GfK Buys Control of Chart-Track

GfK has acquired a majority share in games, music and video retail information provider Chart-Track Limited, upping its existing 9% stake to 55% from July 1st. Based in West London, the firm uses POS information to compile charts for music and video in Ireland and games software in the UK.

The newly-acquired firm will complement the existing European entertainment joint ventue, Media Control GfK International, says the Group, and reinforces its commitment to the sector.

Chart-Track was founded in 1996 and is 45%-owned by industry associations the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publisher Association (ELSPA) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA). The POS data it uses comes directly from the leading games, games software and music providers in the market. Headed by MD John Pinder, it generated sales of almost 1.8m Euros in 2007.

The company will now trade as GfK Chart-Track Ltd. Pinder, who becomes MD of the new company, comments: 'We are delighted to be joining the GfK Group. We're confident this will provide us with a solid platform for future growth and we look forward to further developing our range of services. Most importantly, the ability to plug into GfK 's strong international network will be a terrific benefit to our clients.'

Web site: www.gfk.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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