ACNielsen Corp., Stamford, Conn., has launched a TV ratings service in Beijing. The launch of the Beijing Peoplemeter panel follows launches in Shanghai in 1997 and Guangzhou in 1998.
In separate news, the firm has won a three-year contract with the Federation of Australian Radio Broadcasters to measure the audience for the $330 million radio industry in Australia.
NFO Worldwide, Inc., Greenwich, Conn., has acquired Europe-based Infratest Burke. The total cost of the acquisition, including the assumption of pre-existing debt, was approximately $151 million.
SPSS Inc., Chicago, has purchased U.K.-based Integral Solutions Ltd., a data mining company, for $7.1 million in cash.
Separately, SPSS has formed a distribution agreement with McGraw-Hill textbooks to include SPSS 8.0 Windows Student Version software with data sets that correspond to specific exercises within certain textbooks.
Survey Sampling, Inc., Fairfield, Conn., is offering a list of recent ZIP code realignments.
Telmar Group, a New York supplier of advertising media planning software, has acquired a majority interest in Toronto-based Harris Media Systems Ltd., a media planning software and services company.
DataStar, Inc., a Waltham, Mass, data processing firm, has made a $1,000 donation in the name of its clients and friends to the Central American emergency relief efforts of the American Red Cross in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch.
ICT Group, a Langhorne, Pa., call center services firm, has been awarded ISO 9002 quality certification.
FH&K Ideas That Deliver, a Neenah, Wis., a business-to-business marketing firm, has acquired Leading Questions, Inc., a lead qualification and management company that also offers telephone research services.
Compass Marketing Research, Norcross, Ga., has opened a telephone survey center in downtown Athens, Ga. The facility houses 30 computer-assisted interviewing stations and will employ 40-50 people.
Wilkins Research Services, Chattanooga, Tenn., has opened a new 7,000-sq.-ft. facility at 1730 Gunbarrel Rd. The facility includes three focus group rooms which may be combined to form one large, 69 x 49-sq.-ft. room.
U.K.-based Pulse Train Technology has been working with U.K.-based ISPC to establish a link between Pulse Train’s STAR for Windows batch tabulation package and ISPC’s ITE electronic fiche product. The improved compatibility between the two products allows STAR users to transfer their tabulation output file into a compressed electronic form for archiving or distribution to clients.
Decision Analyst, Inc., Arlington, Texas, has added a new division to assist clients with customer satisfaction and loyalty programs.
Richard Kurtz & Associates, a New York-based research consulting firm, recently completed a qualitative research study to evaluate creative communications for the proposed World War II memorial to be built in Washington, D.C. Richard Kurtz coordinated the project and moderated the groups, working with Marsteller Advertising - the agency of record for the proposed memorial - and The Ad Council.
Gainesville, Fla.-based Irwin Research Associates, Inc., has opened a facility in Ocala, Fla., expanding its telephone research, data processing and field management capabilities.
Harris Black International, a Rochester, N.Y., research firm, has formed a new operating group, Harris Interactive, to develop new data collection methodologies using the Internet and other technologies.
Southfield, Mich.-based research firm Market Strategies, Inc., and Press, Ganey Associates, a South Bend, Ind., patient satisfaction measurement firm, have formed a strategic alliance to collect patient and managed care satisfaction data. The collaboration has enabled the firms to become NCQA-certified to conduct the HEDIS/CAHPS 2.0H Survey. Press, Ganey will administer mail surveys, and Market Strategies will conduct the telephone interviews needed to obtain response rates required by NCQA.