Focus on Television Audience Measurement Across Multi-Platforms Using Mobile-Based Technology to Meet Evolving Viewing Behaviors
Contacts CIMM: Erik Milster – 212.446.1866 – emilster@sloanepr.com Nielsen: Flavie Lemarchand-Wood – 646-654-4436 – flavie.lemarchand-wood@nielsen.com
NEW YORK—September 28, 2012— Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN), a leading global provider of information and insights into what consumers buy and watch, and the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM), today announced the formation of an Innovation Committee designed to collaborate on Nielsen’s mobile Television Audience Measurement initiative (mTAM). Nielsen and CIMM will further develop and test different approaches to television audience measurement using both passive and active applications on mobile phones, tablets, and through an online website, mirroring how individuals use technology throughout the day. This initiative will transform self-reported viewing by taking full advantage of technology consumers use day-to-day as well as improve measurement among younger adults. The initial focus will be on local media markets.
Nielsen is currently testing a smart phone/tablet application to record television viewing information. A more traditional online website version that mirrors the app is also available. The multiple access points reflect the changing ways audiences interact with technology and create increased opportunities to reach viewers where they consume content.
“The multi-access point approach allows people to enter information throughout their day on whichever type of device they choose or is readily at hand in the moment,” said Michael Link, Nielsen’s Chief Methodologist, who is overseeing this area of research. “In that way, we increase the number of people who can participate and expect to improve compliance to ensure we are capturing all of their viewing.”
“CIMM is pleased to collaborate with Nielsen’s mTAM initiative to pilot test smartphones and tablets as both passive and active data collection devices, with the goal of continuously improving measurement of TV viewing in local markets,” said Jane Clarke, Managing Director of CIMM.
CIMM and Nielsen will initially focus on early-stage proof of concept tests (POC) to assess the utility of multi-platform solutions. They will further collaborate on the future direction of the mTAM initiative as well as other relevant POCs being conducted, and CIMM will provide valuable input on the future direction of mTAM, ensuring that Nielsen measurement services provide robust results and meet the evolving needs of the television marketplace.
Audrey Steele, SVP Sales Research & Marketing at Fox Broadcasting Company, a CIMM Member company, said, “Accurately measuring and monetizing audiences is increasingly critical as viewer behavior becomes more complex and fragmented. This is of particular concern in the local markets, where relatively small sample sizes can yield inconsistent results. CIMM and Nielsen’s push to lever the power of mobile technology to enable more representative audience measurement is a welcome step in the right direction.”
About CIMM
The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) was founded by leading television content providers, media agencies, and advertisers to promote innovation in audience measurement for television and cross-platform video. CIMM’s mission is to explore and identify new methodologies and approaches to audience measurement through conducting pilot studies with independent measurement companies focusing on two key areas: the current and future potential of television measurement through return path data, and new methods for cross- platform media measurement. www.cimm-us.org
Current members are: A+E Networks, Belo, CBS Corporation, Carat USA, ConAgra, Discovery Communications, Gannett, GroupM, Hearst, Interpublic Group Mediabrands, LEGO Systems, Inc., Microsoft, NBC Universal, News Corporation, Omnicom Media Group, P&G, Publicis Groupe, Scripps Networks, Time Warner, Unilever, Univision Communications, Viacom, and The Walt Disney Company.
About Nielsen
Nielsen Holdings N.V. (NYSE: NLSN) is a global information and measurement company with leading market positions in marketing and consumer information, television and other media measurement, online intelligence, mobile measurement, trade shows and related properties. Nielsen has a presence in approximately 100 countries, with headquarters in New York, USA and Diemen, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com.
