News notes

Nielsen Media Research, New York, has announced plans for the September 2008 launch of an enhanced weighting procedure for its TV ratings estimates, including revising algorithms used to weight national ratings. It will also be consolidating national ratings systems into a single “calculation platform” during the next two years to modify its products and data streams more rapidly and make it easier to integrate audience data from the Internet, mobile phones and digital set-top devices.

Separately, following a series of problems with its TV coding system, Nielsen Media Research has written to U.S. TV stations asking them to help ensure there are no future glitches. Nielsen has also sent them a “Guide to Encoder Best Practices,” which outlines coding procedures. Nielsen uses an A/P (active/passive) coding system, which identifies which stations and networks are being watched by reading the unique identification codes inserted into the television signal at the distribution source. Nielsen stressed the need for “cooperation and active coding” by stations to ensure the A/P system works accurately.

Kansas-based Manhattan Broadcasting has filed a complaint with the FCC claiming anti-competitive practice by Arbitron Inc., New York, and Arbitron client Morris Communications, an Augusta, Ga.-based media firm. Manhattan’s FCC claim maintains that Arbitron and Morris are creating a new Arbitron Metro market in Kansas by combining the two separate statistical areas of Salina and Manhattan, which the firm says are 67 miles apart and have “no commonality.” According to the complaint, this new Metro was created to artificially enhance Morris’ market share to the detriment of all other radio stations within the proposed area.

Cincinnati-based research company Burke Inc. announced the completion of its employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) restructuring. The company has repurchased all remaining stock owned outside the ESOP, which was the final step to complete the transition to a 100-percent ESOP-owned status. As a 100-percent ESOP-owned company, all Burke Inc. company stock is now held in trust by the ESOP exclusively for the benefit of Burke’s employees.

BroadSign International Inc., a Minnetonka, Minn., software firm, announced that Arbitron Inc. has launched a series of tests aimed at enabling third-party audits of BroadSign’s proof-of-play reports, using Arbitron’s Portable People Meter technology. The success of the first test opens the way to a series of additional tests before Arbitron’s proof-of-play audits can become a commercialized service that can be used by any network run on BroadSign’s software.

Norwalk, Conn.-based research firm IMS Health will implement a series of actions designed to strengthen client-facing operations worldwide, increase the company’s operating efficiencies and streamline its cost structure in response to health care marketplace dynamics. As part of these actions, IMS will realign its resources to better address customer priorities and improve execution. These initiatives are intended to accelerate IMS’s operational efficiencies globally and improve profitability, namely in Europe. The company anticipates completing the restructuring plan by the end of 2008.

London-based Research International UK announced in January that it had achieved accreditation to the new International Market Research Quality Standard in November 2007.

Acquisitions/transactions

Research firm Synovate Healthcare has acquired Cherry Hill, N.J., research firm Oncology Inc. The firm’s offerings include proprietary research solutions that will be incorporated into Synovate Healthcare’s global oncology portfolio.

London-based Cello Group has acquired an initial 23 percent stake in Face, a U.K. research consultancy, for an undisclosed sum. Cello has the option to acquire the remaining equity of the business through a staged earn-out over the next three to five years. Face owns www.headbox.com, a Web community for 16- to 25-year-olds who share their opinions and ideas with brands and get rewarded for them.

Germany-based research firm GfK Group has acquired total ownership of Australian research firm the Blue Moon Group.

Separately, the GfK Group has also expanded in Central and Eastern Europe with the acquisition of a 51 percent majority stake in Macedonian market research agency Stratum Research. The company offers research and advisory services in the custom research sector, especially in the financial, media and communication, consumer and business and technology sectors.

Norwalk, Conn., research firm IMS Health has purchased Russian competitor RMBC for an estimated cost of between $4.5 million and $7 million. The acquisition will increase IMS’ share of the Russian pharma research market from 10 percent to approximately 40 percent. RMBC will become part of IMS Health Russia.

