Return Path Data (RPD)

Second-by-second tuning data collected from cable and satellite set-top boxes and used for TV audience measurement and targeting.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Return path data (RPD) is second-by-second tuning data collected from cable and satellite set-top boxes. Because it comes from millions of homes, it provides large-scale information on what households watch, and it is used for television audience measurement, addressable targeting, and attributing outcomes to TV ad exposure.