Rentrak Partners for Data Science and Modelling Tools

Film and TV measurement firm Rentrak has announced a partnership with London-based movie data firm Gower Street Analytics (GSA), aiming to create advanced data science and real-time movie measurement products.

Gower Street Analytics was formed earlier this year by Dimitrios Mitsinikos - formerly VP, International Research at Universal Pictures International - and Matthew Eric Bassett, who led the first data science group at NBCUniversal International.

The alliance brings together Gower Street's technology-based forecasting engines and Rentrak's movie measurement information, and promises media execs sophisticated models of audience behavior to help guide their strategy. The launches will kick off with a global distribution-planning tool that generates estimates for all titles with a planned release date, up to 18 months before their theatrical release; and a screen booking optimization tool which will evaluate the performance of 'all possible booking scenarios'.

Rentrak's President of Global Movie Services, Ron Giambra, says of the deal: 'We're thrilled to be working with the Gower Street team. Their previous tools have proven to be crucial to users and we see a perfect fit for their products in our global pipeline of offerings to exhibitors and distributors'.

Rentrak is set to become part of comScore early next year, following an announcement in September.

Web sites: www.gower.st and www.rentrak.com .