iCount TV Viewer Panel Rolls out in Germany

Entertainment broadcast production firm FremantleMedia - which holds the rights to Simon Cowell's X Factor - has rolled out its iCount TV viewer research panel in Germany, under the name of UFA Medienexperten.

Launched a year ago, iCount is a custom-made online research panel that enables FremantleMedia to interact directly with consumers in the UK. The panel - managed by the firm's in-house research department in conjunction with Ipsos-MORI - is continually recruiting new members and now has around 3,000 participants who are regularly polled for their attitudes and opinions across a range of media and lifestyle topics.

FremantleMedia's German production arm UFA has been recruiting panellists since February for the launch of its own viewer panel (UFA Medienexperten - UFA Media Experts).

As soon as the panel is fully formed, the company says it will have the capability to run separate customised viewer polls in the UK and Germany, as well as simultaneous polls covering both markets to provide an international perspective.

'The flexible nature of our panels allows us to gather consumer feedback on any topic; be it key brands, ongoing storylines, format characters etc,' explained Head of Research Shailesh Patel. 'Launching a second panel in Germany will allow us to gain valuable insights from our international audiences, and build on the success we've enjoyed with iCount.'

Once the German panel is up and running, the firm plans to set up similar panels in the US and in Australia.

Web sites: www.fremantlemedia.com and www.ipsos-mori.com .