Research
James Verrinder Editorial
James is a reporter for Research Magazine and www.research-live.com. He also manages the popular 60 Second Soapbox feature in the magazine, and the new Spotlight series of video interviews on the website.
Stories by this contributor.
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Stratigent names new president and COO
1-Sep-2010
US— Web analytics and marketing optimisation consultancy Stratigent has named Bill Bruno and Jennifer Veesenmeyer as president and chief operations officer respectively.
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TV ratings body Barb appoints research director
1-Sep-2010
UK— The Broadcasters Audience Research Board (Barb) has appointed Joe Lewis as its new research manager following the promotion of Simon Bolus to research director earlier this year.
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Harte-Hanks acquires data specialist Information Arts
1-Sep-2010
US— Direct and targeted marketing agency Harte-Hanks has acquired UK-based database marketing and analytics firm Information Arts.
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Healthcare specialist WorldOne opens Tokyo office
1-Sep-2010
JAPAN— Healthcare market research and data collection agency WorldOne has opened an office in Tokyo, which will be led by Katsuhiko Niga and Takahito Asano.
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Double MRS Gold Medal winner Andrew Ehrenberg dies at 84
1-Sep-2010
UK— Market researcher and two-time winner of the Market Research Society’s Gold Medal Andrew Ehrenberg died last week aged 84.
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Mediation fails to solve Sunbeam and Nielsen antitrust row
31-Aug-2010
US— Nielsen and Sunbeam Television moved a step closer to a courtroom showdown after a mediation session failed to solve the legal dispute between the pair.
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Saxena returns to Synovate in data collection role
31-Aug-2010
INDIA— Sunil Saxena has rejoined Synovate in the role of director with responsibility for the firm’s fieldwork operations in the country. He reports to Mick Gordon, managing director of Synovate India.
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Cross-Tab makes client service hire, adds advisory board member
31-Aug-2010
US— Market research outsourcing agency Cross-Tab has appointed Tom Paul as AVP of client services and added former Esomar president Fredrik Nauckhoff to its advisory board.
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Gravitas Ventures picks Rentrak for on-demand audience measurement
31-Aug-2010
US— Gravitas Ventures has signed up to use Rentrak’s OnDemand Essentials tool to keep track of its on-demand movie audience numbers.
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Former MRS chairman Andrew McIntosh dies aged 77
31-Aug-2010
UK— Former Market Research Society president and chairman Andrew McIntosh, Lord McIntosh of Haringey, died on Friday aged 77 after a battle with cancer.
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Dieringer Research acquires Lein/Spiegelhoff customer base
31-Aug-2010
US— Wisconsin-based full service agency The Dieringer Research Group has acquired field service agency Lein/Spiegelhoff’s customer base after the latter company closed down.
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BT Retail promotes insight chief to marketing role
27-Aug-2010
UK— BT Retail has promoted director of customer insight and intelligence David James to the new position of marketing director for its consumer division.
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2CV picks up ITV tracking tasks again
27-Aug-2010
UK— Research agency 2CV has won a five-way pitch to be reappointed to carry out broadcaster ITV’s brand and communications tracking activity.
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Invoke Solutions raises $1.75m
27-Aug-2010
US— Online and mobile research technology supplier Invoke Solutions has completed a $1.75m mixed-securities offering, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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MarketTools appoints Zoomerang EVP and general manager
26-Aug-2010
US— MarketTools has appointed Alex Terry as executive vice president and general manager of its Zoomerang online survey software business.
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Netquest unveils 17 new Latin American panels
26-Aug-2010
SPAIN— Online sample provider Netquest has increased its presence in Latin America with the launch of panels in 17 countries.
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GMI and TXT4CRM link for mobile research
26-Aug-2010
US— Research software and services firm Global Market Insite has signed a deal with mobile engagement specialist TXT4CRM to develop a mobile research tool.
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MarketShare Partners snaps up JovianData
26-Aug-2010
US— Marketing analytics agency MarketShare Partners has acquired business intelligence and data analytics firm JovianData.
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Starcom MediaVest signs up to ACB Media Lab study
26-Aug-2010
UK— Starcom MediaVest group has become the first media agency to partner with ACB’s 1-3-9 Media Lab research project, a long-term study examining how technology impacts consumer behaviour.
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New product round-up
25-Aug-2010
US— A round-up of the latest software and technology products aimed at the market research industry.
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CNN to use Arbitron data in Starcom out-of-home TV deal
25-Aug-2010
US— CNN Ad Sales and Marketing has struck a deal with media agency Starcom to measure the impact of out-of-home TV advertising using data collected by Arbitron’s PPM technology.
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Fisher hooks Rentrak for local TV ratings
25-Aug-2010
US— TV and radio station owner Fisher Communications has signed up to use Rentrak’s StationView Essentials tool to count audience figures in three local markets.
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OzTam to appoint independent chairman after member dispute
25-Aug-2010
AUSTRALIA— TV ratings body OzTam is expected to appoint an independent chairman after one of the television networks that owns a stake in it complained to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
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The Futures Company adds two senior vice presidents
24-Aug-2010
US— WPP-owned trends research consultancy The Futures Company has appointed two new senior vice presidents to strengthen its team in North America.
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Knowledge Networks' Maura Clancey dies at 50
24-Aug-2010
US— Maura Clancey, Knowledge Networks’ senior vice president of custom research, has died in hospital in New Jersey. She was 50.
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Renee Smith named Kantar's chief research officer
24-Aug-2010
US— Kantar has appointed Ipsos’s former SVP of global operations Renee Smith as chief research officer and moved Tim Kelsall of Kantar Group company Millward Brown into a senior client strategy role.
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Hearst Magazines opens mobile app testing lab
24-Aug-2010
US— Publisher Hearst Magazines has launched a mobile media application development ‘lab’ to develop and test the next generation of branded content mobile apps.
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WPP's insight division posts first-half revenue and profits increase
24-Aug-2010
UK— Half-year revenue within WPP’s consumer insight division rose 2.4% on a like-for-like basis and accounted for more than a quarter of the group’s total revenue for the period, making it the second-best performing business division within the marketing services giant.
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Heathrow operator blasts 'misleading' mystery shopping results
23-Aug-2010
UK— BAA, the owner and operator of Heathrow Airport, has disputed the findings of a mystery shopping survey that found the London airport offered the worst tax free-discounts in Europe, claiming that the study is “misleading and incorrect”.
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Euro RSCG 4D Discovery beefs up behavioral marketing with Congruent deal
23-Aug-2010
US— Data analytics and CRM agency Euro RSCG 4D Discovery has acquired online marketing agency Congruent Media for an undisclosed amount.
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Fog descends on Visual IQ with $3m investment
23-Aug-2010
US— Marketing intelligence software provider Visual IQ has secured a $3m investment from private equity house Fog City Capital.
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Greenberg blows into Ipsos OTX from The Weather Channel
23-Aug-2010
US— Former Weather Channel researcher Ned Greenberg has joined Ipsos OTX MediaCT as vice president of syndicated solutions.
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Tpoll unveils qualitative software tool
23-Aug-2010
UK— Online research agency Tpoll has launched a new tool for conducting online qualitative research.
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Planet Oi' and CMO Council team up to improve mobile insights
23-Aug-2010
US— The Chief Marketing Officer Council has partnered with mobile social media marketing agency Planet Oi’ to explore how companies can improve customer insight, loyalty and interaction.
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Skim sets up new Rotterdam research facility
20-Aug-2010
NETHERLANDS— Research agency Skim has established a qualitative research facility in the heart of Rotterdam, called Triggerpoint.
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CEO Till sees 'continued progress' as Harris cuts full-year losses
20-Aug-2010
US— Harris Interactive has cut its losses drastically in fiscal 2010, according to results published yesterday. Annual revenue was down 9% to $168.4m, but operating loss was reduced to $523,000 from $56m the prior year while net loss was cut from $75.3m to $2.2m.
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B2B International opens in London
20-Aug-2010
UK— B2B International has announced plans to open a new office in London to act as a base for sales and project delivery in the south-east and in mainland Europe.
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7-Eleven signs KSS Retail for in-store analytics
19-Aug-2010
US— Convenience store operator 7-Eleven has contracted Dunhumby-owned KSS Retail to provide price modelling, forecasting and optimisation services for its shops across the US and Canada.
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Revelry Brands plants stake in Data Garden
19-Aug-2010
US— Investment firm Revelry Brands has bought a minority stake in Data Garden, a data analytics agency specialising in the natural foods market.
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Pitts returns to Synovate in business consulting role
19-Aug-2010
US— Mark Pitts has returned to Synovate as head of consulting for the Americas within its Synovate Business Consulting division.
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Fovea and Opinium Research launch video survey service
19-Aug-2010
UK— Opinium Research has teamed up with video production company Fovea to launch a service testing responses to corporate videos.
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People on the move
19-Aug-2010
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: The Research Partnership, PensionDCisions, Herbert Research, Product Perceptions, InsightsNow, G&S Research, Acumen, PharmaGems, GfK Business & Technology, Synovate and Chime.
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LSE researchers launch happiness tracking app
18-Aug-2010
UK— A pair of researchers at the London School of Economics have launched an iPhone app to discover how people’s feelings are affected by their surroundings.
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Ideavibes debuts crowdsourcing tool
18-Aug-2010
CANADA— Social media startup Ideavibes has launched a new crowdsourcing tool that it says will help brands rate ideas and solicit online input from customers.
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Zee TV signs up for Nielsen ratings
18-Aug-2010
US— Indian media group Zee Entertainment Enterprises has signed up to Nielsen’s US audience figures for its Hindi language channel Zee TV.
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Western Wats launches 'fused' online sample
18-Aug-2010
US— Fieldwork agency Western Wats has unveiled a new online methodology which it says will give users access to more diverse samples, while giving respondents fewer qualifying questions to answer.
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IMS Health names new CEO to succeed David Carlucci
18-Aug-2010
US— Healthcare researcher IMS Health has appointed Ari Bousbib as its new chief executive officer, replacing David Carlucci who will stay on as chairman for a transitional period.
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Affinity and Starcom USA launch digital magazine survey
17-Aug-2010
US— Syndicated media research agency Affinity has partnered with Starcom USA to study the use of digital readers in magazine consumption.
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Blog watcher Converseon turns on Twitter Firehose
17-Aug-2010
US— Social media consultancy Converseon has added the Twitter Firehose data feed to its Conversation Miner suite of social media listening and analysis products.
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Photon looks to stock offering to raise A$102m for recapitalisation
17-Aug-2010
AUSTRALIA— Marketing and communications agency Photon Group is looking to raise A$102.5m through a new stock offering to solve its recent money troubles.
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Nielsen raises initial public offering target to $2bn
17-Aug-2010
US— Nielsen has revised upwards the amount it hopes to raise through an initial public offering (IPO) later this year, according to a regulatory filing.
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Starcom China names research and insights director
16-Aug-2010
CHINA— Starcom China has appointed a new national research and insights director, one of a trio of senior appointments announced after winning new business from Mars and Wrigley.
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Nielsen introduces new TV weighting controls
16-Aug-2010
US— Nielsen is to add two new weighting controls to its TV ratings service next year after reviewing existing data with clients and the Media Rating Council.
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FocusVision upgrades video focus group technology
16-Aug-2010
US— Focus group video technology firm FocusVision has upgraded its InterVu product by adding new features that it claims will better support client and research needs.
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CSM and GroupM China launch combined TV and web study
16-Aug-2010
CHINA— WPP-owned GroupM China has teamed up with TV ratings firm CSM Media Research to launch a ‘single-source’ TV and internet measurement study across four major Chinese cities.
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Fiftyfive5 adds consultant to lead qual offering
16-Aug-2010
AUSTRALIA— Fledgling research consultancy Fiftyfive5 has appointed Rob Engels as specialist qualitative consultant to shape and lead the firm’s qual offering.
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360i appoints insights and planning vice president
13-Aug-2010
US— Digital marketing agency 360i has appointed Lee Maicon as vice president of insights and planning.
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iPerceptions sees Q2 revenues rise and losses reduced
13-Aug-2010
CANADA— Web analytics agency iPerceptions increased its revenue while cutting its losses during the second quarter of 2010.
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First Insight launches shopping game to capture customer insight
13-Aug-2010
US— Retail software developer First Insight has developed an online game that aims to help retailers gather consumer insight and build better relationships with customers.
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Healthcare researcher InforMed acquired for £11.4m
13-Aug-2010
UK— United Drug, a group specialising in providing outsourced services to healthcare manufacturers, has acquired healthcare market research and consulting agency InforMed for £11.4m.
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TNS Omnibus debuts new tool for PR agencies
12-Aug-2010
UK— TNS Omnibus has launched a service for PR agencies who want to integrate research findings into their communications material.
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Masmi backs MD Michalis Michael in DigitalMR agency launch
12-Aug-2010
UK— Masmi has taken a stake in DigitalMR, a web-based research and consumer-listening agency founded by its managing director for Western Europe Michalis Michael.
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Founder Tim Hughes quits board role at Photon Group
12-Aug-2010
AUSTRALIA— Photon Group founder Tim Hughes has resigned as a director of the marketing and communications company, which owns research agencies The Leading Edge and Jigsaw.
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Sunbeam and Nielsen set for mediation over antitrust suit
12-Aug-2010
US— Nielsen and broadcaster Sunbeam Television are set to attend a mediation conference in a bid to settle their legal dispute, which has rumbled on since May 2009.
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Harris bolsters consumer research team with senior consultant
12-Aug-2010
UK— Harris Interactive has appointed Gerardine Padbury as senior research consultant within its consumer research team.
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MRC and NCC Media plan set-top box guidelines
11-Aug-2010
US— The Media Rating Council (MRC) has teamed up with advertising sales and marketing agency NCC Media to develop new guidelines for using set-top box data to measure TV viewing.
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Canadian Primedia buys Kubas Consultants
11-Aug-2010
CANADA— Newspaper and online advertising rep house Canadian Primedia has acquired research and consulting firm Kubas Consultants.
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Alterian and FSA Datalytics agree Canadian deal
11-Aug-2010
US— Marketing engagement technology provider FSA Datalytics has struck a deal with marketing and analytics software firm Alterian to offer the latter’s products and services to its clients in Canada.
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IPG appoints managing partner for Emerging Media Lab
11-Aug-2010
US— Brian Monahan has been appointed managing partner of Interpublic’s Emerging Media Lab, a high-tech research centre designed to help advertisers learn how consumers use the latest technology.
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Toluna CEO targets growth through respondent recruitment
11-Aug-2010
US— Toluna CEO Frederic-Charles Petit has announced plans to grow the online panel provider by acquiring more respondents and rolling out the firm’s operations platform on a global scale.
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Kantar Worldpanel puts grocery data on iPhone app
10-Aug-2010
UK— Kantar Worldpanel has launched an iPhone app that provides users with information about the latest grocery market share figures.
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DMS Insights execs get new responsibilities at uSamp
10-Aug-2010
US— Online panel provider uSamp has given new roles to two DMS Insights executives, two months after it bought the firm from AOL.
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Ipsos promotes OTX ops chief David Shanker to new global role
10-Aug-2010
US— Ipsos has appointed former OTX chief operating officer David Shanker as global president of its Observer survey management and data collection practise.
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Cook returns to ARF after two-year sabbatical
10-Aug-2010
US— Bill Cook is back at the Advertising Research Foundation to lead its Online Research Quality initiative after taking a two-year sabbatical.
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Synovate's Ben Llewellyn maps out the Malaysian market
10-Aug-2010
The average researcher won’t have to plot a journey down rivers and through jungles to carry out a mystery shopping visit, but that is exactly the sort of challenge that working in Malaysia presents. Research spoke to Synovate’s new managing director for the country, Ben Llewellyn, to find out more about the Malaysian market, the challenges it faces and what the future holds.
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YouGov continues US expansion with Harrison acquisition
10-Aug-2010
US— YouGov has agreed a deal to buy strategic research and marketing consultancy Harrison Group for an initial consideration of $6m, with a further $7m tied to performance targets.
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O&M China appoints ethnography director for insight unit
9-Aug-2010
CHINA— WPP-owned marketing communications agency Ogilvy & Mather China has appointed Michael Griffiths as director of ethnography to help better understand Chinese consumer cultures.
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ABC and CAB chief executive throws in the Towell
9-Aug-2010
AUSTRALIA— Gordon Towell has resigned from his positions as CEO of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) and the Circulations Audit Board (CAB) after two years heading up the organisations.
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Ex-Leading Edge chief joins former colleagues at Fiftyfive5
9-Aug-2010
AUSTRALIA— Mark Sundquist has joined Karen Phillips and Darren Kemp as a partner at their recently launched research consultancy Fiftyfive5.
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Nielsen bags Taiwan web audience measurement task from MSN
9-Aug-2010
TAIWAN— Microsoft-owned MSN has signed Nielsen to provide audience measurement services for its online advertising portal properties in Taiwan.
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PeerIndex opens to rank social media 'authority'
6-Aug-2010
UK— A new firm has opened for business offering rankings of ‘individual social authority’ across social media sites.
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Cambiar appoints partner for research practice
6-Aug-2010
US— Management consultancy Cambiar has appointed Monica Wood as a partner in its research impact consulting practice.
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Trinity Broadcasting Network turns to Rentrak for audience measurement
6-Aug-2010
US— Christian TV broadcaster Trinity Broadcasting Network has signed up to use Rentrak’s TV Essentials service to provide audience measurement figures for its range of channels.
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Daily Kos appoints new pollster after Research 2000 row
6-Aug-2010
US— Political blog the Daily Kos has appointed Public Policy Polling to carry out election polling on the site.
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Morrisons insight consultant goes agencyside at GfK
6-Aug-2010
UK— Caroline Osborne has left her position with supermarket chain Morrisons to take the role of director at GfK NOP Consumer Products & Retail.
