Irish TV Ratings Win for ACNielsen

ACNielsen Media International has just won a new, five-year contract to provide television audience ratings in Ireland. The contract takes effect in September 2003 and runs through to August 2008, with an option to extend the agreement through to August 2010.

The company said the Irish Television Management Committee, made up of broadcasters RTE, TV3 and TG4, awarded the contract after a thorough evaluation of ACNielsen Media International and other service providers. ACNielsen Media International has provided TV ratings in Ireland since 1996.

Under the new contract, ACNielsen Media International will introduce advanced metering technology capable of measuring new enhanced services such as digital electronic programming guides (EPGs) and interactive TV. In addition, ACNielsen will introduce new, next-generation reporting and analysis software that will facilitate more advanced analysis of commercial and programme activity for broadcasters and media buyers and planners.

'We had excellent submissions for this tender, and we took great care in evaluating them to find the best TV Audience Measurement System in the world,' said Paul Mulligan, head of operations, sales & marketing at RTE. 'Overall, ACNielsen, who are our present suppliers, provided the best solution. As the television viewing environment becomes ever more complicated and difficult to measure, we are pleased to be continuing our partnership with ACNielsen.'

According to Christopher Bowden, manager of television research for ACNielsen Media International in Ireland, 'The Irish television industry required a service that was `future proof,' with the flexibility to meet their changing needs in the coming years. ACNielsen Media International proved to be just the partner they were looking for.'

Bowden concluded that the industry's decision to renew with ACNielsen means that broadcasters, advertisers and agencies will have an uninterrupted service through to 2008, making continuous trend analysis possible during and after the transition to the new contract. 'In addition, many of the enhancements outlined in the new contract will be put in place before the end of the current contract next year.'

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.