NTRT Netratings (MM)

New Integrated Service Lets Advertisers, Programmers, Online Publishers and Ad Agencies Capitalize on the Relationship between Television and the Internet NEW YORK, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Nielsen Media Research and NetRatings, Inc. today announced the launch of their National TV/Internet Fusion database. This product merges information from television and Internet panels into a single dataset, and allows television programmers and advertisers to study and capitalize on the relationship between television and Internet use. The new service is the first deliverable being developed through Nielsen's Anytime Anywhere Media Measurement (A2/M2) initiative. This groundbreaking resource combines Nielsen's National People Meter sample of more than 30,000 respondents with NetRatings' NetView sample, which electronically tracks Internet use of approximately 29,000 panelists from homes and businesses. The fused database uses panelist information, including age, sex, household income, household education and region of country, to link the two databases, thereby providing a comprehensive picture of consumers' TV and online activities. The National TV/Internet Fusion database serves as a springboard toward the development of a single-sample Internet/television panel. In November, Nielsen Media Research will begin a test to identify the potential impact of Internet measurement on television panel-quality metrics, installing software meters -- including NetRatings' patented metering technology -- on the laptops and personal computers of test homes installed with Nielsen People Meters. The company plans to fully deploy the meters during the 2007-2008 television season, assuming successful test results. "At a time when the importance of the Internet as an advertising vehicle continues to grow and expand with new streaming offerings, it's particularly important to understand the interaction between these two media," said Paul Donato, chief research officer at Nielsen Media Research. "The National TV/Internet Fusion database is an advanced multi-platform measurement service that offers advertisers, agencies and media companies an unparalleled view of this expanding relationship; and it represents a critical element in Nielsen's commitment to measure television wherever and however it is viewed." Mainak Mazumdar, vice president, measurement science for NetRatings, added, "The National TV/Internet Fusion database takes media measurement to a new level. As streaming content becomes ubiquitous on the Internet, the importance of a combined television and internet data set is critical for companies competing for the digital consumer." Integrating Samples to Provide Critical Insights The new service links detailed data electronically collected from two of the industry's leading sources of media measurement: * The Nielsen Media Research National People Meter sample of approximately 30,000 persons in 10,000 households, whose audience estimates reflect minute-by-minute, in-home viewing for all national television program sources. * Nielsen//NetRatings' NetView panel, which measures Internet behavior in real time from a representative home and work panel of more than 29,000 persons. By reporting both national TV network viewership and web site usage in a single data set, the National TV/Internet Fusion database can provide media and advertising clients with a broad range of analysis, including: * Assessment of Internet usage by TV audiences, including visits to media company web sites by viewers to their network. * TV viewership by visitors to specific websites. * Quantification of the unduplicated reach of television sources and Internet web sites. * Segmentation of audiences to identify and target specific interest groups. * Tracking of changing patterns of media consumption as more TV programming and other streaming content becomes available online. * Improved measurement of the reach and frequency of combined TV/Internet campaigns. Analysis of April 2006 Fused Data In conjunction with the launch of the new service, the companies have produced a research report of their April 2006 fused data, based on time spent watching television and usage of more than 2,000 ad-supported web sites. Included in the key findings: * The analysis of the intersection of television and Internet quintiles reports that 40% of the US 2+ population are more television-centric, 24% are more Internet-centric, and 15% are equally heavy users of TV and the Internet (the remaining portion of the population are light users of both media). * Heavy Internet users also tend to watch more television than do light Internet users. * Broadcast and cable networks achieve higher ratings among people who visit their websites, however this relationship differs greatly by demographic and program genre. * Visitors to pure-play Internet web sites tend to watch less television than average viewers. * Mixed media schedule analyses allow detailed evaluation of the contribution of TV and Internet to a campaign. For more detail about these results please see: http://www.nielsenmedia.com/nc/nmr_portal/pubdoc?guid=0a42b3501316e010VgnVCM10 0000ac0a260aRCRD About Nielsen Media Research Nielsen Media Research is the world's leading provider of television audience measurement and related services. In the United States, Nielsen's National People Meter Service provides audience estimates for all national program sources, including broadcast networks, Spanish language networks and national syndicators. Local ratings estimates are produced for television stations, regional cable networks, MSOs, cable interconnects and Spanish language stations in each of the 210 television markets in the U.S., including electronic metered service in 56 markets. Nielsen Media Research, is part of VNU Media Measurement & Information, a global information and media company with leading market positions and recognized brands in marketing information (AC Nielsen) media information (Nielsen Media Research), business publications (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Computing, Intermediair) and trade shows. The privately held company is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands and New York, USA. VNU employs nearly 41,000 people. For more information, visit http://www.vnu.com/. About NetRatings, Inc NetRatings, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRT) delivers leading Internet media and market research solutions, marketed globally under the Nielsen//NetRatings brand. With high quality, technology-driven products and services, Nielsen//NetRatings is the global standard for Internet audience measurement and premier source for online advertising intelligence, enabling clients to make informed business decisions regarding their Internet and digital strategies. The Nielsen//NetRatings portfolio includes panel-based and sitecentric Internet audience measurement services, online advertising intelligence, user lifestyle and demographic data, e-commerce and transaction metrics, and custom data, research and analysis. For more information, please visit http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/. DATASOURCE: Nielsen Media Research CONTACT: Gary Holmes of Nielsen Media Research, +1-646-654-8975; or Susan Hickey of NetRatings, +1-212-703-5909 Web site: http://www.nielsenmedia.com/ http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/ http://www.vnu.com/

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