Nielsen Watch Media Research Arm Drives Q3 Growth

Nielsen has announced a 4.5% increase in third-quarter revenue to $1.64 billion (or 3.6% on a constant currency basis), with net profits up 12% to $146m, compared to Q3 2016.

Revenue in Nielsen's Watch media analytics arm was up 10.1% (9.7% on a constant currency basis) to $838m. Excluding the acquisition of entertainment data provider Gracenote, Watch revenues increased 2.4%. In the firm's Buy retail measurement division, revenue fell 0.7% (or 2.1% on a constant currency basis) to $803m. While Buy emerging markets revenues increased, those in developed markets decreased due to continued softness in the US market.

Overall for the group, net income for the third quarter of 2017 increased 12.3%, or 8.1% on a constant currency basis, to $146m, compared to $130m in the third quarter of 2016; and during the period, Adjusted EBITDA increased 4.8%, or 4.0% on a constant currency basis, to $522m.

CEO Mitch Barns (pictured) comments: 'Our Watch business delivered broad-based growth, highlighted by a strong quarter in Audience Measurement of Video and Text and Marketing Effectiveness. In our Buy Segment, revenue remains soft because of the challenging fast-moving consumer goods environment in the US. In Watch, Total Audience remains our priority as we drive adoption and arm our clients with the critical tools and data they need. Within our Buy business, we continue to invest behind the Connected System, coverage, and granularity. Overall, we remain focused on investing and innovating for growth and efficiency across our company.'

Web site: www.nielsen.com .