Dulles, Va., research firm Vovici has acquired the assets of Surveyo, a division of mySmartSolutions, a Saratoga Springs, N.Y., research firm specializing in enterprise feedback management including assessments, surveys and polls.

Research firm Synovate has acquired CIMA Group (CIMA), a Santiago, Chile, research firm. CIMA operates across six markets in Latin America including Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Costa Rica.

Market research company TNS, New York, has acquired Dublin-based media intelligence provider MediaMarket.

Alliances/strategic partnerships

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based research company Itracks announced that  Edison, N.J., research firm Schlesinger Associates will use Itracks’ online qualitative software to conduct online focus groups and bulletin board discussions.

Wilton, Conn., research firm Greenfield Online Inc., and Omaha, Neb., information firm infoUSA have entered into an agreement to develop a panel of small-business decision makers. The panel is designed to give B2B product and service providers insight into the opinions of U.S. small B2B decision makers and small-business owners.

Atlanta research firm Infosurv Inc. announced a number of new clients in the last quarter of 2007, including E&M/The David Group, Marketing Point Inc., Tatum LLC, ThoughtWorks, HERO for Children and LivePerson.

Yankelovich Holdings Inc., a Chapel Hill, N.C.-based research  firm, has signed a definitive merger agreement with WPP to join London-based Henley Centre HeadlightVision, WPP’s wholly-owned consumer trends and futures research and consultancy business. The merger will become effective upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. Henley Centre HeadlightVision is part of Kantar, WPP’s research, insight and consultancy division.

London market research company TNS announced that its TNS Worldpanel China continuous research service, operated by TNS China, has merged with the continuous panel service run by the TNS joint venture CTR Market Research.

Separately, the business license held by TNS and its China-based joint venture CSM Media Research which allows the joint venture to undertake TV and radio audience measurement in China has been renewed for a further 10 years.

Association/organization news

The Dallas-based Mystery Shopping Providers Association, North America, announced its newly-elected 2008 North America board of directors: Christopher Warzynski, president; Judi Hess, vice president; Ron Welty, secretary and director (returning); Lorri Kern, treasurer; Candor Guitierrez, director (new); Carl Phillips, director (new); Lynn Saladini, director (new); Lise D’Andrea, director (returning); Renee DeSantis, director (returning); Chuck Paul, director (returning); Arcadio Roselli, director (returning); and Susan Seiler, director (returning).

New accounts/projects

Corporate Express US Inc., part of the Dutch-based Corporate Express NV, has selected predictive analytics software from Chicago-based SPSS Inc. to give the organization a view of its customers’ purchasing behavior, starting at the beginning of the sales cycle.

The Nielsen Company, New York, announced it has signed an agreement with grocer Save-A-Lot, establishing Nielsen as Save-A-Lot’s preferred provider of marketing information for merchandising and market decision support across the 1,150-store chain.

Suresnes, France, advertising firm Havas U.S.A. has selected TNS Media Intelligence (TNS MI) as its primary provider for competitive advertising intelligence. The multiyear agreement gives Havas agencies access to TNS MI’s database of competitive advertising information.

Rockville, Md., research corporation Westat has partnered with New York research consulting group Metis Associates to evaluate the initiatives and effectiveness of the Center for Economic Opportunity, which is New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s effort to move economically disadvantaged New Yorkers out of poverty. The initiatives are focused on young adults, poor working adults and families with young children.

New companies/new divisions/ relocations/ expansions

Valient Solutions, a Rochester, N.Y.-based research firm, has formed Valient Healthcare, a new division serving the health care industry. The company named Allison Tate manager, health care sector business development at Valient Healthcare and tapped her to lead the new division.

Gilmore Research Group’s Focus Division has opened new offices in Portland, Ore., and tapped Donna Glosser to manage the division. She will oversee the company’s qualitative operations and facilities in both Seattle and Portland.