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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QAJ1YUInl/xfaOzXTCvcHKqrBZHhcjFzhBGWcGz0YSuJ1Xs7HMH64MZPRBhdfSob
 upkD/AwAzu/hwep3n3blog==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-005265.txt : 20030522
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-005265.hdr.sgml : 20030522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030522123604
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-005265
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030520
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030522

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PERLMAN LAWRENCE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208471

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-01969
		FILM NUMBER:		03715789

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ARBITRON INC
		STREET 2:		142 WEST 57TH STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128871300

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARBITRON INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000109758
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER PROCESSING & DATA PREPARATION [7374]
		IRS NUMBER:				520278528
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		142 WEST 57TH STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019-3300
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128871300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		142 WEST 57TH STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			N1
		ZIP:			10019-3300

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CERIDIAN CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920901

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CONTROL DATA CORP /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COMMERCIAL CREDIT CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19680910
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bow86965_bow1lp.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-20</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000109758</issuerCik><issuerName>ARBITRON INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001208471</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>PERLMAN LAWRENCE</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value> Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><valu
e>32.75</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>32.75</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-20</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwne
rship></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32.75</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>32.75</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-20</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><shares
OwnedFollowingTransaction><value>17000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Dolores Cody, Attorney In Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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