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People on the move
6-Aug-2010
The latest appointments and promotions from the global market research industry, including the latest from Acritas, QSR International, Principles Research and more.
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New Scientist turns to NeuroFocus to pick front cover
5-Aug-2010
UK— Neuromarketing agency NeuroFocus has been contracted to help select the front cover of the latest issue of New Scientist magazine in a bid to see whether the technology can help sell more copies.
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Research performance eats away at PDI revenue and profit
5-Aug-2010
US— Healthcare marketing services group PDI has posted an increase in revenue for the second quarter of 2010 and cut its operating loss for the period – despite lower revenue from its market research agency TVG.
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Industry associations form pan-American alliance
5-Aug-2010
US— North and South American research industry associations have formed a cross-border alliance to work together in addressing issues relating to standards, education, self-regulation, emerging technologies, business management, and client and respondent relationships.
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Nancy Tellet promoted to SVP research role at MTV Networks
5-Aug-2010
US— MTV Networks has promoted Nancy Tellet to senior vice president of research and consumer analytics for Latin America, where she will manage all research across the MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon and Tr3s brands.
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Rentrak appoints director of client services and promotes trio
2-Aug-2010
US— Rentrak has appointed a new director of client services for its Advanced Media and Information (AMI) division and promoted three other members of staff.
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Ex-Greenfield exec to lead Research Now's new Indian office
2-Aug-2010
INDIA— Online data collection and panel provider Research Now has expanded into India with the opening of an office in New Delhi.
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Maximiles to acquire German panel provider Panelbiz
2-Aug-2010
UK— Online panel provider and customer loyalty firm Maximiles has agreed a deal to acquire German online sample provider Panelbiz.
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Tech investor Silver Lake takes majority stake in China's Allyes
2-Aug-2010
CHINA— Technology investment firm Silver Lake has agreed a deal to become the majority stakeholder in digital marketing services agency Allyes Online Media Holding.
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YouGov in line with 2010 expectations after strong second half
2-Aug-2010
UK— YouGov has said that trading for the year ending 31 July 2010 was in line with the board’s expectations for the period and that operating profit was “significantly ahead” of 2009.
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Best Buy and The NPD Group extend data sharing deal
30-Jul-2010
US— Best Buy has extended its data sharing agreement with The NPD Group to run for another three years. The deal covers point-of-sale data for all major consumer electronics and IT purchases, mobile phone purchases and small and major appliance sales.
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Economic and Social Research Council gets new chief executive
30-Jul-2010
UK— The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the body responsible for funding research into social and economic issues, has appointed Paul Boyle as its new chief executive and deputy chair.
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Geomentum puts former Forrester analyst in president's chair
30-Jul-2010
US— Lisa Bradner has been named president of Mediabrands-owned hyper-local marketing and media agency Geomentum.
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CIA and Google take stake in web monitor Recorded Future
30-Jul-2010
US— Google Ventures and the Central Intelligence Agency’s investment arm are backing an online technology firm that analyses information across the internet to provide insight and predict how much coverage an event or issue will generate.
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Nielsen's Benezra reflects on a Life360 in South Africa
30-Jul-2010
The final whistle of the 2010 World Cup has blown, but for researchers there is still work to do. Like data analysis. Research spoke to Nielsen’s Karen Benezra about the highs and lows of the firm’s South African campaign.
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Forrester Research celebrates "robust" Q2 and raises full-year expectations
29-Jul-2010
US— Forrester Research has posted a 5% increase in revenue for the second quarter of 2010 and an 11% rise in net income for the period.
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ComScore posts record quarterly revenue, but costs drive profits down
29-Jul-2010
US— ComScore has reported record quarterly revenue for Q2 2010 and raised its expectations for the rest of the year, but has seen a decline in profits because of costs relating to acquisitions and restructuring.
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Facebook tests new polling and answers tool
29-Jul-2010
US— Facebook has unveiled a tool that allows users to post polls and questions about the subjects of their choice.
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Aegis tables bid for Mitchell Communication Group
29-Jul-2010
AUSTRALIA— Aegis, owner of research agency Synovate, has proposed a deal to buy marketing and communications group Mitchell for A$363m.
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Roy Morgan and Effective Measure partner on web measurement
29-Jul-2010
AUSTRALIA — Media buyers and owners face the prospect of having four different hybrid web measurement services to choose from in the coming months following news of a deal between Roy Morgan Research and Effective Measure International.
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Owners close Bristol Group, but staff get new start with m5
28-Jul-2010
CANADA— Research and marketing agency Bristol Group has been shut down by the private equity firm that owns it – but its workforce are now poised to join rival company m5.
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Nielsen working on Mac-compatible meter to monitor online viewing
28-Jul-2010
US— Nielsen has told its clients that it currently has no means of monitoring TV watched through Apple computers, but it does plan to have a meter compatible with Macs up and running by next year.
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Workstreamer scores $3.5m investment for business listening platform
28-Jul-2010
US— Workstreamer, a business listening platform, has secured $3.5m in private equity investment from Austin Partners in a Series A round of funding.
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Komli appoints ViziSense MD for Australian push
28-Jul-2010
AUSTRALIA— Komli Media has appointed Andrew Reid as managing director of of its ViziSense hybrid web measurement platform in Australia as it plans to ramp up operations in the country.
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Grupo Ibope makes Affinity investment
27-Jul-2010
BRAZIL— Research agency Grupo Ibope has signed a memorandum of understanding to become a partner in US-based syndicated media research specialist Affinity, taking a minority stake in the company as a result.
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Chime nabs Toluna's Squires for group operations role
27-Jul-2010
UK— Mark Squires has been appointed group operations director within Chime Communications’ research and engagement division.
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BuzzNumbers unveils Twitter tool for Australian election
27-Jul-2010
AUSTRALIA— Social media monitoring agency BuzzNumbers has launched a tool to track Twitter coverage of Australia’s upcoming general election.
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Ex-Nielsen Mobile exec takes charge at Sense Networks
27-Jul-2010
US— Mobile location analytics firm Sense Networks has appointed David Petersen as its new chief executive and given him a seat on the company’s board.
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IAB Australia 'to issue web ratings tender' – report
27-Jul-2010
AUSTRALIA— The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) is reportedly preparing a tender process to find an agency to supply a hybrid web audience measurement system to produce currency data for ad buying and selling.
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Htec and CFI Group launch consumer behaviour prediction tool
26-Jul-2010
UK— Loyalty technology firm Htec and customer satisfaction measurement agency CFI Group are partnering on a service that aims to help companies predict future customer behaviour based on their buying history.
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More local TV broadcasters tap Rentrak for audience measurement
26-Jul-2010
US— Rentrak has clinched two new clients in the shape of London Broadcasting Company and Journal Broadcast Group for its audience measurement service for local markets, StationView Essentials.
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Fieldbury to acquire market research app developer MobileWave
26-Jul-2010
UK— Shell company Fieldbury has agreed a deal to acquire MobileWave, owner of the market research, social networking platform and mobile phone app PlanetOi’, in a reverse takeover for just over £1m.
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Crimson Hexagon adds Twitter data to social media monitoring tool
21-Jul-2010
US— Social media monitoring agency Crimson Hexagon has added the Twitter Firehose data feed to its Opinion Analysis Platform.
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Investors pump $30m into social business software firm Jive
21-Jul-2010
US— Social business software developer Jive has received $30m in Series C funding from two private equity investment companies.
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Truck Ads CEO accuses Nielsen of 'harassment' over DMA court case
21-Jul-2010
US— The chief executive of Truck Ads, an outdoor advertising firm currently embroiled in a legal battle with Nielsen, has accused the audience measurement giant of “burdening and harassing” his company.
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The Futures Company in management reshuffle after CEO, chairman and MD quit
21-Jul-2010
US/UK— Kantar-owned The Futures Company, the trends research agency created through merger of Henley Centre HeadlightVision and Yankelovich, has named a new management team following the resignation of its CEO, chairman and managing director.
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PDI to close TVG healthcare market research business
21-Jul-2010
US— Healthcare marketing services firm PDI is pulling out of the market research business, and plans to close down its TVG Marketing Research & Consulting unit by the end of August.
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The Sound Research appoints VP to lead new Toronto office
21-Jul-2010
CANADA— Youth research agency The Sound has appointed Barbara Brooks as vice president to lead its newly opened office in Toronto.
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Work Research and Ipsos MediaCT in qual joint venture
20-Jul-2010
UK— Ipsos MediaCT and Work Research have teamed up to launch a qualitative joint venture to target clients in the media, content and technology sector.
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i4cp unveils human resources panel
20-Jul-2010
US— The Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp) has launched what it claims to be the first panel made up of human resources professionals.
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ABCi and Handmark to develop mobile app usage stats
20-Jul-2010
US— ABCi, the Audit Bureau of Circulation’s interactive arm, and mobile app developer Handmark have struck a partnership to provide publishers and advertisers with audited mobile usage statistics.
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Two US clients for Toluna's PanelPortal
20-Jul-2010
US— Two US market research firms have signed up to use Toluna’s PanelPortal product, which allows users to manage research communities and panels and collect data through a single interface.
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Oxford Management Services taps Nexidia for speech analytics
20-Jul-2010
US— Payment collection agency Oxford Management Services has signed up to use Nexidia’s Enterprise speech analytics software to monitor and analyse performance in its call centres.
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MarketTools to offer West Interactive survey and analytics tool
19-Jul-2010
US— MarketTools is to offer its clients access to West Interactive’s Insight Customer Intelligence survey software after forming a partnership with the customer contact centre technology firm.
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Orlando Wood named MD of BrainJuicer Labs
19-Jul-2010
UK— BrainJuicer has promoted Orlando Wood to the new role of managing director of its research innovation and testing operation, BrainJuicer Labs.
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ZenithOptimedia ups ad spend growth forecast for 2010
19-Jul-2010
UK— Media services agency ZenithOptimedia has predicted that global advertising spend will grow 3.5% this year to $447.5bn, according to its latest quarterly Advertising Expenditure Forecast.
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McCallum Layton wins spot on Findus research roster
19-Jul-2010
UK— Frozen food manufacturer Findus Group UK has appointed McCallum Layton to its roster of agencies for product and concept testing.
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WPP takes stake in digital ad measurement firm Moment Systems
19-Jul-2010
CHINA— WPP Digital, the WPP group’s digital investment arm, has bought a minority stake in Leading Smart Holdings, which in turn owns a controlling interest in Beijing-based digital ad measurement agency Moment Systems.
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High Beam Global opens in India
16-Jul-2010
INDIA— High Beam Global, a new market research consultancy and data collection agency, has opened for business in India.
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Networked Insights looks to deliver insights from Facebook fan pages
16-Jul-2010
US— Social media analytics agency Networked Insights has launched a tool to help brands draw insight from their individual fan pages on Facebook.
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ComScore upgrades video measurement tool to match TV research
16-Jul-2010
US— ComScore has upgraded its online video measurement service in an effort to “better align” its research with the way TV audiences are counted.
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Media audit guide published for Australian advertisers
16-Jul-2010
AUSTRALIA— The Australian Association of National Advertisers has released a guide to help members evaluate the performance of their media agencies.
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CRG pays back $300k to Canadian government over 'insufficient records'
16-Jul-2010
CANADA— Corporate Research Group (CRG) has voluntarily paid back more than $300,000 to government administrative body Public Works Canada after an audit found that proper records had not been kept for five projects it was commissioned for.
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Martini Media and Crowd Science to profile luxury consumers
15-Jul-2010
US— Martini Media and online research agency Crowd Science have teamed up to launch a study to generate audience profile data on 45 million affluent consumers.
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Opinion Leader adds research director for political sector
15-Jul-2010
UK— Sarah Horack has been appointed research director at Opinion Leader, part of the Chime Communications Group. She joins from PricewaterhouseCoopers where she was a research director in the policy research and economics group.
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GfK launches Future Buy study to shed light on shopping habits
15-Jul-2010
US— GfK Consumer has launched a mixed methodology survey that will take a close look at the habits of shoppers across North America.
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Gray Television signs Rentrak for Kansas audience measurement
15-Jul-2010
US— Broadcaster Gray Television has signed up to use Rentrak’s audience measurement service for local markets, StationView Essentials.
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Investors pump $6m into Komli Media
15-Jul-2010
INDIA— Digital advertising agency Komli Media has been awarded $6m in private equity funding from a group of existing investors. Komli said investments will be made in its audience measurement platform ViziSense and its performance marketing and branding activities.
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Nielsen secures MRC accreditation for local people meters in 25 markets
15-Jul-2010
US— Nielsen’s local people meter (LPM) TV audience measurement system has been accredited by the Media Rating Council in 25 US markets.
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Graduates join Vision Critical intern programme
14-Jul-2010
CANADA— Vision Critical has taken on 12 client services associates as part of its 2010 intern programme.
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Hotel loyalty club members co-create new credit card
14-Jul-2010
US— Members of an online community run by Communispace on behalf of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) have co-created a credit card aimed at frequent travellers.
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Viacom's Gibbs joins Dubit as head of youth media research
14-Jul-2010
UK— Youth research and marketing agency Dubit has appointed Dave Gibbs as head of youth media research.
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IAB rolls outs social media measurement framework
14-Jul-2010
UK— The Internet Advertising Bureau’s (IAB) Social Media Council has created a framework to help advertisers and agencies measure the success or failings of their social media campaigns.
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Pittsburgh Penguins pick custom PPM data from Arbitron
14-Jul-2010
US— The Pittsburgh Penguins have become the first National Hockey League team to sign up for custom portable people meter-based radio ratings from Arbitron.
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Rajar names new chief executive officer
13-Jul-2010
UK— Radio ratings body Rajar has appointed Jerry Hill as its new CEO, replacing Sally de la Bedoyere who stepped down from the post last month.
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InterMedia appoints Robert Coonrod new chief executive
13-Jul-2010
US— Media and communications research agency InterMedia has appointed Robert Coonrod to fill the newly created role of chief executive officer.
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Buzzient and Interactive Intelligence link up for social media monitoring
13-Jul-2010
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES— Business communication technology firm Interactive Intelligence and social media analytics agency Buzzient have teamed up to launch a new social media monitoring and reporting service.
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ICM Direct launches in-depth phone interviews
13-Jul-2010
UK— Telephone and online data collection specialist ICM direct has launched Tele-depth, a new service offering in-depth telephone interviewing services.
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EasyInsites scoops WHSmith panel task
13-Jul-2010
UK— Custom panel provider EasyInsites has been appointed to create and manage an online sample for high street retailer WHSmith.
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AT&T sponsors connectivity research program
12-Jul-2010
US— Telecom and communications giant AT&T is sponsoring an initiative in Dallas that will see a group of young men form their own agency and carry out a market research study into what ethnically diverse communities need from communications technology.
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Brahm and sister agency Swamp merge to form Brass
12-Jul-2010
UK— Insight and marketing communications agency Brahm has merged with sister digital agency Swamp to form a new firm, Brass.
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Harris and Ipsos to poll Canadians on green energy issues
12-Jul-2010
CANADA— Harris-Decima and Ipsos-Reid have been awarded government contracts to investigate public perceptions of green energy issues.
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Fieldwork venture for ex-Synovate directors
12-Jul-2010
UK— Peter Boyle and Sarah Flinn have launched a fieldwork agency dedicated to the healthcare research industry, Adept Field Services.
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Wells Fargo resigns Acxiom for database management
9-Jul-2010
US— Financial services provider Wells Fargo & Company has renewed its contract with Acxiom to manage its customer and prospect database. The deal, which has been running for more than 10 years, will also see Acxiom provide Wells Fargo with “precision” insight about its customers.
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McClatchy Newspapers ends Ipsos relationship with polling cull
9-Jul-2010
US— Publisher McClatchy Newspapers has stopped commissioning political polls across its titles as part of a cost-saving exercise – ending a deal with Ipsos in the process.
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Vision Critical unveils ReactionPlus audience testing tool
9-Jul-2010
US— Vision Critical has launched an online service to test audience reaction moment by moment to audio and video content.
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Synovate gives acting head Llewellyn permanent Malaysia role
9-Jul-2010
MALAYSIA— Ben Llewellyn has been confirmed as managing director for Synovate in Malaysia having served as acting head of the firm’s activities in the country since the end of April.
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TRA bulks up with three new executive hires
9-Jul-2010
US— Advertising ROI measurement firm TRA has made three executive appointments and added a new member to its advisory board.
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Disney Channels Worldwide appoints research VP
8-Jul-2010
US— Kids TV network Disney Channels Worldwide has appointed Jimmy Blackburn as its new vice president of programming research.
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Tetra Tech to acquire PA Consulting's international development practice
8-Jul-2010
US— Engineering consulting firm Tetra Tech has signed a definitive agreement to acquire PA Consulting Group’s US-based international development consulting business practice.
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Media Monitors sold to investment house Quadrant Private Equity
8-Jul-2010
AUSTRALIA— Investment house Quadrant Private Equity has acquired media intelligence and evaluation agency Media Monitors.
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Research 2000 website goes 'offline' following legal action
8-Jul-2010
US— The website of polling agency Research 2000 appears to have gone offline after political blog The Daily Kos launched legal proceedings against it, alleging that the firm’s work was “almost certainly falsified”.
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Frustrated STB data chief Manish Bhatia leaves Nielsen
7-Jul-2010
US— Manish Bhatia, Nielsen’s president of advanced digital services, has left the firm after becoming frustrated with the amount of time the media community was taking to implement set-top box strategies.
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People on the move
7-Jul-2010
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: The Leading Edge, ComScore, Netquest, Clean Design, Media Research Users Council, Jigsaw Research and Yankee Group.
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Frost & Sullivan in deal to offer discount to tech startups
7-Jul-2010
US— Frost & Sullivan has teamed up with Startech, a non-profit organisation dedicated to aiding the growth of technology companies, to provide startups in the sector with discounted research and consulting services.
