Nielsen Counters Consortium Rumour

In response to last week's news that a consortium has been formed to challenge Nielsen's TV audience measurement 'monopoly', the firm has been in touch with employees to confirm that 'three screen' measurement remains central to its strategy.

According to the report which appeared in the UK's Financial Times, a group of broadcast and cable networks have joined with media agencies and clients to form the consortium, which is likely to launch a system for measuring 'three screen' audiences - across TV, the Internet and mobiles - later this year.

Nielsen CEO Vice Chairman Susan Whiting said in an employee communication that while the firm's policy is not to respond to speculation, colleagues have been in contact with those clients cited as having joined the consortium in the FT's article.

'Much of what was reported by the Financial Times remains unclear, and many of our clients are themselves looking for answers to questions raised by the story,' Whiting stated. 'What is clear, however, is that three screen measurement is at the center of our strategy.'

According to Whiting, some of Nielsen's largest clients have recently renewed multi-year contracts for TV, online, mobile and other measurement services.

The firm has invested more than $1bn in its 'three screen' measurement strategy in the past three years.

Web site: www.nielsen.com .