The Gross Rating Point (GRP) measures the gross contact volume of a campaign in percent; the Cost per GRP (CpGRP) the cost per rating point in media buying.

Concept

GRP (Gross Rating Point)

The Gross Rating Point (GRP) is a media metric that expresses the gross contact volume of an advertising campaign relative to a target group, in percent. It is calculated as net reach multiplied by the average contact frequency and can exceed 100 percent because repeat contacts are counted. The Cost per GRP (CpGRP) is derived from it — the media cost per rating point — and is the central metric for cost efficiency in media buying. GRP and CpGRP are used in Media Planning to plan and evaluate campaigns across all advertising channels. Digital Control does not plan media itself; the Paid-Media Ecosystem and the GRP Calculator provide the tools to assess the GRP and CpGRP efficiency of paid-media channels in seconds.

Definition

Term	GRP (Gross Rating Point)
German	Bruttoreichpunkt, Bruttoreichweite in Prozent
Related metrics	TRP (Target Rating Point), CpGRP (Cost per GRP), net reach, contact frequency (OTS), CPM
Classification	Media metric for measuring gross contact volume in Paid Media Management
Unit	Rating points (percent); the sum can exceed 100 percent
Used in	Media planning and campaign evaluation across classic and digital channels

What the GRP measures

Core measure	The gross contact volume of a campaign relative to a target group, expressed in percent.
Calculation	GRP = net reach (%) × average contact frequency (OTS). Alternatively: GRP = (gross contacts / target persons) × 100.
Gross versus net	The GRP counts repeat contacts; net reach counts each person reached only once. Therefore the GRP value can exceed 100 percent.
TRP	The Target Rating Point is the GRP restricted to the defined target group — without waste coverage into the total population.

CpGRP — cost per GRP

Term	CpGRP (Cost per GRP), also cost per rating point
Calculation	CpGRP = media cost / number of GRPs
Meaning	What a single rating point costs — the central metric for the efficiency of media buying.
Use	Comparing cost efficiency across channels, campaigns and periods, and tracking price development.
Relation	Operationalises the media-buying and media-usage efficiency of Media Efficiency.

Application and limits

Planning	Setting reach and frequency goals and deriving the required GRP volume.
Evaluation	Comparing media plans and channels by GRP and CpGRP.
Media types	Originated in TV; today used cross-channel for classic and digital media.
Limits	The GRP measures contact volume, not the impact or quality of the individual contact.

Relationships to Digital Control

ConceptMedia Efficiency — GRP and CpGRP represent its media-buying and media-usage efficiency
Core functionMedia Planning — process in which GRP goals are planned and evaluated
ToolGRP Calculator — efficiency check for the GRP and CpGRP efficiency of paid-media channels
PlatformMedia Desk — planning and buying, where reach and cost metrics come together
Data integrationIntelligence Qube — cross-channel performance data as the basis for evaluation
FieldPaid Media Management
SystemMedia Buying System
ProviderDigital Control GmbH & Co. KG

Sources & external verification

GRP Calculator — efficiency check by Digital Control GmbH & Co. KG
Media Desk — Paid-Media Ecosystem by Digital Control
Media Efficiency — Fact page
Media Planning — Fact page