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Rentrak adds Experian Simmons purchase data to TV metrics
7-Jul-2010
US— Rentrak has struck a deal with Experian Simmons to give its TV viewing data clients access to local and national consumer purchase information.
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Marketwire acquires social media monitor Sysomos
7-Jul-2010
CANADA— PR distribution agency Marketwire has confirmed its acquisition of social media monitoring and analysis firm Sysomos. CEO Michael Nowlan said the deal was “a critical step in our integrated communication solution strategy”.
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MRA weighs in on MR confidentiality as FDA probes Phillip Morris
6-Jul-2010
US— The Marketing Research Association has warned the Food and Drug Administration thats its demands to see the results of research carried out by tobacco giant Phillip Morris could violate confidentiality by identifying survey respondents.
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Sysomos coy on reports of acquisition by Marketwire
6-Jul-2010
CANADA— Social media monitoring and analysis firm Sysomos is keeping tight-lipped over reports that it has been acquired by PR distribution service Marketwire.
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Mystery shopper The Network snaps up Trinity Field Marketing
6-Jul-2010
UK— Mystery shopping and field marketing agency The Network has acquired Trinity Field Marketing for an undisclosed amount.
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Grass Roots promotes three and adds one
6-Jul-2010
UK— Mystery shopping and customer satisfaction agency Grass Roots has announced three promotions and added one new member of staff.
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Engage Research appoints director for brand and comms work
5-Jul-2010
UK— Engage Research has appointed Alexa Arrowsmith as a director focusing on branding and communications research.
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Medimix International opens in the Philippines
5-Jul-2010
PHILIPPINES— Healthcare research agency Medimix International has opened a back office facility in Bacolod. The firm said it plans to eventually house 25 staff in the centre, including physicians and nurses for medical analysis work, a project management team made up of marketing graduates and a software development team.
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STW and Smollan partner for mystery shopping, field marketing
5-Jul-2010
AUSTRALIA— Marketing group STW Communications and Smollan Group have formed a joint venture to carry out mystery shopping and customer auditing services.
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Draftfcb opens Institute of Decision Making
5-Jul-2010
US— Marketing services group Draftfcb has launched the Institute of Decision Making, which the firm says will be used to help apply learnings from fields such as neuroscience and behavioural economics to its marketing communications offering.
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People on the move
2-Jul-2010
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research industry, including the latest from eDigitalResearch, Innerscope, Australia Online Research and more.
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Harris lifts lid on consumers' pathways to purchase
2-Jul-2010
UK— Harris Interactive has developed a new framework for analysing the way consumers make purchase decisions.
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Nielsen brings 'live' ratings back to local markets
2-Jul-2010
US— Nielsen has backtracked on its plan to ditch ‘live-only’ TV ratings in local markets, and will reintroduce them in time for the 2010-11 television season.
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ICM Direct names new managing director
2-Jul-2010
UK— Telephone survey firm ICM Direct has appointed Gareth Nicol as its new managing director, replacing Patrick Diamond who has left the company after 11 years.
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New bosses for Infogroup and ORC
2-Jul-2010
US— CCMP Capital Advisors has completed its $468m takeover of Infogroup and appointed new presidents for the firm and its subsidiary Opinion Research Corporation (ORC).
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Questar implements Clarabridge text analytics
2-Jul-2010
US— Questar, which provides data collection and processing services for research, is to include text analytics from Clarabridge in its customer experience measurement programmes.
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Zoomerang adds Facebook and Twitter options
2-Jul-2010
US— MarketTools’ Zoomerang online survey tool will now let users post poll invites directly to their Facebook or Twitter accounts.
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Spring Research grows with two new directors
1-Jul-2010
UK— Spring Research has hired two former clientside researchers: research director Toby Collins and account director Anna Wills.
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Globalpark snaps up web software firm WP-Experts
1-Jul-2010
GERMANY— Survey software maker Globalpark has acquired WP-Experts, which makes rich internet applications and online portals for business, for an undisclosed amount.
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Cegedim Strategic Data appoints global research director
1-Jul-2010
FRANCE— Cegedim Strategic Data has appointed Anne-Marie Masquelier as global medical research director where she will oversee the firm’s medical research activities.
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Noble returns to Tpoll in MD role
1-Jul-2010
UK— Barry Noble has returned to online research agency Tpoll as managing director after spending three years away from the company.
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NMG buys CATI specialist Dataquest
1-Jul-2010
UK— Financial services research agency NMG has acquired Dataquest Research Consultants for an undisclosed amount.
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WorldOne opens Brazilian office
30-Jun-2010
BRAZIL— Healthcare research data collection agency WorldOne has opened a new office in Brazil to manage its existing panellists across Latin America.
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Daily Kos threatens legal action over suspect polls
30-Jun-2010
US— Political analysis blog the Daily Kos has vowed to take legal action against pollster Research 2000 after a trio of statisticians raised doubts about the reliability of the firm’s work.
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SurveyMonkey embarks on European expansion
30-Jun-2010
UK— SurveyMonkey has embarked on a European expansion with the launch of several dedicated websites to offer its DIY survey tool in local markets.
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Datameer and Zementis link for predictive analytics tool
30-Jun-2010
US— Data analytics firm Datameer and predictive analytics specialist Zementis have formed a strategic alliance to combine their offerings.
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Privacy advocates cry foul over ClearSight targeting tool
30-Jun-2010
US— ClearSight Interactive has launched an audience targeting suite for online display adverts, but the new service has already come in for criticism from some privacy advocates.
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ComRes to roll out automated phone polling service
29-Jun-2010
UK— ComRes is to make available the automated phone survey service that it used to test reaction to the party leaders’ debates.
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Infogroup shareholders green light takeover deal
29-Jun-2010
US— Infogroup shareholders voted today in favour of selling the company to private equity firm CCMP Capital for $468m, or $8 per share.
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InsightExpress adds senior director to custom research team
29-Jun-2010
US— InsightExpress has appointed Cary Nadel as a senior director in its custom marketing research team.
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Kantar Video bulks up executive staff ahead of launch
29-Jun-2010
US— Kantar Video has announced a raft of senior appointments ahead of the launch of its new range of video measurement and tracking tools.
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Nielsen bags TAM renewal deal in New Zealand
29-Jun-2010
NEW ZEALAND— Broadcasters Sky, TVNZ and TVWorks have awarded Nielsen a new eight-year contract to continue supplying television audience measurement services in New Zealand.
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Barb to field test new TV viewing meter for PCs
29-Jun-2010
UK— The Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board (Barb) is launching a temporary panel to field test a new meter that will keep tabs on television that is watched through a PC or laptop.
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At Random picks Run-E survey database tool
28-Jun-2010
GERMANY— Fieldwork agency At Random International has signed up to to use software developer Run-E’s SampleMaker survey database tool.
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4th Screen Advertising rolls out mobile targeting tools
28-Jun-2010
UK — Mobile ad agency 4th Screen Advertising has launched a new platform to help advertisers better target their audience and keep track of engagement.
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Creston hails 'resilient' performance for financial year
28-Jun-2010
UK — Insight and communications group Creston has posted a slight drop in revenue for the financial year ending March 31, but CEO Don Elgie has hailed the firm’s “resilient performance against a challenging economic backdrop”.
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Ipsos MediaCT nets Al Jazeera Sports football deal
25-Jun-2010
DUBAI— Al Jazeera Sports has signed Ipsos MediaCT to conduct recall tests with football fans in the Middle East during the World Cup and next season’s UEFA Champions’ League.
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DJS Research doubles turnover
25-Jun-2010
UK— DJS Research has doubled its turnover from £450,000 to £910,000 for the 2009/10 financial year.
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WPP merges healthcare marketing agencies
25-Jun-2010
US— WPP has merged healthcare marketing networks Ogilvy Healthworld and CommonHealth into a single entity, creating what it calls a “global powerhouse” in the industry.
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Techneos upgrades SODA mobile survey service
25-Jun-2010
US— Techneos has added several new features to the latest version of its SODA mobile survey tool.
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SSI appoints APAC access and engagement director
25-Jun-2010
US— Survey Sampling International has appointed Jessica Sullivan as director of access and engagement for the Asia Pacific region.
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Peanut Labs debuts social media panels in Italy and Spain
25-Jun-2010
US— Peanut Labs has launched two new panels made up of social media users in Italy and Spain, two of the world’s biggest users of social media sites.
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Arbitron reshuffles leadership pack
24-Jun-2010
US— Arbitron CEO William Kerr has announced a raft of changes to the firm’s executive leadership team that he says is designed to build a stronger partnership with customers, and axed two senior execs in the process.
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Invoke Solutions to form concept optimisation and analytics units
24-Jun-2010
US— On its tenth anniversary online and mobile research technology provider Invoke Solutions is splitting its business in to two separate units.
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Siegel+Gale expands research team with double hire
24-Jun-2010
US— Ad and branding agency Siegel+Gale has strengthened its research and insights team with two new appointments.
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Rentrak wins Cowles Media contract and plans MRC accreditation
24-Jun-2010
US— Rentrak has scooped Cowles Media Company as a client of its local market TV viewing data service while announcing plans to seek Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for its national audience measurement offering.
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Sample supplier uSamp acquires AOL's DMS Insights
24-Jun-2010
US— Online panel provider uSamp has acquired web research agency DMS Insights from AOL. DMS (also known as Digital Marketing Services) will keep its name and the firm’s management and production team will remain in place.
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People on the move
23-Jun-2010
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: The Oxford Research Agency, Charm Communications, Site Intelligence, Hypatia Research, Collective, Cedar Fair, Hassan Associates, JWT New York, Movado, Ipsos Health, ComScore, Allen & Gerritsen and JRA Research.
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European Commissioner promises public consultation on data protection
23-Jun-2010
BELGIUM— The European Commissioner responsible for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship has promised to launch a public consultation into online data protection issues across the EU, but believes that industry self-regulation should remain at the core of any new legislation.
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Ticketmaster picks Omniture for site analytics task
23-Jun-2010
US— Ticketmaster has signed up to use Omniture’s analytics software on its main website. The SiteCatalyst product will be used to identify online trends on Ticketmaster.com, and engage with customers based on their geographic location, behavioural trends or other criteria.
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UCLA researchers 'predict behaviour' through neuroscience
23-Jun-2010
US— Researchers can use neuroscience to draw information from respondents that they would not be able to describe in a conventional survey, according to a university study.
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ICM Direct and Red C launch Irish online panel
22-Jun-2010
IRELAND— UK-based data collection agency ICM Direct has teamed up with Irish full-service research agency Red C to launch a version of its Newvista online panel in the country.
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Tobii promises 'more natural' research with eye-tracking specs
22-Jun-2010
SWEDEN— Tobii has designed a pair of glasses equipped with eye-tracking technology that they claim will allow researchers to gain a greater level of insight into consumer behaviour while their subject is in a natural environment.
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Loop Analytics and MSW Research target smartphone market
22-Jun-2010
US— Loop Analytics and MSW Research have formed a partnership focused on offering research, insights and strategy services to clients in the mobile industry.
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Panel provider uSamp awarded $10m in funding
22-Jun-2010
US— Online sample supplier uSamp has received $10m in Series C funding. The firm said that the cash will be used to fuel company growth through acquisition and to develop its next-generation panel management platform.
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Arbitron acquires assets of Integrated Media Measurement Inc
22-Jun-2010
US— Arbitron has acquired the trade name, technology portfolio and patents of Integrated Media Measurement Inc (IMMI) for an undisclosed amount.
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ViewSpace viewing facilities to open for business
21-Jun-2010
UK— A focus group viewing facility called ViewSpace will open its doors next week in Old Beaconsfield on the outskirts of London.
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Blog watcher Attentio opens in Singapore
21-Jun-2010
SINGAPORE— Belgian social media monitoring firm Attentio has opened an office in Singapore that will act as a headquarters for its activities across Asia.
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Arbitron unveils new PPM360 technology
21-Jun-2010
US— Arbitron has launched a new version of its portable people meter (PPM) device that it claims will be able to better follow the lifestyles of consumers on the go.
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SEC settles insider trading case against ex-Qualcomm analysis director
21-Jun-2010
US— Andres Leyva, the former director of strategic marketing analysis at wireless technology firm Qualcomm, has paid a civil penalty of almost $35,000 to settle charges of insider trading.
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FDA orders tobacco giant to hand over market research
21-Jun-2010
US— The Food and Drug Administration has ordered tobacco firm Philip Morris to hand over all market research relating to the rebranding of its Marlboro Lights cigarettes as ‘Marlboro Gold’.
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BrightRoll brings together video ad measurement services
18-Jun-2010
US— Video advertising network BrightRoll has unveiled a new reporting suite that uses measurement tools from ComScore, Nielsen, Vizu and InsightExpress to help clients assess ROI on online campaigns.
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COI ponders payment by results
18-Jun-2010
UK— Market research companies employed by the the Central Office of Information could soon be subject to a system of payment by results.
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Webtrends seals Associated Press World Cup deal
18-Jun-2010
US— The Associated Press has signed up Webtrends to provide analysis and measurement for its World Cup mobile app and website.
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Satmetrix launches European benchmark study
18-Jun-2010
UK— Customer loyalty agency Satmetrix has rolled out its Net Promoter Industry Benchmarks survey across the UK, France and Germany.
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DePaul University and IBM team up for new analytics centre
18-Jun-2010
US— IBM has part-funded the launch of a new data analysis centre at DePaul University in Chicago.
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Nielsen to run set-top box data tests in three markets
17-Jun-2010
US— Nielsen is to run new tests of using set-top box data to measure TV audiences and comparing it to existing services in three markets.
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Echo Stats adds NPD division
17-Jun-2010
US— Florida-based market research consultancy Echo Stats Research has launched a new division to focus on new product development work.
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People on the move
17-Jun-2010
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: Attensity Group, MEC, Synovate MMA, Ipsos, Truviso, Networked Insights, IPA, Loop Analytics, Nestle, Vision Critical, GfK, US Census Bureau and Mott MacDonald.
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Trade Commission to research deceptive marketing
17-Jun-2010
US— The Federal Trade Commission is embarking on a study into consumer susceptibility to fraudulent and deceptive marketing.
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Mobile marketers prepare for take-off
17-Jun-2010
More than 300 advertisers, agencies and brands gathered in London yesterday for the IAB Engage for Mobile event, which aimed to promote mobile marketing and advertising.
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GroupM signs for Arbitron radio ratings
16-Jun-2010
US— GroupM has signed a multi-year deal with Arbitron to receive radio ratings from all the firm’s portable people meter (PPM) and diary markets.
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TNS names new managing director for Canada
15-Jun-2010
CANADA— Michael Ennamorato has been promoted to managing director of TNS Canada, replacing Michael LoPresti in the role.
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Kantar Media unveils Foresight tool to aid paid content strategy
15-Jun-2010
UK— Kantar Media has launched a predictive tool to help web publishers devise their paid content strategies.
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Essentials customers drive Rentrak revenue
15-Jun-2010
US— Multi-screen media measurement firm Rentrak has posted a 12% rise in revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 but a decline in sales for the year as a whole.
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NPD in the Dream Factory
15-Jun-2010
We speak to Ipsos OTX’s Vincent Bruzzese about his work in Hollywood testing movies before they reach the big screen, and why consumer research doesn’t necessarily mean more ‘cookie-cutter fare’ in the multiplex.
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GfK appoints new head of retail and technology to management board
14-Jun-2010
GERMANY— GfK has appointed Gerhard Hausruckinger to its management board, with specific responsibility for the company’s retail and technology division.
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20|20 Research unveils QualLink tool for hybrid studies
14-Jun-2010
US— Fieldwork firm 20|20 Research has launched a new technology that allows clients to carry out qualitative work on quantitative respondents.
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Nielsen and McKinsey establish social media joint venture
14-Jun-2010
US— Nielsen and management consultancy McKinsey & Company have formed a joint venture to help clients improve their business performance through the use of intelligence drawn from social media sites.
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Nimbus adds EEG data to virtual shopping system
10-Jun-2010
US— Virtual shopping company Nimbus has added neuromarketing capabilities to its 3D virtual reality research tool.
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Rentrak scores brace of audience measurement deals
10-Jun-2010
US— TV station WFAA and broadcaster Schurz Communications have signed up to use Rentrak’s audience measurement service for local markets, StationView Essentials.
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Crayon acquires Acquity business and assets from administrators
10-Jun-2010
UK— Digital media agency Crayon has acquired data analytics and media integration specialist Acquity – a day after it was placed into administration.
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Zokem's mobile analytics scoops funding for international expansion
10-Jun-2010
FINLAND— Mobile analytics start-up Zokem has secured €2m in funding to fuel its growth over the next 12 months.
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Air industry veteran lands at Marketing Research Association
10-Jun-2010
US— The Marketing Research Association (MRA) has named David Almy – a veteran of air industry associations – as its new chief executive officer following the resignation of Larry Brownell last year.
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iSuppli to acquire media researcher Screen Digest
10-Jun-2010
US— Electronics industry analyst iSuppli Corporation has inked a deal to acquire media-focused research agency Screen Digest.
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Interactive Advertising Bureau launches Tablet Task Force
9-Jun-2010
US— Hot on the heels of the iPad launch, the Interactive Advertising Bureau has formed a task force to create an infrastructure to support advertising opportunities on tablets and e-readers.
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Kenshoo adds Experian Hitwise data to keyword bid management tool
9-Jun-2010
US— Search marketing firm Kenshoo is to integrate data from Experian’s Hitwise Search Intelligence service into its SearchTM keyword bid management system.
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Consumers keen on co-creation, says Gongos survey
9-Jun-2010
US— The vast majority of consumers want to play a bigger role in the development of new products or the enhancement of existing ones, according to the results of a study by Gongos Research.
