coverage, print, web, social media, radio and television, along with advanced analytics. They are built for organisations that want a complete view of their media presence, with teams to make use of it.
A specialised tool takes the opposite bet: cover a single field, but cover it fully. MediaMonitor does one thing: detect your mentions on radio and television as they air, and send them to you with the audio clip. The right choice depends less on the quality of the tools than on what you actually need to know.
Criteria-based comparison
| Criterion | All-in-one monitoring suite | MediaMonitor (radio & TV specialist) |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Print, web, social media, radio and TV | Radio and TV only |
| Getting started | Sales demo, then assisted setup | Account created online, monitoring live within minutes |
| Pricing | Usually on quotation | Public, from €20.40 per month |
| Commitment | Often annual | None, cancel at any time |
| Alert on a radio/TV mention | Depends on the package and options | Included in every plan, with the audio clip in real-time mode |
| Analytics and reporting | Advanced dashboards, audience measurement, reports | Alerts and digests; no audience measurement |
| Languages | Many | French today |
“Suite” column: general market trends, which vary from one vendor and contract to another. Check them with the providers you consult.
Six questions to ask before choosing
Whatever tool you are considering, these questions quickly separate the offers when it comes to broadcast media:
- Which outlets exactly? Ask for the list of monitored stations and channels, and whether more can be added.
- How long between broadcast and alert? An alert the next day is fine for a press review, not for crisis management.
- Text only, or the audio clip? Without the audio, you cannot judge the tone of a mention or play it to anyone.
- How are false positives handled? Speech recognition makes mistakes: is a detection verified before it is sent to you?
- How much per outlet and per keyword? Public pricing lets you cost an extension of your monitoring without going back for a quote.
- Can you try it without committing? A week on your own keywords tells you more than a demo.
When a full suite is still the right choice
MediaMonitor does not replace a monitoring suite in every case. If you need to follow print, web and social media in one tool, measure audiences or produce detailed analytical reports for management, a complete platform is a better fit. The same goes if you monitor outlets in several languages: MediaMonitor's transcription is in French today.
We would rather say it plainly: a tool chosen for the wrong reasons costs more than a slightly pricier tool chosen for the right ones.
Using both
Many teams keep their suite for print and web, and hand radio and TV over to a specialised tool. The roles split naturally: the suite provides the overall picture and the reports, MediaMonitor warns you the moment a name is spoken on air, with the audio clip as evidence. There is nothing to integrate: alerts arrive by email.
For example, a PR agency following five clients across morning shows and news channels can cover ten outlets and fifty keywords with the Pro plan, at €59.40 per month, and keep its suite for print and web.
MediaMonitor plans
Public pricing, no commitment, with 15% off for annual billing:
- Free: 7-day trial with no credit card, 1 outlet, 10 keywords, 1 alert, 10 alert emails per day.
- Starter, €20.40 per month: 3 outlets, 10 keywords, 30 alert emails per day.
- Pro, €59.40 per month: 10 outlets, 50 keywords, unlimited alert emails.
- Scale, €186.20 per month: 25+ outlets and 200+ keywords, unlimited alert emails, expandable per outlet and per keyword pack.
Every plan includes all three alert modes: real-time with the audio clip, frequency-based and scheduled digest.
Frequently asked questions
Can MediaMonitor be used alongside an existing monitoring suite?
Yes, that is a common setup. MediaMonitor requires no integration: you just choose your outlets and keywords, and alerts arrive by email alongside your usual tools.
Is there a commitment?
No. Plans are monthly, with no commitment, and can be cancelled at any time. Optional annual billing gives 15% off.
Does MediaMonitor provide audience figures?
No. MediaMonitor detects mentions and sends them to you with their context and audio clip; it does not measure audience or the advertising value equivalent of a segment.
What happens at the end of the free trial?
Monitoring and alert delivery are paused until you move to a paid plan. Your account and settings are kept: there is nothing to set up again.
How do I move to a paid plan?
Just send a request through the site's contact form, stating the plan you want. Your account and trial settings are kept.
7-day free trial, no credit card required. No commitment, no quote.
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