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E-Rewards and MarketTools strike TrueSample deal
9-Jun-2010
US— Online panel provider E-Rewards has struck a deal with MarketTools to offer the latter’s TrueSample panel cleaning software to clients.
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GfK finds Hungarian researchers most trusted in 19-country survey
9-Jun-2010
GERMANY— Market researchers in Hungary are the most trusted in the world, according to GfK’s latest Trust Index Survey which ranks professions by their “trustworthiness”.
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EmSense hires two staff to lead new London office
8-Jun-2010
UK— Neuromarketing technology firm EmSense has opened an office in London to its spearhead European expansion, with Esomar vice president Sue Nosworthy taking up a senior role.
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'No deal' to buy Comcon, says Synovate representative
8-Jun-2010
RUSSIA— A Synovate spokesman has told Research there has been “no deal at this point” to buy Moscow-based research agency Comcon, following reports in the Russian media.
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Chime appoints Gill Rumbold to research director role
8-Jun-2010
UK— Gill Rumbold has been appointed research director within the research and engagement division of marketing services group Chime.
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Millward Brown promotes UK & Ireland boss to European MD
8-Jun-2010
UK— Millward Brown has promoted Tim Wragg to the new position of chief executive officer for Europe. He was previously managing director for the UK and Ireland.
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IRI moves Cary Schneider to European role
7-Jun-2010
UK— Information Resources has appointed Cary Schneider as executive vice president of European operations and transformation.
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Tracking202 founders buy back business from Bloosky Interactive
7-Jun-2010
US— The founders of pay-per-click analytics firm Tracking202 have struck a deal to buy it back from direct marketing agency Bloosky Interactive – less than a year after the original deal was completed.
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uSamp adds US office, hires in India for project and IT work
7-Jun-2010
US— Online sample supplier uSamp has opened an office in Connecticut and formed a project management team to work out of India.
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People on the move
7-Jun-2010
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: Millward Brown Firefly, The Research Partnership, InsightsNow, Harte-Hanks Direct Marketing and Soup.
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NeuroFocus goes virtual with new 3D store research tool
4-Jun-2010
US— Neuromarketing research agency NeuroFocus has launched a 3D virtual reality tool, N-Matrix 3D, that it claims will bring digital technology “on a par with Avatar” – the James Cameron film – to the world of in-store research.
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Mall Networks signs Unica for web analytics
4-Jun-2010
US— Mall Networks has signed up to use Unica’s NetInsight OnDemand analytics software to report and analyse web visitor behaviour.
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Nielsen warming up for Life360 World Cup project
4-Jun-2010
SOUTH AFRICA— Nielsen and Blackberry maker Research in Motion have joined forces to measure local consumers’ lifestyle habits and engagement with brands and advertising during the upcoming World Cup.
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The script doctor will see you now – OTX to test movie screenplays
4-Jun-2010
US— The Worldwide Motion Picture Group at Ipsos OTX MediaCT has launched a division to evaluate films while they are still at script stage.
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Harris Interactive's Lifestreaming service goes live
3-Jun-2010
US— Harris Interactive officially launched its Lifestreaming service today, which tracks and analyses the social media activities of an opt-in group of the company’s online panellists.
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Nielsen files for $1.75bn initial public offering
3-Jun-2010
US— The private equity consortium that owns Nielsen, the world’s largest consumer and media research group, is looking to raise $1.75bn in an initial public offering (IPO).
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Ex-Schweppes insight manager returns to Millward Brown
3-Jun-2010
AUSTRALIA— Millward Brown has appointed former Schweppes insight manager Martin Attwood as senior account director in its Melbourne office.
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IAB Europe and Google unveil Consumer Commerce Barometer
3-Jun-2010
UK— IAB Europe and Google have teamed up to launch an online tool that provides advertisers and agencies with information about online purchasing behaviour across 27 countries.
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Survey Sampling in New Zealand panel launch
3-Jun-2010
NEW ZEALAND— Survey Sampling International has launched a new online consumer panel in New Zealand.
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Western Wats appoints vice president for online services group
2-Jun-2010
US— Data collection agency Western Wats has promoted Bob Fawson to lead its online services group. Fawson previously served as an account manager with the firm, which he joined in 2007.
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FactSet buys financial survey specialist Market Metrics
2-Jun-2010
US— Financial information and analytics firm FactSet Research Systems has acquired insurance and investment products survey specialist Market Metrics.
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Zee TV signs Rentrak for audience measurement
2-Jun-2010
US— Asian content broadcaster Zee TV has signed up to use Rentrak’s TV Essentials audience measurement service.
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Insight promotes Gazey to commercial development role
2-Jun-2010
UK— Insight Research Group has promoted Lee Gazey to the newly created role of commercial development director and added four new members of staff.
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Youthography sinks after stormy recession
2-Jun-2010
CANADA— Specialist youth research agency Youthography has shut down after a decade in business – a casualty of the recession, according to chief strategic officer Mike Farrell.
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SBS and Arbitron reach agreement to dismiss PPM legal dispute
2-Jun-2010
US— Arbitron and radio broadcaster Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) have reached an agreement to dismiss court proceedings stemming from a dispute between the two companies over Arbitron’s portable people meter-based (PPM) radio audience measurement.
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Chinese companies pile in for Vivaki's Pool project
1-Jun-2010
CHINA— Publicis-owned digital media agency Vivaki has launched a Chinese version of The Pool – its collaborative research project focusing on online video adverts.
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Cloud Mobile Forms unveils Blackberry survey tool
1-Jun-2010
US— Mobile technology firm Cloud Mobile Forms has launched a tool to allow users to conduct market research via Blackberry smartphones, called eSurvey.
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Minnesota Historical Society taps Vocus
1-Jun-2010
US— The Minnesota Historical Society has picked PR software firm Vocus to provide technology to manage media relations and monitor news and social media mentions.
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FourthWall Media forms media measurement unit
1-Jun-2010
US— Interactive television technology company FourthWall Media has formed a media measurement unit built around set-top box data analysis.
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Ricochet Research launches in Kenya
1-Jun-2010
KENYA— Vandi Hill and Babette van der Kloet have launched a new full service market research agency called Ricochet Research, based in Nairobi.
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This month we... had our brain scanned
June 2010
Our reporter James Verrinder dons a hat with wires attached to experience the power of neuromarketing first hand.
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Nielsen Online's UK managing director departs in restructure
28-May-2010
UK— Nielsen Online’s UK managing director Stephen Brooks has left the company as part of a restructure.
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QualVu adds Russian option to video research tool
28-May-2010
US— Video research technology firm QualVu has added a Russian language translation option to its qualitative offering.
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3M signs up for Webtrends Facebook Analytics
28-May-2010
US— Technology firm 3M has signed up to use Webtrends’ Facebook Analytics service to track and measure comments on the fan page for its Post-It range of products.
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NPD buys jewellery sales data specialist LGI Network
28-May-2010
US— The NPD Group has acquired jewellery sales information firm LGI Network for an undisclosed amount.
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The Leading Edge in Sydney hiring spree
27-May-2010
AUSTRALIA— Strategic research consultancy The Leading Edge has recruited five new members of staff after winning work from several major new clients including Tabcorp, Kraft and Wrigley.
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Publisher Red 7 Media launches research practice
27-May-2010
US— Business information publisher and event organiser Red 7 Media has launched a research and consulting division aimed at clients in the trade show and media sectors.
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Media Square posts loss while Illuminas shines
27-May-2010
UK— Media Square has posted a 23% drop in revenue for the full year period ending February 28 2010, but its research agency, Illuminas, has seen an increase in both revenue and profits.
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University researchers warn of response substitution in surveys
27-May-2010
US— Consumers will use surveys to vent their frustrations about a brand or product if they are not given adequate opportunity to express themselves, according to academics.
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New IAB mobile manager sets out research plan
26-May-2010
Last week the Internet Advertising Bureau appointed Alex Kozloff as mobile manager. We caught up with her to find out what sort of information the mobile ad industry needs and how she plans to provide them with it.
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Toluna chief hails 'excellent' first quarter
26-May-2010
UK— Online panel provider Toluna has beaten its projected figures for revenue and profits for the first quarter of 2010, CEO Frederic-Charles Petit told shareholders at its AGM today.
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Intel leads Arbitron and WPP in $18.2m TRA funding
26-May-2010
US— Intel Capital, Intel Corporation’s global investment arm, has invested $10m in TRA, which runs a combined TV viewing and purchase database to measure ROI for advertising spend.
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Mountain Dew co-creates media planning
26-May-2010
US— Consumers are influencing the media planning and buying process in the final phase of a co-creation project by drinks manufacturer Mountain Dew.
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OFT urges for targeted advertising transparency
25-May-2010
UK— The Office of Fair Trading has published the results of its market study into online targeted advertising and decided that “more could be done” to let the public know what is happening with their data.
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Rocket Fuel signs up for Nielsen purchase data
25-May-2010
US— Online display advertising agency Rocket Fuel has struck a deal with Nielsen to use the latter’s aggregated consumer purchase data to help marketers reach their intended audiences via the web.
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Simpson Carpenter appoints new head of qual
25-May-2010
UK— Simpson Carpenter has appointed Abi Markey as head of qualitative research, where she will take charge of qual work across the consumer, retail, automotive and TMT sectors.
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Constant Contact to acquire social media monitor NutshellMail
25-May-2010
US— Email marketing agency Constant Contact has acquired social media monitoring firm NutshellMail for an undisclosed amount.
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E1 Entertainment signs Rentrak for on-demand measurement
24-May-2010
US— TV, film and music distributor E1 Entertainment has signed up to use Rentrak’s OnDemand Essentials service to provide on-demand audience figures.
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TORA appoints director for FMCG shopping and retail research
24-May-2010
UK— The Oxford Research Agency has appointed Jamie Rayner as research director for FMCG shopper and retail research.
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Recession bites hard for Marketing Intelligence
24-May-2010
US— Arizona-based full-service research agency Marketing Intelligence will reportedly close its doors at the end of the month after just over a decade in business.
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EasyInsites adds GMTV to Cint Panel Exchange
24-May-2010
UK— The GMTV Viewback panel run by EasyInsites has been added to the Cint Panel Exchange, which gives third parties access to online panels around the world.
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Added Value bolsters brand development division
24-May-2010
US— Marketing insight agency Added Value has made three senior appointments within its brand development and innovation team.
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Peanut Labs rolls out social media sample in France
21-May-2010
US— Peanut Labs has introduced its social media sample in France, which allows marketers and researchers to survey profiled users from the country’s online population of three million individuals.
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Startex and Market Xcel partner for Indian mystery shopping venture
21-May-2010
INDIA— Startex Marketing Services (SMS) and data collection firm Market Xcel Data Metrix have launched a mystery shopping agency.
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Marketing Workshop signs Sentiment360 for social media measurement
21-May-2010
US— Research agency the Marketing Workshop has appointed Sentiment360 as its preferred social media measurement provider.
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Do House to offer virtual focus groups through 3Di deal
20-May-2010
JAPAN— Marketing and research agency Do House is to offer online “virtual group interviews” after striking a deal with technology firm 3Di.
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Hall & Partners in Singapore expansion
20-May-2010
SINGAPORE— Brand and communications research agency Hall & Partners has appointed Hilary Lee as managing partner to lead its new office in Singapore.
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CBC in the clear over complaints of potential polling bias
20-May-2010
CANADA— Public broadcaster CBC is in the clear over allegations of potential bias in its opinion polling process after one of the research firms it employs was wrongly accused of acting as an adviser to a political party.
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IAB appoints mobile manager to lead research efforts
20-May-2010
UK— The Internet Advertising Bureau has appointed Alex Kozloff as mobile manager to drive research and education efforts in the sector.
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Online qual specialist Revelation launches iPhone app
20-May-2010
US— Revelation, an agency specialising in online qual software and services, has developed an iPhone app that can be used to capture and record consumer behaviour in real time.
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Q1 revenue down, losses increase at iPerceptions
19-May-2010
CANADA— Web analytics firm iPerceptions has posted a drop in revenue and worsening losses for the first quarter of 2010.
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A&E Television Networks orders NeuroLab
19-May-2010
US— Cable and satellite network A&E Television has commissioned NeuroFocus to build it an on-site neuromarketing lab to test its viewers’ subconscious responses to programme content, advertising and promotions.
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Millward Brown and Scangroup establish new West Africa hub
19-May-2010
GHANA— Millward Brown and marketing services firm Scangroup have opened a hub office in Accra to serve the West African market through a joint venture arrangement.
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Members approve merger of WIN Network and GIA
19-May-2010
CANADA— Members of opinion polling body the Gallup International Association (GIA) and the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research (WIN) have voted in favour of merging the two organisations.
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Cisco to acquire product design consultancy MOTO
19-May-2010
US— Communications technology firm Cisco Systems has inked a deal to acquire product design, development and strategy consultancy MOTO Development Group for an undisclosed amount.
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Visible Technologies to make European push with UK office
19-May-2010
UK— Social media monitoring firm Visible Technologies has opened a new office in London to spearhead its expansion into Europe.
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Former Capital One insight manager joins Nunwood
19-May-2010
UK— Nunwood has appointed former Capital One researcher David Blackburn as an account director within its European Insight division.
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Lightspeed Research testing iPhone survey app
18-May-2010
UK— WPP-owned Lightspeed Research is working on an app that will allow panel members to take part in surveys through their iPhone.
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Yahoo man to lead Quantcast expansion into Europe
18-May-2010
UK— Web measurement firm Quantcast has appointed Philip Macauley as UK managing director to lead the company’s expansion into Europe.
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Ratings-hungry Gannett appoints two for TV audience measurement
18-May-2010
US— News broadcaster Gannett has signed up for local TV audience measurement from both Nielsen and Rentrak. The deal with Nielsen is a renewal of long-standing arrangement, but the Rentrak agreement is new and encompasses the latter’s StationView Essentials service.
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IFF Research scoops Employer Perspectives study
18-May-2010
UK— The Commission for Employment and Skills (CES) has contracted IFF Research to conduct a major study designed to help bridge the gap between employers’ needs and the country’s skills provision.
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BrainJuicer in Brazilian launch
18-May-2010
BRAZIL— BrainJuicer has opened an office in Brazil and appointed Gabriel Aleixo as managing director for the country. Aleixo was most recently a marketing services director for Philips.
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Synovate sees signs of improvement in Q1, says Aegis
18-May-2010
UK— Organic revenue growth is within sight for Synovate with the first quarter down just 1.9% year on year, compared to a decline of 5.5% in the fourth quarter of 2009, parent company Aegis said in an interim management statement today.
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Sands Research promises faster brain scanning
17-May-2010
US— Neuromarketing agency Sands Research is claiming a ‘breakthrough’ in the field with technology that enables sensors to capture brainwave activity 10,000 times per second.
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Ex-MTV and Coca-Cola researcher takes TNS youth role
17-May-2010
HONG KONG— TNS has appointed Ian Stewart as regional director for youth in the Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa region.
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OnePoll unveils iPhone survey app
17-May-2010
UK— Online survey firm OnePoll has launched a free iPhone app that allows users to take part in surveys and receive rewards.
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SAP to acquire database software firm Sybase for $5.8bn
17-May-2010
US— Business software firm SAP has acquired mobile database software specialist Sybase in an all-cash deal worth $5.8bn, or $65 per share.
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News bodies seek $224,000 costs over Minnesota exit poll dispute
17-May-2010
US— A group of news organisations is seeking nearly a quarter of a million dollars in legal fees from the state of Minnesota following a successful challenge to restrictions on exit polls.
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People on the move
14-May-2010
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: Compete, Intersperience, TNS RI Brazil, Burger King, JD Power, Askia UK, Vision Critical, Digital Radio UK, ORC International, Bellomy Research, MarketShare Partners and the Web Analytics Association.
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Lovett and Pugh Immerse themselves in new venture
14-May-2010
UK— James Lovett and Mark Pugh have launched a new research and consulting agency, Immerse, which aims to work with clients in the retail, telecoms, financial and professional services sectors.
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Obama nominates pollster for USAID administration role
14-May-2010
US— President Barack Obama has nominated pollster Mark Feierstein for the position of assistant administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean, USAID (United States Agency for International Development).
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Western Wats recruiting in call centre expansion
14-May-2010
US— Fieldwork agency Western Wats is expanding its call centre operations in three states and creating 170 jobs in the process.
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Fox and Innerscope expand research partnership
13-May-2010
US— Neuromarketing agency Innerscope has designed a new service for Fox Broadcasting to test advertising and content effectiveness.
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AnswerLab hires former Nielsen Mobile Insights director
13-May-2010
US— Online user experience research agency AnswerLab has appointed Kate Taplin as director of research.
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Experian and BSkyB launch insight and database JV
13-May-2010
UK— Information services company Experian has struck a deal with British Sky Broadcasting to form a consumer and media insight and database marketing agency.
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Anglican Church of Canada conducts major online qual study
13-May-2010
CANADA— The Anglican Church of Canada has been using online qualitative research to find out how it can remain relevant to Anglicans over the next decade.
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Skopos unveils online buzz-tracking tool
13-May-2010
UK— Skopos has launched a new tool to help clients track online buzz and monitor what is being said about them on social media sites.
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CIMM publishes new set-top box data lexicon
12-May-2010
US— The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement has published a set of common terms for use in the analysis and processing of set-top box data for audience measurement.
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MDC Partners takes majority stake in Integrated Media Solutions
12-May-2010
US— Marketing and communications group MDC Partners has acquired a majority stake in direct response media and analytics agency Integrated Media Solutions (IMS). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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TORA takes slice of social media agency Simply Zesty
12-May-2010
UK— The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) has paid €500,000 for a “significant minority stake” in Irish social media research and communications firm Simply Zesty.
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First Ipsos, now GfK posts improved first quarter sales
12-May-2010
GERMANY— GfK has reported a “strong” first quarter of 2010 with increases in sales, gross income and operating income. The firm posted a revenue drop of 4.6% for 2009, but saw signs of a recovery in the final quarter of the year that have carried over into the first three months of 2010.
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Gallup International Association and WIN Network strike merger deal
12-May-2010
CANADA— The Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research (WIN) is set to merge with global research and opinion polling body the Gallup International Association (GIA).
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Ipsos sees return to growth in first quarter with revenue up 14%
11-May-2010
FRANCE— Ipsos has reported double-digit revenue growth and a return to organic growth for the first quarter of 2010, with sales increasing across all its operating regions and business lines.
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Ex-YouGov qualitative head takes Engage role
11-May-2010
UK— Engage Research has appointed Andy Barker, YouGov’s former head of qualitative research, as a director. Barker had been with YouGov since 2008 and was responsible for building the firm’s qual offering from scratch.
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Rentrak adds another two TV audience measurement clients
11-May-2010
US— Rentrak has won two new TV audience measurement clients in the shape of Spanish-language education network HITN and Canadian private broadcaster CTV.
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Nielsen rolls out Australian mobile internet measurement service
11-May-2010
AUSTRALIA— Nielsen has added mobile internet audience measurement to its Australian market intelligence service.
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Nunwood studies consumer engagement for CMO Club
11-May-2010
UK—The Chief Marketing Officers’ Club has teamed up with Nunwood to research how brands can better engage with their customers.
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Second Nebraska call centre closed by Western Wats
10-May-2010
US— Fieldwork agency Western Wats has closed its call centre in Wayne, Nebraska, axing around 50 part-time jobs in the process.
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Orlando CVB picks Tree for tourism research task
10-May-2010
UK— The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau (Orlando CVB) has appointed research agency Tree to investigate what makes consumers decide to holiday in Orlando.
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Ex-Leading Edge directors launch Fiftyfive5
10-May-2010
AUSTRALIA— Karen Phillips and Darren Kemp, former directors of The Leading Edge, have launched a research agency called Fiftyfive5.
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SponsorMap to sponsor Canadian Formula 3 racing
7-May-2010
CANADA— Sports sponsorship measurement agency SponsorMap has struck a deal to be one of the sponsors of the Formula 3 motor racing championship in Canada.
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Cint and Krea partner for panels in India
7-May-2010
INDIA— Research software and services firm Cint has formed a strategic alliance with local panel company Krea to service clients in India.
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Paddy Power bets on Unica for web analytics solution
7-May-2010
UK— Bookmaker Paddy Power has signed up marketing software firm Unica’s NetInsight OnDemand technology to measure user interaction with its online gambling services.
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Former researchers Zahawi and Danczuk win seats in UK parliament
7-May-2010
UK— The results of yesterday’s general election have mostly been declared and among the winners are two former bosses of market research agencies.
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Kinetic looks to the future through new think tank
6-May-2010
US— Kinetic Worldwide, the GroupM-owned outdoor advertising agency, has launched a new global group to focus on the long-term future of the media and marketing business.
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Invoke Solutions appoints new chief executive
6-May-2010
US— Invoke Solutions, a provider of online and mobile research technology and services, has appointed Basil Bennett as its new chief executive officer.
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Gartner toasts double-digit growth in research revenue
6-May-2010
US— IT researcher Gartner has posted an 8% increase in revenue to $295.8m for the first quarter of 2010, compared to $273.5m in the same period last year.
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CozyCot appoints Nielsen for web analytics and audience measurement
6-May-2010
SINGAPORE— Women’s website CozyCot has signed Nielsen to carry out web analytics and audience measurement services.
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Harris looks to tap the social media 'lifestream' of survey respondents
5-May-2010
US— Sometimes in social media research it is hard to discern the person behind the username. Harris Interactive hopes to have found a solution to this problem by recruiting its online panellists to a new ‘lifestreaming’ platform.
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People on the move
5-May-2010
The latest appointments and promotions from the global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: Ci Research, Synovate Healthcare, InMobi, Jovoto, River Research, ComScore, FD, MarketTools, Service Monitor Group and Saatchi & Saatchi X.
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Panel provider Netquest in Brazilian launch
5-May-2010
BRAZIL— Online panel and fieldwork agency Netquest has opened a new office in São Paulo. The firm, which already operates panels in its native Spanish market, Portugal and Mexico, says the new office positions it to offer “quality panels and advanced survey tools” to researchers in Brazil.
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Social media monitor Klout scores private equity funding
30-Apr-2010
US— Social media monitoring firm Klout has been awarded $1.5m in Series A funding from a group of private equity investment houses.
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Gongos Research launches new financial team
30-Apr-2010
US— Gongos Research has formed a new team to provide qual and quant research services to the finance and banking sector.
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Speed-Trap and Stratigent partner for analytics expansion
30-Apr-2010
UK— Web analytics firm Speed-Trap has formed a partnership with analytics and marketing optimisation agency Stratigent to deploy its online behavioural data capturing and insight software in the US.
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Peanut Labs signs deal to recruit teens via online games
30-Apr-2010
US— Peanut Labs has teamed up with publisher Nexon America to conduct a series of online surveys with teenagers.
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Harris targets US improvement after Q3 loss
30-Apr-2010
US— Harris Interactive has posted a slight increase in revenue for the third quarter of its 2010 financial year but reported an overall loss for the period.
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Former Forrester VP unveils customer experience consultancy
29-Apr-2010
US— Former Forrester Research vice president and principal analyst Bruce Temkin has formed a consultancy that aims to help companies become more consumer-centric.
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Vision Critical launches new concept testing tool
29-Apr-2010
CANADA— Vision Critical has launched an online tool that allows clients to test new product ideas before deciding whether to develop them further.
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ComScore plots acquisitions off the back of record Q1 performance
29-Apr-2010
US— ComScore has posted record revenue of $36.1m for the first quarter of 2010, an increase of 18% on last year’s total of $30.6m – leading the firm to predict that this year will be the “strongest” in its history.
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Kantar Media rolls out Ad Network Reporting tool
28-Apr-2010
US— Kantar Media has launched a competitive intelligence tool for site owners and media companies who are looking to compare the scale and performance of online ad networks.
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Attensity Group to acquire social media monitor Biz360
28-Apr-2010
US— Text analytics firm Attensity Group has inked a deal to acquire social media monitoring firm Biz360 for an undisclosed amount.
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Top brands show resilience in Millward Brown Optimor survey
28-Apr-2010
US— The world’s biggest brands rallied against the recession and saw their value grow by 4% last year, according to the latest Millward Brown Optimor Brandz survey.
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Rentrak signs Eurocinema for video on demand measurement
27-Apr-2010
US— Movie broadcaster Eurocinema has signed Rentrak to provide video on demand (VOD) measurement services in the US and Canada.
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Eurosport launches TV audience measurement offering
27-Apr-2010
SPAIN— Broadcaster Eurosport is offering its advertisers access to a new TV audience measurement system that brings together data from eight countries across the continent.
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Munro Global named Anchor research partner
27-Apr-2010
UK— Munro Global has been appointed the main research partner for not-for-profit company Anchor, which specialises in providing care services to the elderly.
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People on the move
27-Apr-2010
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: CMI, Bonamy Finch, Adenyo, Leapfrog, Motally, Synovate, The Oxford Research Agency, Simpson Carpenter, MMR Group and GfK NOP.
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Vision Critical names new managing director for UK
26-Apr-2010
UK— Online research agency and technology company Vision Critical has appointed Sally Campbell as its new managing director in the UK.
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Datamonitor Group wraps up packaging acquisition
26-Apr-2010
UK— Business information specialist Datamonitor Group has acquired packaging research and analysis firm Pack-Track for an undisclosed amount.
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Private equity consortium plots Nielsen IPO – report
26-Apr-2010
US— The private equity companies that own Nielsen are looking to float the firm this year, according to a report in the Financial Times.
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Synovate rolls out Media Atlas study in China
26-Apr-2010
CHINA— Synovate has launched its Media Atlas syndicated survey in China, to investigate consumer lifestyle, spending and media habits.
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Kantar merges Millward Brown Precis with media intelligence division
23-Apr-2010
UK— Kantar Media has merged media measurement and evaluation agency Millward Brown Precis with its own media intelligence division.
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Pulse Group unveils new automotive and healthcare division
23-Apr-2010
MALAYSIA— Digital research agency Pulse Group has launched new practices dedicated to healthcare and automotive research, offering both full-service and fieldwork-only project capability.
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TNS named as preferred supplier for Tata Beverages' NPD work
23-Apr-2010
UK— TNS Research International has seen off competition from Nielsen Bases and Acupoll to be named as the Tata Beverage Group’s preferred global supplier of new product development research.
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Nielsen's R&D programme goes live in China
23-Apr-2010
CHINA— Nielsen has announced the launch of its research and development programme in China, which aims to drive innovation in methodologies in industries such as digital media measurement.
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Social media monitoring firm offers human touch
22-Apr-2010
US— Sentiment360, a new social media monitoring firm, launched today – touting its use of human analysts for all its data reporting.
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Minority broadcasters and Arbitron settle PPM sampling dispute
22-Apr-2010
US— Arbitron has settled its long-running dispute with minority owned broadcasters who claim that the ratings firm’s portable people meter-based (PPM) radio measurement system undercounts their audience and harms their advertising revenue.
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The Leading Edge names new chief executive
22-Apr-2010
AUSTRALIA— Research and strategy consultancy The Leading Edge has appointed Andy Bateman as its new global CEO ahead of a planned move into the US this year.
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GfK buys Agricultural Information Services business
22-Apr-2010
UK— Agricultural and animal health market research agency GfK Kynetec has acquired the non-crop research business of Agricultural Information Services for an undisclosed amount.
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Pollster to close ANOP Research Services – report
21-Apr-2010
AUSTRALIA— Veteran pollster Rod Cameron is closing his company, ANOP Research Services, after almost 40 years in the business, according to Australian broadsheet The Age.
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New Cypriot agency scouting for insights
21-Apr-2010
CYPRUS— Former Synovate researcher Raoufeh Kemal has launched a new boutique agency, Insight Scouts, which will cover the Middle East, North Africa and Central and Eastern Europe.
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Ex-Starcom MediaVest research VP given Kantar role
21-Apr-2010
US— Kantar Media North America has appointed Richard Fielding to the newly created position of chief client officer. He joins the firm from Starcom MediaVest where he was vice president and director of the global research group.
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Nunwood buys David Conway Consultancy to boost customer experience measurement
21-Apr-2010
UK— Nunwood has acquired specialist customer satisfaction and employee engagement agency The David Conway Consultancy for an undisclosed amount.
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Synovate appoints public sector, charities and transport head
21-Apr-2010
UK— Richard Abraham has been appointed head of the public sector, charities and transport industry sector team at Synovate. The role has been vacant since the death of Nigel Jackson in a skiing accident last year.
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Research agency owner Photon Group names new CEO
20-Apr-2010
AUSTRALIA— Marketing services and communications house Photon Group, which owns research agencies Jigsaw and The Leading Edge, has appointed Jeremy Philips as chief executive.
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Ex-Sony researcher to head Hall & Partners' Berlin office
20-Apr-2010
GERMANY— Former Sony researcher Michaela Bergenthal has been appointed to lead Hall & Partners’ new office in Berlin.
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Networked Insights secures $5m more funding
20-Apr-2010
US— Social media monitoring firm Networked Insights has received a further $5m in funding from existing investor Kengosa Capital Partners.
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Social media monitor Overtone receives $7m cash injection
20-Apr-2010
US— Social media monitoring firm Overtone has been awarded $7m in private equity funding.
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Florida TV station signs Rentrak for audience measurement
20-Apr-2010
US— Florida-based CW Television Network-affiliate WXCW has signed up to use Rentrak’s StationView Essentials service, which provides broadcasters with information about viewing habits in local markets using set-top box data.
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Virgin Atlantic hands Coremetrics analytics task
19-Apr-2010
US— Virgin Atlantic Airlines has contracted marketing optimisation agency Coremetrics to provide analytics and consultancy services across its website and other online channels.
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NeuroFocus Europe MD recounts Dunkirk drama
19-Apr-2010
UK— The managing director of neuromarketing agency NeuroFocus Europe today recounted an epic 582-mile journey home amid the travel chaos caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland.
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MetrixLab hires for US expansion
19-Apr-2010
NETHERLANDS— Online research agency MetrixLab has launched in the US with the opening of a new office in Miami, Florida.
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Mesh Planning targets floating voters with election experience tool
19-Apr-2010
UK— Mesh Planning has teamed up with the Cranfield School of Management to evaluate how daily experiences with political parties in the build up the the general election effect the final decision of floating voters.
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People on the move
16-Apr-2010
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: ODC Services, CMI, Market Probe, Blueocean, Discovery Research, Microsoft, Datran Media and Chadwick Martin Bailey.
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Reaction polls take centre stage after historic TV election debate
16-Apr-2010
UK— No sooner had the UK’s first ever televised leaders’ debate gone off air last night when a host of research companies went into overdrive to deliver almost instantaneous feedback – with many news outlets billing the quick-reaction polls as historic events in their own right.
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Web Analytics Association rolls out certification program
15-Apr-2010
US— The Web Analytics Association has launched a certification programme for IT and marketing professionals. To pass the programme, entrants must demonstrate knowledge and expertise in the areas of web analytics for site optimisation, measuring marketing online campaigns and creating and managing an analytics business culture.
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Ipsos MediaCT fields 'major' trial of radio audience measurement tool
15-Apr-2010
UK— Ipsos MediaCT has embarked on a “major” field test of its MediaCell mobile phone-based radio audience measurement system, working in partnership with a number of London-based commercial radio stations.
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AIP launches online panels in India and Vietnam
15-Apr-2010
JAPAN— Online sample provider AIP Corporation has launched new panels in India and Vietnam. The firm said that it expects to have 5,000 panel members in India and 2,000 in Vietnam by June this year.
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Western Wats pays $500k fine over child labour violations
15-Apr-2010
US— Fieldwork agency Western Wats has paid $500,000 in civil money penalties after a Department of Labor investigation ruled that the firm had breached child labour laws.
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Spanish Broadcasting System 'switches PPM encoding back on'
14-Apr-2010
US— Spanish Broadcasting System has reportedly re-started encoding its radio content so that it can be detected by Arbitron’s portable people meter (PPM) devices.
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BBM Analytics and Adease launch radio ad tracking service
14-Apr-2010
CANADA— BBM Analytics and Adease Media Research have inked a deal to track broadcasts of radio advertisements across five Canadian markets.
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Welsh Assembly Government to award £10,000 research grants
14-Apr-2010
UK— The Welsh Assembly Government is looking to award research grants of up to £10,000 as part of its New Ideas social research fund.
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Ex-Synovate researcher weaves together new consultancy offer
14-Apr-2010
SINGAPORE— Former Synovate and Cadbury Schweppes researcher Neil Gains has launched a new market research consultancy, Tapestry Works, to service clients across Asia.
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GfK appoints former Future Foundation man to Roper Consulting role
14-Apr-2010
UK— GfK has appointed Joe Staton as global consumer trends director of its Roper Consulting business, where he will be responsible for leading development around the TrendKey consumer trends platform.
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Rentrak snares National Geographic on-demand measurement contract
13-Apr-2010
US— National Geographic Networks has contracted Rentrak to provide video on-demand measurement services for its newest channel, Nat Geo Wild.
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Omniture adds iPad analytics tools to Online Marketing Suite
13-Apr-2010
US— Omniture has upgraded its Online Marketing Suite by adding new tools that measure iPad content and applications.
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Synovate moves Miller to CEO of North America business
13-Apr-2010
US— Scott Miller has been promoted to chief executive officer for North America at Synovate, replacing Robert Skolnick who has been moved to a new role.
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Masmi appoints new MD to spearhead European expansion
13-Apr-2010
UK— Research group Masmi has appointed Michalis Michael to the newly created position of managing director for Western Europe, where he will be responsible for expanding the firm’s activities across the continent and growing online research offerings
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TNS scoops Indian public sector contract win
12-Apr-2010
INDIA— The TNS Social Research Unit in India has been awarded a three-year contract worth $1.8m a year to gather data about the health of pregnant women, young mothers and infants.
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Esomar switches APAC conference venue after Thai unrest
12-Apr-2010
NETHERLANDS— Esomar has moved its 2010 Asia Pacific conference from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur in light of the political unrest in the country, which saw 21 people killed in demonstrations over the weekend.
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Rajar chief executive Sally de la Bedoyere steps down
12-Apr-2010
UK— Radio ratings body Rajar is looking for a new chief executive officer following the resignation of Sally de la Bedoyere.
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YouGov confident of recovery after turnover and profits fall
12-Apr-2010
UK — YouGov has reported declines in its turnover and operating profit for the six month period ending 31 January 2010 in the face of “challenging” market conditions. Turnover was down 6% to £21.3m from £22.6m and operating profit fell 15% to £1.35m.
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ABC targets small to midsize newspapers with new readership study
9-Apr-2010
US— Media auditing body the Audit Bureau of Circulations has launched a new readership study for small to mid-size newspapers across North America.
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The Newspaper Works to issue formal RFTs
9-Apr-2010
AUSTRALIA— Print industry body The Newspaper Works will next week issue three research agencies with formal Requests For Tender as part of continuing efforts to establish a new print readership survey.
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MumPanel opens for business
8-Apr-2010
UK— Freelance marketer Lynne Barcoe has launched a new firm, MumPanel, which aims to connect companies with mothers across the country through online surveys, discussions and product reviews.
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Youth Dynamix to offer snapshot of African youth
8-Apr-2010
SOUTH AFRICA— WPP-owned youth marketing and research agency Youth Dynamix is launching a new survey into 18-25 years old in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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IntelliClear and Luth Research strike technology panel partnership
8-Apr-2010
US— Business consultancy IntelliClear has partnered with Luth Research to create eight online panels for use in technology industry research projects.
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VisualDNA tool promises web publishers a clearer picture of their audience
8-Apr-2010
UK— Internet user profiling firm VisualDNA is launching a tool to help online publishers get a clearer picture of who is reading their content using an entirely image-based survey system.
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Knowledge Networks adds Conde Nast's Ethan Rapp to media team
7-Apr-2010
US— Knowledge Networks has appointed Ethan Rapp as senior vice president of business insight in its media practice. Rapp (pictured) was most recently director of custom research at Conde Nast Publications, where he oversaw marketing and editorial research for titles including Vogue and Vanity Fair.
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FremantleMedia launches viewer panel in Germany
7-Apr-2010
UK— TV production company FremantleMedia has launched a version of its iCount TV viewer research panel in Germany after 12 months of operations in the UK.
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AOL pondering Bebo sell-off
7-Apr-2010
US— Internet provider AOL has told employees that it is looking into the possibility of selling social networking site Bebo, two years after it bought the site for $850m.
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Research Now rolls out Spanish B2B and affluent consumer panel
7-Apr-2010
SPAIN— Online data collection and sample provider Research Now has launched a new panel in Spain made up of business decision-makers and affluent consumers.
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Publicis gets In-Sync with healthcare MR acquisition
7-Apr-2010
FRANCE— Publicis Groupe has acquired Canadian healthcare market research consultancy In-Sync for an undisclosed amount.
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Wisniewski promoted to lead Nielsen's New Zealand panel rollout
6-Apr-2010
NEW ZEALAND— Nielsen has promoted Amanda Wisniewski to commercial director in its online division in New Zealand, with responsibility for overseeing the launch of a new audience measurement panel in the country this year.
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Univision encodes broadcasts for PPM, but doesn't take Arbitron data
6-Apr-2010
US— Hispanic broadcaster Univision Radio has started encoding its content in five markets so that it can be picked up by Arbitron’s portable people meter (PPM) audience measurement devices.
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Turkish industry bodies plan new TV ratings committee
6-Apr-2010
TURKEY— Three industry associations have joined forces to revamp TIAK, the joint industry committee for TV ratings in Turkey, after the country’s Competition Board ordered the body to restructure.
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Nielsen rolls out TV audience measurement service in Puerto Rico
6-Apr-2010
US— Nielsen has launched its TV audience measurement service in Puerto Rico, where it will provide ratings data from a panel of 500 homes fitted with people meters on their television sets .
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Joan Koh promoted to MD at Nielsen Singapore
1-Apr-2010
SINGAPORE— Nielsen has promoted Joan Koh to managing director of its operations in Singapore.
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ComScore launches online video measurement tool across Asia Pacific
1-Apr-2010
SINGAPORE— ComScore has rolled out its online video measurement service in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.
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Research Now appoints Nader Kobeissi to Middle East role
1-Apr-2010
DUBAI— Online fieldwork agency Research Now has appointed Nader Kobeissi as vice president of client development for the Middle East.
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Court lifts order forcing SBS to keep encoding in Arbitron PPM dispute
1-Apr-2010
US— A New York court has reversed its decision to award Arbitron a temporary restraining order that forced Spanish Broadcasting System to keep encoding its radio content so that it could be detected by the firm’s portable people meter (PPM) devices.
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Ipsos and Future Publishing team up for video game insight tool
30-Mar-2010
US— Magazine publisher Future US and Ipsos OTX MediaCT US have struck a partnership to create a new consumer research tool focusing on video games.
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Mediamark probes digital magazine consumption with in-home survey
30-Mar-2010
US— Mediamark Research & Intelligence is embarking on a project that explores how consumers read digital magazine, and whether changes need to be made to its Survey of the American Consumer to reflect new reading habits.
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US Postal Service unveils new customer experience measurement
30-Mar-2010
US— The US Postal Service (USPS) has overhauled its customer experience measurement system to allow more detailed assessment of its four main touchpoints: receiving mail, sending mail, visiting the post office and contacting the Postal Service.
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Former Apple marketing manager takes Vision Critical role
30-Mar-2010
CANADA— Online research agency Vision Critical has appointed former Apple marketing manager Steven Davis to the newly created position of director of product innovation.
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GfK Asia and Mobile Entertainment Forum team up on industry report
29-Mar-2010
SINGAPORE— GfK Asia and trade association the Mobile Entertainment Forum have struck a partnership to provide the industry with information about the market for mobile content.
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Lou Harris crafts first political poll in 20 years
29-Mar-2010
US— Veteran pollster Lou Harris has returned to the fray to craft a series of surveys on the current political climate for the company that bears his name, Harris Interactive.
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Toluna reports record revenue in 'remarkable' 2009
29-Mar-2010
UK — Toluna chief executive Frederic-Charles Petit has hailed a “remarkable” year for the company after it reported a 128% increase in revenue for 2009.
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Alliance Films signs Rentrak for video on-demand measurement
26-Mar-2010
CANADA— Distribution company Alliance Films has contracted Rentrak to provide video on-demand measurement services.
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Nielsen denies Sunbeam allegations and renews call for dismissal
26-Mar-2010
US— Nielsen has filed an official response to the anti-trust lawsuit brought against it by Miami broadcaster Sunbeam Television, denying all allegations and calling again for the court to dismiss the case.
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Judge rejects OTX call for Screen Engine restraining order
26-Mar-2010
US— Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant has rejected OTX’s request for a temporary restraining order against former executive Kevin Goetz and his new company Screen Engine.
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The Leading Edge restructures Sydney management
25-Mar-2010
AUSTRALIA— The Leading Edge has restructured its Sydney operation with the appointment of two joint managing partners.
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Research Panel Asia launches in South Korea
25-Mar-2010
SOUTH KOREA— Research Panel Asia’s South Korean subsidiary has started recruitment activty for a new online panel service in the country.
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OTX embarks on legal action against former executives
25-Mar-2010
US— Movie researcher OTX has launched legal proceedings against Kevin Goetz, the former president of its worldwide motion picture research group, claiming that he used company data and tried to poach key staff when he set up his own business earlier this year.
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ComRes operations chief sets departure for post-election business launch
24-Mar-2010
UK— Greig Baker is to leave his position as head of operations at ComRes to form a new public affairs consultancy after the general election.
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MTV Networks to 'laser-target' consumers through Media TRAnalytics
24-Mar-2010
US— MTV Networks has signed up to use advertising ROI agency TRA’s analytics service to help marketers target audiences that purchase their products.
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Nielsen and Openwave launch mobile 'insight engine'
24-Mar-2010
US— Nielsen has agreed a data-sharing deal with mobile analytics software firm Openwave Systems to launch an “insight engine” for mobile network operators.
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Mystery shopper Grass Roots merges teams
24-Mar-2010
UK— Customer satisfaction and mystery shopping agency Grass Roots has merged its learning and measurement teams and added a new commercial relations director.
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People on the move
22-Mar-2010
The latest appointments and promotions from the global market research industry. This week: Essential Research, RDSI, Harris Interactive, GfK NOP, Lightspeed Research, ABI Research, Sewells, Netquest, Qforma, Hall & Partners and more.
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WPP agencies Maxus and BPG Media team up in Middle East
22-Mar-2010
DUBAI— Maxus, a marketing and media services agency within WPP’s GroupM group, has formed a strategic alliance with local firm BPG Media to establish a presence in the Middle East and North Africa.
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Munro Group pools resources for analytics division
22-Mar-2010
UK— Research group Munro Global has launched a new division, Munro Analytics, offering forecasting, cluster analysis, geographic and geo-demographic analysis, text mining and other services.
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E-Rewards chief steps into spotlight with $1m theatre donation
19-Mar-2010
US— The Resident Acting Company at the Dallas Theater Center is to be renamed the Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company following a $1m donation from the E-Rewards chairman and his wife.
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Ex-SSI MD joins data collection firm WorldOne
19-Mar-2010
UK— Healthcare data collection agency WorldOne has appointed Kim-Fredrik Schneider as senior vice president.
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Former InfoGroup CFO rejects SEC settlement
19-Mar-2010
US— InfoGroup’s former chief financial officer Stormy Dean has rejected a settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, according to reports.
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Nobel Prize winner joins NeuroFocus advisory board
19-Mar-2010
US— Neuromarketing agency NeuroFocus has appointed Nobel Prize laureate Eric Kandel to its advisory board.
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uSamp launches panel management tool
19-Mar-2010
US— Sample supplier uSamp has unveiled a web-based panel management platform designed to make online research simpler.
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Confirmit and MDRC strike Asia Pac reselling deal
19-Mar-2010
US— Research software maker Confirmit has signed an agreement for MRDC Thailand to sell its products in the Asia Pacific market.
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eDigital Research awarded Moneysupermarket task
18-Mar-2010
UK— Price comparison website Moneysupermarket.com has signed online specialist eDigital Research to gauge consumer opinion and keep track of market trends.
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Zenith Media signs up for Rentrak's TV Essentials
18-Mar-2010
US— Media planning agency Zenith Media has become the latest firm to buy in to Rentrak’s TV Essentials audience measurement service.
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Strategic Vision releases first public poll since AAPOR rap
18-Mar-2010
US— Opinion polling firm Strategic Vision has issued the results of its first statewide poll in six months since falling foul of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR).
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Buxton and Environics strike analytics deal
18-Mar-2010
US— Texas-based customer analytics firm Buxton has agreed a data-sharing deal with Canadian segmentation and real estate site analysis firm Environics Analytics.
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UKOM names former GCap researcher as new general manager
18-Mar-2010
UK— James Smythe has been appointed general manager of the UK Online Measurement Company, the body responsible for producing the country’s industry-backed online audience measurement system.
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Improved second-half performance helps Synovate meet expectations
18-Mar-2010
UK— Synovate rallied after a difficult first half of 2009 to report ‘strong second half revenue and cost performance’ for the year, according to figures released today by parent company Aegis.
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Former Yahoo execs launch data analytics agency
17-Mar-2010
US— Two former Yahoo executives have launched a data analytics firm that boats a range of services designed to help companies measure and understand consumer intent, nPario.
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Acrobat Research to cut jobs at Calais call centre
17-Mar-2010
US— Canadian data collection firm Acrobat Research is to cut an undisclosed number of jobs at its call centre in Calais, Maine.
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Market Force snaps up cinema checker Ted Costas
17-Mar-2010
US— Customer intelligence agency Market Force Information has acquired the Ted Costas Group, which specialises in cinema mystery shopping and film print checking.
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Nielsen and eXelate strike data partnership
17-Mar-2010
US— Online data targeting marketplace eXelate has struck a deal with Nielsen that will see data from three of the latter’s offline household segmentation systems added to its offering.
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Former InfoGroup chief to pay $7.4m to settle SEC charges
16-Mar-2010
US— Former InfoGroup chairman and CEO Vin Gupta has agreed to pay $7.4m to settle charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which accused him of treating the firm “like it was his personal ATM”.
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New Chime research chief puts faith in clientside expertise
16-Mar-2010
UK— The new chief executive of Chime’s research division, Crispin Beale, tells Research how he plans to revive the fortunes of the group following ‘very disappointing’ results for 2009.
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UAE gets green light for people meter TV measurement
16-Mar-2010
UAE— Ministers have given the National Media Council the go-ahead to launch a people meter-based TV audience measurement service in the United Arab Emirates.
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Ipsos names COO for the Middle East
16-Mar-2010
JORDAN— Mustapha Tabba has been promoted to the new role of chief operating officer of Ipsos Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
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McCann Manchester acquires Blue Banana Agency
15-Mar-2010
UK— Marketing communications agency McCann Manchester has acquired qualitative market researcher the Blue Banana Agency for an undisclosed amount.
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Africa's Scangroup and Smollan launch JV
15-Mar-2010
KENYA— WPP-owned marketing services firm Scangroup has formed a joint venture with South Africa’s Smollan Group to provide marketing services across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
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Arbitron kicks off radio sports audience service
15-Mar-2010
US— The new Arbitron Sports division has launched with a report evaluating how many people listen to American football on the radio.
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Rentrak snares MTV Networks for TV ratings service
15-Mar-2010
US— MTV Networks has become the first major cable company to sign up to Rentrak’s TV Essentials audience measurement service.
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New head of healthcare at Harris Interactive
12-Mar-2010
UK— Suhas Khanderia has been appointed head of healthcare research in the UK at Harris Interactive.
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Sky re-appoints SPA for customer satisfaction tracking task
12-Mar-2010
UK— Broadcaster and internet provider Sky has re-appointed SPA to run its customer satisfaction tracking survey.
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The Online Circle launches social media monitoring tool
11-Mar-2010
AUSTRALIA— Internet marketing agency The Online Circle has launched a new online tracking tool to monitor conversations across blogs, social media networks and forums.
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Millward Brown unveils viral ad potential metric
11-Mar-2010
UK— Millward Brown has developed a metric to help marketers predict the viral potential of video adverts.
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Sunrise signs up for Nielsen radio ratings
11-Mar-2010
US— New York-based radio station owner Sunrise Broadcasting has become the latest company to sign up to Nielsen’s radio ratings service.
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Quantcast to offer country-specific online audience data
11-Mar-2010
US— Web measurement firm Quantcast has announced the launch of a localised audience data service for every country.
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Private equity firm pumps $35m into 1010data
11-Mar-2010
US— Data analytics firm 1010data has secured a $35m minority investment from Norwest Venture Partners.
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YouGov Siraj and Analyseize strike partnership
10-Mar-2010
JORDAN— YouGov Siraj has signed an agreement with Jordanian market research agency Analyseize to work together to provide research services in Jordan.
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'Very disappointing' research performance mars Chime results
10-Mar-2010
UK— Chime Communications’ “best results ever” have been marred by the performance of the group’s research division, which includes agencies Opinion Leader, Brand Democracy, and Facts International.
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Millward Brown to open Vietnamese office
10-Mar-2010
VIETNAM— Millward Brown is to open a new office in Vietnam in the second half of this year.
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GfK names innovation manager for custom research arm
10-Mar-2010
UK— Norbert Wirth has been appointed global innovation manager of GfK’s custom research business.
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ComScore spells out TV audience measurement plan
9-Mar-2010
ComScore’s expansion from web audience measurement to TV audience measurement may come as a surprise to some, but the firm says it has always been on the cards.
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New executive director joins Web Analytics Association
9-Mar-2010
US— The Web Analytics Association has appointed Mike Levin as its new executive director.
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'Too early' to comment on potential sell-offs, says InfoGroup CEO
9-Mar-2010
US— InfoGroup CEO Bill Fairfield has said it is too soon to tell whether potential new owner CCMP Capital will sell off any of the database marketing firm’s business units, such as Opinion Research Corporation.
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Clarins smells promise in launch of co-creation community Womanity
9-Mar-2010
FRANCE— Designer Thierry Mugler and the Clarins Fragrance Group have launched a new online co-creation community, Womanity.com.
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IFF scoops double European Social Fund contract
9-Mar-2010
UK— IFF Research has been appointed to assess the impact of two European Social Fund programmes in Wales.
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ORC owner InfoGroup agrees $635m private equity takeover
8-Mar-2010
US— InfoGroup, the database marketing firm and owner of research agency Opinion Research Corporation, has entered into an agreement to be bought by private equity house CCMP Capital in a $635m deal.
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Court denies Nielsen's third motion to dismiss Sunbeam case
8-Mar-2010
US— Third time unlucky for Nielsen. A district court judge has refused the TV ratings firm’s latest attempt to dismiss an antitrust case brought against it by Florida broadcaster Sunbeam Television.
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Babble viewing centre opens for business
5-Mar-2010
UK— A new viewing facility and discussion gallery has opened its doors in Solihull. The new facility, called Babble, is fitted with the same camera system as TV’s Big Brother, a triple-glazed mirror between the viewing suite and discussion gallery and “state of the art” soundproofing.
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ComScore eyes up television measurement forays, and hires former Arbitron exec
5-Mar-2010
US— Web measurement firm ComScore looks poised to make a push into the TV audience measurement business and has hired former Arbitron executive Joan Fitzgerald to lead the foray.
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Mobile marketing and analytics firm Adenyo scoops $27m funding
5-Mar-2010
US— Mobile marketing software firm Adenyo has secured $26.9m in private equity funding which it says it will use to accelerate international growth.
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Hewlett Packard insights manager takes up ORC technology role
4-Mar-2010
US— Former Hewlett Packard insights manager Nancy Bray has been appointed research director in the technology practice at InfoGroup-owned ORC.
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B2B International sees revenue rise and industry optimism return
4-Mar-2010
UK— Specialist business-to-business research agency B2B International has reported nearly 10% rise in revenue for 2009.
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Anheuser-Busch insights and strategy VP to leave in reshuffle
4-Mar-2010
US— Brewer Anheuser-Busch’s vice president of consumer strategy, insights and innovations will leave the company at the end of March, according to reports.
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People on the move
4-Mar-2010
The latest appointments and promotions from the global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: QA Research, ORC, Globalpark, ViziSense, MRops, Market Probe and more.
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Royal Mail taps eBay data for direct marketing targeting tool
4-Mar-2010
UK— The Royal Mail has teamed up with eBay data analysis firm Advanced Ecommerce Research Systems (AERS) to launch a new service to help direct marketers target the households likeliest to buy their products.
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Initiative Australia hires research manager
3-Mar-2010
AUSTRALIA— Damian Vanderwolf has been appointed to the newly created role of research manager at media agency Initiative Australia.
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BBM Analytics and Nielsen strike data integration deal
3-Mar-2010
CANADA— BBM Analytics has struck a deal to tie radio ratings data with music airplay information from Nielsen’s Broadcast Data Systems to show how individual songs are rated on a minute-by-minute basis and how listeners react over a longer period of time.
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MarketTools adds trio of TrueSample customers
3-Mar-2010
US— Panel suppliers McMillion Research, uSamp and Western Wats have signed up to use MarketTool’s TrueSample panel cleaning software.
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Private equity firms finalise IMS Health acquisition
3-Mar-2010
US— Investment groups TPG Capital and the CPP Investment Board have completed their $5bn takeover of healthcare researcher IMS Health.
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MDLinx and DXY strike China healthcare panel deal
2-Mar-2010
US— Healthcare panel firm MDLinx has struck a deal with Chinese portal DXY that will give it exclusive access to the latter’s panel of 350,000 China-based physicians.
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NeuroFocus appoints new advisory board members
2-Mar-2010
US— Neuromarketing agency NeuroFocus has added two new members to its advisory board – Barry Herstein and Dr Adam Gazzaley.
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MS Research International founder Seth Micah Bonnie dead at 65
2-Mar-2010
GHANA— Seth Micah Bonnie, the founding managing director of Marketing and Social Research International Ghana, has died aged 65.
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Omniture adds two new analytics customers
2-Mar-2010
UK— Omniture is celebrating a double contract win after CareerBuilder.com and Forbes.com signed up to use its online analytics software.
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Simpson Carpenter names ex-TNS RI division head as TMT leader
2-Mar-2010
UK— Simpson Carpenter has appointed Mike Stevens, a former divisional head within TNS Research International, as its new director of telecommunications research.
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Private equity house linked with InfoGroup bid
1-Mar-2010
US— Database marketing firm InfoGroup, the owner of research agency Opinion Research Corporation, could be the target of a bid from a New York-based private equity house, according to press reports.
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Ex-Dexterity KPO boss launches Indian panel firm Krea
1-Mar-2010
INDIA— The former CEO of Dexterity KPO Services has launched a new company to provide clients with online and offline panels made up entirely of Indian consumers.
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Synovate appoints MD for UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iran
1-Mar-2010
UAE— Synovate has appointed Clayton Buckley as its new managing director for the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
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OTX promotes Bruzzese to head of Motion Picture Group
1-Mar-2010
US— OTX has promoted Vincent Bruzzese to lead its Motion Picture Group in the US following the departure of president Kevin Goetz.
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Opinion Leader tends to nurse and midwives survey task
19-Feb-2010
UK— Health advisory body the National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS) has contracted Opinion Leader to carry out a quantitative survey of concerns around nursing and midwifery.
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SPSS adds three new analytics software clients
19-Feb-2010
US— Tesco Mobile heads a trio of firms who have signed up to use SPSS’s predictive analytics software to gain insights into customer behaviours and help improve retention rates.
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Actis takes $50m stake in outsourcing firm Integreon
19-Feb-2010
US/INDIA— Private equity investment house Actis has acquired a “substantial minority stake” in research and business services outsourcing firm Integreon.
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Nielsen to measure Samsung out-of-home signage
19-Feb-2010
US— Samsung Electronics America has signed Nielsen to provide ongoing audience measurement for its digital out-of-home signage networks, PROM.
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YouGov and News International team up for daily polls
18-Feb-2010
UK— YouGov has launched a new daily polling service in partnership with News International to track voting intentions and gauge public opinion on topical issues ahead of the upcoming general election.
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Arbitron says it's poised for 2010 growth with '09 revenue up 4%
18-Feb-2010
US— Radio ratings firm Arbitron predicted modest growth for 2010 as it reported an 8.5% rise in revenue for the fourth quarter of 2009 and a 4.4% increase for the full 12 months.
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SBS not cowed by PPM encoding order
18-Feb-2010
US— Radio station owner Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) appears uncowed by a court order earlier this week forcing it to resume encoding its broadcasts for measurement by Arbitron’s portable people meter-based (PPM) ratings system.
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Venture capitalists pump $4m into Effective Measure
18-Feb-2010
AUSTRALIA— Online audience measurement firm Effective Measure has secured $4m in private equity funding. The cash will be used to support “growing demand” for its services, the firm said.
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ORC taps Mzinga for community-building software
17-Feb-2010
US— Infogroup-owned research agency ORC has struck a deal with online social software provider Mzinga to offer clients online market research community services.
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Court sides with Arbitron against SBS
17-Feb-2010
US— A New York court has ordered radio station owner Spanish Broadcasting System to keep encoding its broadcasts so they can continue to be measured by Arbitron’s portable people meter-based ratings service.
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MediaVest appoints analytics guru
17-Feb-2010
US— Pathikrit SenGupta has been appointed senior vice president and analytics director at Publicis-owned media agency MediaVest.
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JD Power and Better Business Bureau strike content sharing deal
17-Feb-2010
US— The Better Business Bureau and JD Power & Associates have formed an online content sharing agreement to help consumers research and identify trustworthy businesses.
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MTV partners with Quantcast for online ad targeting
17-Feb-2010
US— MTV Networks has signed up to web measurement firm Quantcast’s Media Program to help online video advertisers target specific audiences.
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Scarborough adds cell-only households to more local market samples
17-Feb-2010
US— Media and consumer research agency Scarborough is adding cellphone-only (CPO) households to the sample for its Top-Tier Local Market studies in an additional 20 local markets.
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People on the move
16-Feb-2010
The latest appointments and promotions from the global marketing research industry, including Australia Online Research, Kadence International and Gongos Research.
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New research director joins Leapfrog
16-Feb-2010
UK— Leapfrog Research & Planning has hired Amanda Souter as a research director to work across the brand, communications and media and health and wellbeing divisions.
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Radio stations attack Indian ratings system
16-Feb-2010
INDIA— Radio station owner Reliance Media World has accused the Media Research User Council’s ratings system of undercounting the number of listeners in smaller towns.
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PPM Coalition calls for FCC probe in light of Arbitron's legal dispute with SBS
15-Feb-2010
US— Customers of Arbitron’s PPM radio ratings system have called on the Federal Communications Commission to investigate the system, after the research firm took action to force a broadcaster to continue encoding its signals.
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STRC Research unveils millionaire panel
15-Feb-2010
UK— STRC Research has launched a new panel of Middle East-based millionaires which it plans to offer as a research resource to luxury goods brands.
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PAC ups Media Square ownership to 28.5%
15-Feb-2010
UK— Investment house Prime Active Capital has upped its stake in marketing communications group Media Square from 21% to 28.5% after buying 3,350,000 shares at 15 pence each.
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Youth researcher Dubit hits back at press criticism
15-Feb-2010
UK— Youth research and marketing agency Dubit has gone on the offensive after several newspaper reports over the weekend accused the firm of paying children to “plug junk food”.
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Tribal DDB taps Visible Technologies for social media launch
12-Feb-2010
US— Digital marketing agency Tribal DDB Worldwide has struck a deal with Visible Technologies to give its clients access to the latter’s TruCast social media analysis products.
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GfK's mobile sales tracking service unveiled in Ireland
12-Feb-2010
IRELAND— GfK has launched its Mobile Telecom retail panel in the Republic of Ireland, which collates electronic point-of-sale data to report on the best selling handsets and tariffs in the market.
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Court orders Spanish radio broadcaster to resume PPM encoding
12-Feb-2010
US— Arbitron has been granted a temporary restraining order to force a radio broadcaster to resume encoding its broadcasts so that they can be detected by the firm’s portable people meter (PPM) technology.
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Agency wanted for Sport England survey
12-Feb-2010
UK— Sport England, the government agency responsible for encouraging people to take part in sporting activities, is looking for a research agency to carry out The Active People Survey.
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Nielsen moves to dismiss latest Sunbeam antitrust complaint
11-Feb-2010
US— Nielsen has made a third bid to dismiss allegations of antitrust violations brought by Sunbeam Television, arguing that the broadcaster has failed to present a substantive claim for monopolistic abuse.
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Metrics Marketing opens eye-tracking lab
11-Feb-2010
US— Interactive marketing agency Metrics Marketing has opened a research lab in Westlake, Ohio, to carry out a range of eye-tracking projects for clients.
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NeuroFocus in Australian joint venture with Nielsen
11-Feb-2010
AUSTRALIA— NeuroFocus is set to launch its services in Australia through a joint venture with Nielsen, which bought a stake in the neuromarketing firm in 2008.
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ComScore in deal to buy ad researcher ARSGroup
11-Feb-2010
US— ComScore has move to bulk up its ad measurement capabilities with an all-cash deal to acquire advertising research agency ARSGroup.
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Ex-1HQ executives launch Brand Potential
10-Feb-2010
UK— A trio of former colleagues at brand agency 1HQ have launched a new consultancy that sets out to work with companies to help “accelerate” brand growth.
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Forrester plans investment after 'beating plan' for 2009
10-Feb-2010
US— Forrester Research has reported revenue drops in the fourth quarter and for 2009 as a whole, but chairman and CEO George Colony said the firm was moving into 2010 with a view to investing for growth.
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Gartner chief expects 'double-digit revenue growth' in 2010
10-Feb-2010
US— Gene Hall, CEO of IT industry analyst Gartner, predicts that the firm will see double-digit revenue growth this year after posting a 11% decline in sales for 2009.
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Cambiar and Gordon & McCallum partner for client service
10-Feb-2010
US— MR consulting agency Cambiar has formed a strategic partnership with Gordon & McCallum, a research consulting business based in Australia and New Zealand.
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Compete and 24/7 Real Media team up for targeted advertising
9-Feb-2010
US— Kantar-owned web measurement firm Compete has joined forces with WPP’s 24/7 Real Media digital marketing agency to help clients ensure that their online ads are seen by specific consumer segments
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Bark to take 10% stake in neuromarketing agency Mindmetic
9-Feb-2010
DENMARK— Advertising agency Bark Group has signed a letter of intent to acquire a 10% stake in UK-based neuromarketing agency Mindmetic.
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Hitwise internet measurement debuts in France
9-Feb-2010
FRANCE— Experian has launched its Hitwise internet measurement service in France. The service will report the internet habits of around 90,000 internet users across 75,000 websites.
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Brett Marchand named new Cossette president and COO
9-Feb-2010
CANADA— Marketing services group Cossette has appointed Brett Marchand as president and chief operating officer of the company’s global operations.
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Shareholders give thumbs-up to IMS Health takeover
9-Feb-2010
US— IMS Health shareholders have voted to approve the healthcare researcher’s $5bn takeover by investment groups TPG Capital and the CCP Investment Board.
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Rentrak adds Dish Network data to TV Essentials
8-Feb-2010
US— Rentrak has struck a deal with satellite TV broadcaster Dish Network to integrate the latter’s set-top box data into its TV Essentials audience measurement service.
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Book researcher BML acquired by Bowker
8-Feb-2010
US— Publishing services firm Bowker has acquired UK-based book researcher BML for an undisclosed amount. BML, which runs the Books & Consumers survey and the BookZone research panel, will be integrated into Bowkers business intelligence division.
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Nielsen promotes Mathur to South Asia MD
8-Feb-2010
INDIA— Piyush Mathur has been promoted to managing director of Nielsen’s South Asia business, replacing Partha Rakshit who is retiring after 28 years with the company.
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ComScore appoints former AOL man to CTO role
5-Feb-2010
US— ComScore has appointed Chris Nicotra as chief technology officer, replacing Greg Dale who was promoted to chief operating officer.
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Initiative Australia hires research and consumer insights chief
5-Feb-2010
AUSTRALIA— Philip Booth has been appointed strategic research and consumer insights manager at media agency Initiative Australia. He joins the firm from communication research group Pollinate, where he was head of the qual team.
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Future Foundation founder joins The Communications Agency
4-Feb-2010
UK— Melanie Howard has been appointed to the newly created role of director of insight at branding consultancy The Communications Agency.
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Digital Research launches Waggle Omnibus
4-Feb-2010
US— Digital Research has launched a new community-based online qual service, the Waggle Omnibus.
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Market Probe Europe adds new faces
4-Feb-2010
US— Full service research agency Market Probe Europe has announced four new hires, starting with the appointment of Nanno Palte as vice president.
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Genpact to acquire Symphony Marketing Solutions
4-Feb-2010
US— Outsourced business services firm Genpact has acquired data analytics agency Symphony Marketing Solutions for an undisclosed amount.
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MMA launches digital media effectiveness tool
3-Feb-2010
US— Marketing Management Analytics (MMA) has launched a new tool to help clients measure the effectiveness of digital media alongside other elements of the marketing mix.
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Idaho research call centre axes jobs
3-Feb-2010
US— Data collection firm Mountain West Research Center has cut an unspecified amount of jobs at its Pocatello call centre in Idaho.
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Cint appoints global panels vice president
3-Feb-2010
US— Research software and services firm Cint has appointed Sandy Casey as vice president of global panel operations.
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Harris Interactive wins double cinema contract
3-Feb-2010
UK— The Cinema Advertising Association has appointed Harris Interactive to conduct its ongoing Film Audience Measurement and Evaluation (Fame) and Film Monitor research studies.
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BlueKai scoops $21m in private equity funding
2-Feb-2010
US— Online data provider BlueKai has secured $21m in series C fundraising led by GGV Capital and existing investors Redpoint Ventures and Battery Ventures.
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E-Tabs to open New Zealand office
2-Feb-2010
UK— Report automation software and services firm E-Tabs is set to open an office in New Zealand in June.
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Harris and Rentrak to measure mobile digital TV viewing
2-Feb-2010
US— Harris Interactive and Rentrak have been hired by the Open Mobile Video Coalition to study consumer habits during the coalition’s Mobile DTV Consumer Showcase event.
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Sands Research and Market Watch team for neuromarketing in Israel
2-Feb-2010
ISRAEL— US-based neuromarketing agency Sands Research has partnered with Israeli market research and polling firm Market Watch to introduce neuromarketing services in the country.
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Gelia snaps up media research specialist NorthEast Media
1-Feb-2010
US— New York-based marketing communications agency Gelia has acquired media research, planning and buying firm NorthEast Media for an undisclosed amount.
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Synovate appoints healthcare chief for Thailand
1-Feb-2010
THAILAND— Jocelyn Phinijarom has been appointed head of healthcare research at Synovate in Thailand, with a focus on developing the firm’s ethical and consumer healthcare business.
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Toluna says 2009 sales to top £49m after 'strong' year
1-Feb-2010
UK— Online panel provider Toluna has boasted of a “strong” financial performance in 2009 with reported revenues set to top £49m for the year, according to a trading update.
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That's a wrap! Rentrak completes takeover of box office data firm
1-Feb-2010
US— Rentrak has completed the $15m acquisition of Nielsen EDI, the ratings firm’s film industry research business.
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Simon Bolus becomes research director at Barb
1-Feb-2010
UK— The Broadcaster’s Audience Research Board (Barb) has appointed Simon Bolus to the post of research director from April 2010.
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TNS integrates Foresight Group into stakeholder management arm
28-Jan-2010
US— TNS has integrated its employee research firm The Foresight Group into its stakeholder management division.
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Ipsos to acquire OTX
28-Jan-2010
FRANCE— Ipsos has agreed a deal to acquire US-based online research group OTX for an undisclosed amount.
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Twitter rolls out Local Trends tool
28-Jan-2010
US— Twitter has launched a new service that allows users to see what the most popular conversation topics are at state and city levels.
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Ipsos and Telemundo partner for Hispanic polls
28-Jan-2010
US— Ipsos and Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo have teamed up to launch a polling service that will keep track of the attitudes and opinions of Hispanic people.
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Progressive names Fraser as managing director
27-Jan-2010
UK— Louise Fraser has been appointed managing director at Scottish independent research agency Progressive, replacing Mark Cuthbert after 10 years in the role.
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Peanut Labs Media platform wins ten gaming clients
27-Jan-2010
US— Ten social gaming publishers have signed up to use Peanut Labs Media’s monetisation platform, which rewards gamers with virtual goods and game credits in return for taking part in surveys.
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Ex-Nielsen VP Marc Ryan takes InsightExpress role
27-Jan-2010
US— Marc Ryan has been appointed senior vice president and chief research officer at digital research agency InsightExpress.
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UK launch for Nielsen and Facebook's online ad testing tool
27-Jan-2010
UK— Facebook and Nielsen are rolling out their BrandLift online ad testing tool in the UK, following its launch in the US last September.
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Leapfrog Research toasts new wine contract
26-Jan-2010
UK— Laithwaites Wine has appointed Leapfrog Research to evaluate how customers and prospects perceive the wine merchant.
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Experian Simmons launches syndicated ad evaluation tool
26-Jan-2010
US— Experian Simmons has launched a new weekly syndicated service to provide clients with insights into consumer trends and evaluate ad effectiveness.
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Millward Brown, Cymfony and Dynamic Logic partner for social media tracking
26-Jan-2010
US— Millward Brown and its digital agency Dynamic Logic have joined forces with Kantar-owned sister company Cymfony in an effort to produce a more complete view of brand health through social media insights.
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CIMM plans development of set-top box measurement 'language'
26-Jan-2010
US— The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement has announced the next stage of its set-top box audience measurement initiative – the development of an industry-wide language for analysing and processing data.
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Comcon takes tough stance over TGI trademark in Russia
25-Jan-2010
RUSSIA— Research agency Comcon has vowed to continue using the TGI survey brand in Russia following Kantar’s decision to make a TNS survey the official TGI partner in the country.
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ORC hitches cell phone users to Caravan omnibus sample
25-Jan-2010
US— ORC is adding 250 cell phone users to the sample of its Caravan Telephone Omnibus – reflecting “the growing importance of cell phone usage nationwide”.
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Nielsen announces schedule for online/offline TV metric
25-Jan-2010
US— Nielsen will introduce internet meters to households in its National People Meter sample by the end of August, and before the end of the year it will produce the first set of TV ratings to combine figures for shows viewed on televisions and computers.
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People on the move
22-Jan-2010
The latest promotions and appointments from around the global research and insight industry, including news from MSR Consulting, Burke, Synovate France and more.
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Round three under way in Sunbeam vs Nielsen TV ratings dispute
22-Jan-2010
US— Sunbeam Television has filed a second amended anti-trust complaint against Nielsen, following the part-dismissal of its previous complaint earlier this month.
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Ipsos completes takeover and integration of Ireland's MRBI
22-Jan-2010
IRELAND— The Market Research Bureau of Ireland has been renamed Ipsos MRBI on the completion of its acquisition by Ipsos.
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ViziSense tests ad monitoring tool for India
22-Jan-2010
INDIA— Web audience analytics firm ViziSense has launched a beta version of new tool to provide users with information about online advertising trends.
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Brazil's Ibope takes majority stake in Zogby International
21-Jan-2010
US— Brazilian research group Ibope has bought a 51% stake in pollster Zogby International. Terms have not been disclosed, however a Zogby spokesman told Research the size of the investment “was in the millions”.
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Nielsen bags Black Crow Media as radio ratings client
21-Jan-2010
US— TV measurement giant Nielsen has bagged another customer for its radio ratings service, with which it is challenging Arbitron’s dominance in 51 small and medium-sized markets.
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KDA Insights launched by ex-RI and Carphone Warehouse execs
21-Jan-2010
UK— The former head of product insight at The Carphone Warehouse and two ex-Research International executives have joined forces to launch a new agency, KDA Insights.
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Harris names EVP for brand and comms consulting
21-Jan-2010
US— Jeni Lee Chapman has been appointed executive vice president of global brand and communication consulting at Harris Interactive where she will be responsible for working to refine a product portfolio in brand strategy, communication development/testing and tracking.
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Nulink Analysis launched in Australia
21-Jan-2010
AUSTRALIA— Former Research International marketing science director Scott MacLean has launched a new firm that specialises in providing clients with consultation on research design and interpretation, Nulink Analytics.
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Latitude Insights plans iPhone community research test
20-Jan-2010
AUSTRALIA— Online research community builder Latitude Insights is planning a test community of iPhone users to see how the smartphones can be used for community-based research purposes.
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Alterian sees strong Q3, but warns full-year might miss targets
20-Jan-2010
UK— Marketing analytics software firm Alterian has reported strong revenue growth for the third quarter of 2009 but warned that its US business may have to achieve higher than anticipated revenue to meet market expectations for the full year, owing to a weak performance in Europe.
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Rebrands for United Sample and Data Development Worldwide
20-Jan-2010
US— Online panel provider United Sample and research agency Data Development Worldwide have rebranded.
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AdBrite picks WebTrends for ad network analytics
20-Jan-2010
US— Online ad marketplace AdBrite has signed up to use WebTrends’ Analytics 9 tool to provide insight into visitor behaviour across its advertising networks.
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Retail Eyes scoops Subway customer experience task
20-Jan-2010
UK— Fast food chain Subway has re-appointed mystery shopping firm Retail Eyes to run its Customer Experience Improvement Programme.
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Environics partners with Exvisu to form Nexalogy Environics
20-Jan-2010
CANADA— Research and analytics group Environics has partnered with the founders of social media monitoring agency Exvisu to create a new social media insight and analysis firm called Nexalogy Environics.
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Nielsen backs postgraduate MR course in India
19-Jan-2010
INDIA— Nielsen and the Northpoint Centre of Learning business school have joined forces to launch a fast-track postgraduate course in market research.
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Ex-Arbitron and Nielsen CEOs join Innerscope
19-Jan-2010
US— Former Nielsen Media Research and Arbitron CEOs John Dimling and Steve Morris have joined the board at Innerscope, which uses biometrics and neuroscience in media research.
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Dmrkynetec integrated into GfK and rebranded
19-Jan-2010
UK— Agricultural and animal health market research specialist Dmrkynetec has been integrated into the GfK Global Network and rebranded as GfK Kynetec.
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DIY online survey tool goes live
19-Jan-2010
US— AskYourTargetMarket, an online, on-demand survey and panel service that offers research for under $30, has gone live.
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Failure rate in business services sector remains below average
19-Jan-2010
UK— The rate of insolvencies in the business services sector held below average in December, with the number of firms failing down 4% from the same period in 2008.
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Making PPM pay is 'front and centre' of new Arbitron CEO's plans
18-Jan-2010
US— William Kerr says the commercialisation of the firm’s portable people meter (PPM) radio audience measurement technology is his top priority.
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Omniture tool picked for Toyota analytics task
18-Jan-2010
JAPAN— Toyota Motor Corporation has signed up to use Omniture’s SiteCatalyst online analytics platform to analyse and optimise its marketing campaigns.
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Esomar publishes draft mobile research guidelines
18-Jan-2010
NETHERLANDS— Esomar has released a set of draft guidelines that aim to address legal, ethical and practical questions about research conducted via mobile phones.
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People on the move
15-Jan-2010
The latest appointments and promotions in the global research and insight industry. This week: Sands Research, ComScore, Market Fusion Analytics, Kadence International, Getmemedia, Synovate, Evolution Market Research, eBureau, Zimmerman Advertising, Silver Fern Research, Decision Resources and ICM.
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Mediacom hires consumer insights director
15-Jan-2010
US— Jennifer Marino has been appointed senior partner and director of consumer insights at marketing and media communications agency Mediacom.
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IFM bowled over by West Indian cricket contract
15-Jan-2010
UK— The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has appointed IFM Sports Marketing Surveys as its research consultant, tasked with carrying out a range of projects.
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P&G plans new online store as 'research lab'
15-Jan-2010
US— Proctor & Gamble is to launch a new website to study how people shop and buy online – while selling some of its most popular products direct to consumers.
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IFF wins Guernsey childcare study
15-Jan-2010
UK— The States of Guernsey Government has contracted IFF Research to conduct a survey into attitudes to childcare.
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$22m funding for blog-watcher Visible Technologies
14-Jan-2010
US— Social media monitoring agency Visible Technologies has been awarded $22m in private equity funding to help it develop its technology and expand its international operations.
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Ratings rift rocks Turkish television industry
14-Jan-2010
TURKEY— The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) has thrown the Turkish TV industry into turmoil with plans to withdraw its channels from the ratings system run by AGB Nielsen, which is commissioned by joint industry committee TIAK.
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PSB co-founder Matt Carter takes Burson-Marsteller role
14-Jan-2010
UK— The UK co-founder and joint EMEA managing director of strategic research agency Penn Schoen & Berland Associates, Matt Carter, has been appointed CEO of UK operations at PR and communications firm Burson-Marsteller.
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Market Strategies transfers audience data collection arm to Dialsmith
14-Jan-2010
US— Market Strategies International has sold its MSInteractive audience data collection division to a start-up firm, Dialsmith, run by former MSInteractive vice president David Paull.
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The Research Partnership appoints new US president
13-Jan-2010
US— Harriet Kozak has been appointed US president at pharmaceutical research agency The Research Partnership.
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Tasty new research agency opens doors
13-Jan-2010
UK— An award-winning chef and a former Ogilvy marketer have teamed up to launch The Food Nursery, a new company that offers research and NPD services to the food industry.
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Ex-Nokia analysis chief takes Semphonic role
13-Jan-2010
US— Nokia’s former head of analysis Greg Dowling has been appointed vice president at web analytics consultancy Semphonic.
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R/GA appoints chief strategy officer to lead research efforts
13-Jan-2010
US— William Charnock has been appointed chief strategy officer at digital advertising agency R/GA, where he will take charge of the firm’s research, planning and strategy teams.
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Cicero Group buys Utah pollster Dan Jones & Associates
13-Jan-2010
US— Research and strategy agency Cicero Group has acquired polling and data collection firm Dan Jones & Associates for an undisclosed amount.
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Powered ups the ante with three social media acquisitions
12-Jan-2010
US— Brand community builder Powered has reinvented itself as a social media marketing agency after completing a trio of acquisitions – Crayon, Drillteam and StepChange.
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VBSI picks Confirmit for survey software deal
12-Jan-2010
US— Viacom Brand Solutions International has contracted with research software firm Confirmit to provide new survey software for its My MTV consumer research panel.
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Burrell puts 'multi-ethnic urban males' under the spotlight
12-Jan-2010
US— Marketing communications agency Burrell Communications has launched a new subsidiary, Threshold Nation, which aims to provide clients with information about the multi-ethnic urban male consumer.
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Skarzynski quits Arbitron for giving false information to Congress
12-Jan-2010
US— Arbitron president and CEO Michael Skarzynski has resigned from his position at the radio ratings firm with immediate effect for giving false information at a hearing of the US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
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Sunbeam's antitrust claims against Nielsen dismissed
11-Jan-2010
US— A Florida court has for a second time dismissed antitrust claims brought by Sunbeam Television against TV ratings firm Nielsen – but the broadcaster has again been given leave to amend its complaint.
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Age Concern Liverpool opens up over-50s database for MR
11-Jan-2010
UK— Age Concern Liverpool is letting market research agencies use its database of 20,000 over-50s to survey the ‘grey pound’.
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Surveying the changing political and social landscape
11-Jan-2010
2010 promises much to excite UK psephologists: a general election and the chance of a change in government after 13 years of Labour rule. But are the electorate enthused by the upcoming political bun fight? TNS-BMRB’s new unit aims to find out.
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MR to help curries spice up healthy eating credentials
8-Jan-2010
UK— DJS Research has been commissioned by the East Midlands Beacon Partnership Project to look into ways to make Indian takeaway food more healthy.
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PPM scoops TV measurement Emmy
8-Jan-2010
US— Arbitron has won an Emmy Award for Broadcast Audience Measurement Technology for its portable people meter technology.
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TNS-BMRB launces Social & Political Attitudes Unit
8-Jan-2010
UK— TNS-BMRB will launch a new division this month to monitor voting intentions and keep track of social and political trends.
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Jive Software makes social media monitoring buy
7-Jan-2010
US— Social business software developer Jive Software has acquired social media monitoring technology firm Filtrbox for an undisclosed amount.
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Ad agency Bark gets emotional with neuromarketing technology
7-Jan-2010
DENMARK — Advertising and marketing agency Bark Group is working with neuromarketing agency MindMetic to help it produce ad campaigns that bring out a stronger emotional response among consumers.
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People on the move
7-Jan-2010
The latest appointments and promotions in the global research industry. This week: Synovate, MMR Research Worldwide, Response Mine Interactive, [x+1], HCD Research and the Marketing Research Association.
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ForeSee Results nabs gaming site satisfaction deal
7-Jan-2010
US — Online video game rental firm GameFly has contracted ForeSee Results to gauge customer opinion about its website.
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Two more sign up for Rentrak’s local TV ratings service
6-Jan-2010
US— Sinclair Broadcast Group and Lin TV have signed up to Rentrak’s local TV ratings service, StationView Essentials.
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Arbitron delays PPM switch in New Orleans indefinitely
6-Jan-2010
US— Arbitron has delayed introducing its portable people meter (PPM) radio ratings service in the New Orleans market “until further notice”.
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Vovici scoops BlogHer engagement and panel contract
6-Jan-2010
US— Womens blogging network BlogHer has tapped Vovici technology to gather feedback from members and measure engagement levels across its various campaigns and programmes.
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ING Direct re-hires Virtual Surveys for c-sat task
6-Jan-2010
UK — Savings and mortgages firm ING Direct has re-commissioned Virtual Surveys to run its customer satisfaction research activities in 2010.
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Gartner snaps up IT specialist Burton Group
6-Jan-2010
US — IT industry researcher Gartner has acquired Burton Group, which specialises in research and advisory services for front-line IT workers, for $56m. The deal follows Gartner’s $64m acquisition of AMR Research in early December.
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Vision Critical hires corporate development MD
6-Jan-2010
CANADA — Andrew Iain Reid has been appointed managing director of corporate development at online research agency Vision Critical.
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US cell-only households hit 23%
22-Dec-2009
US— The proportion of cell-only households in the US rose to 22.7% in the first half of this year, according to the latest figures from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which tracks landline and cellphone usage every six months.
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Synovate strengthens China qual team
22-Dec-2009
CHINA— Synovate has appointed Sareem Chen as associate director in the qualitative division at its Beijing office, where she will focus on developing proprietary qual tools for local clients.
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Bloomberg Television signs up for Rentrak ratings
21-Dec-2009
US— Financial news provider Bloomberg has signed up Rentrak to provide audience measurement services for its TV channel, Bloomberg Television.
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E-Rewards completes Research Now acquisition
21-Dec-2009
UK— E-Rewards has completed its £85m takeover of rival online panel provider Research Now.
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SIS and Brandtology partner for online buzz tracking
21-Dec-2009
US— SIS International Research and online buzz tracking agency Brandtology have joined forces to track sentiment and conversations on social networking websites and blogs.
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Business services sector sees highest closures in November
21-Dec-2009
UK— The business services sector has once again seen the highest amount of insolvencies according to Experian’s latest monthly Insolvency Index.
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TNS-BMRB opens public sector comms research centre
18-Dec-2009
UK— TNS-BMRB has launched a communications research centre to help public sector clients improve the delivery of their communications and campaigns.
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iPowow hires for US expansion
18-Dec-2009
US— Australian research agency iPowow has beefed up its management team as part of its expansion into the US.
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Skim to open London office
17-Dec-2009
UK— Research agency Skim is to open a new office in London in mid-January.
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Nielsen changes stance on 'live' TV metric
17-Dec-2009
US— Nielsen has told clients that it will be keeping the ‘live only’ TV metric as currency in local markets after coming under pressure from customers.
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Peanut Labs unveils gamer panel
17-Dec-2009
US— Peanut Labs has launched a new panel of more than 194,000 gamers recruited through social media sites such as Facebook and MySpace.
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Aviva appoints UK marketing chief
17-Dec-2009
UK— Insurance group Aviva has appointed Gary Price to the newly created role of marketing director for its UK businesses.
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Nurago appoints former TNS man Hummerston as MD
16-Dec-2009
UK— Research technology agency Nurago International has appointed Arno Hummerston to the newly created role of managing director.
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Dell debuts feedback sessions on insight community
16-Dec-2009
US— Dell has added a new feature to its IdeaStorm customer insight community allowing it to run feedback sessions, seeking input from targeted community members within an allocated time frame.
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Rentrak to buy Nielsen movie measurement arm in $15m deal
16-Dec-2009
US— Media measurement firm Rentrak has agreed a $15m deal to acquire Nielsen EDI, a division of the ratings giant focused on measurement and research solutions for the film industry.
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MRI aims to improve marketing mix models for mags
15-Dec-2009
US— Market Research & Intelligence is beta testing a new syndicated software tool that it claims will improve the quality of marketing mix models for magazines.
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Synovate appoints UK commercial director
15-Dec-2009
UK— Neil Davy has been appointed to the newly created role of commercial director at Synovate.
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Compete and WPP's MIG to evolve B3 ad service
15-Dec-2009
US— Kantar-owned web measurement firm Compete has joined forces with WPP’s Media Innovation Group (MIG) to upgrade the latter’s B3 online advertising service.
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Guardian axes customer insight jobs
14-Dec-2009
UK— The owner of the Guardian newspaper has cut five jobs in its customer insight and data marketing departments, as part of a wider restructuring.
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Nielsen and Catalina form marketing ROI joint venture
14-Dec-2009
US— Nielsen and Catalina Marketing have formed a joint venture to provide consumer packaged goods and media companies with measurement tools to link consumers’ buying behaviour with their exposure to marketing materials.
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Terapeak launches eBay research iPhone app
14-Dec-2009
CANADA— Analytics firm Terapeak has launched an iPhone application that allows users to conduct market research before selling products on eBay.
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Aura reaches for the Sky with new chairman
11-Dec-2009
UK— Danny Russell, the marketing strategy director at broadcaster BSkyB, has been appointed the new chair of the Association of Users of Research Agencies (Aura).
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MacroSolve serves up iPhone app for restaurant feedback
11-Dec-2009
US— Mobile technology firm MacroSolve has developed an iPhone app for restaurants to gather feedback and gain insight from their customers.
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Arbitron works with agencies to determine impact of radio ads
11-Dec-2009
US— Arbitron and a trio of radio broadcasters have launched an initiative to improve the analytics that advertisers use to measure the impact of radio advertising on sales.
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MTV appoints research and insights SVP
10-Dec-2009
US— Nick Shore has been appointed SVP of strategic insights and research at broadcaster MTV, where he will lead research efforts across all brands.
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Connect Insight wins Newspaper Society contract
10-Dec-2009
UK— The Newspaper Society has appointed Connect Insight to conduct a qualitative survey into how people engage with online local news services.
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MDC Group to acquire analytics agency Communifx
10-Dec-2009
US— Marcomms group MDC Partners has agreed to buy data analytics and database marketing firm Communifx for an undisclosed amount.
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NBC awards Olympic WOM task to Keller Fay
10-Dec-2009
US— Broadcaster NBC Universal has contracted the Keller Fay Group to monitor and analyse brand-related conversations during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
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Nielsen promotes Leung to director of HK retail arm
10-Dec-2009
HONG KONG— Nielsen has promoted Eva Leung to executive director of retail measurement, replacing Angel Young who has moved to a regional role.
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OTX launches film and TV critics panel
9-Dec-2009
US— OTX and MPRM Public Relations have launched a panel made up of film and television critics to provide feedback on the latest movie and TV productions.
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Robert Hart lands innovation role at OTX
9-Dec-2009
US— Robert Hart has been appointed senior vice president and team leader of the marketing science and innovation group at OTX.
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Aussie newspaper body reveals readership survey shortlist
9-Dec-2009
AUSTRALIA— Print industry body The Newspaper Works has announced the shortlist of companies that it will invite to tender for the country’s new magazine and newspaper readership survey.
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Tweetminster unveils Twitter sentiment search tool
9-Dec-2009
UK— Broadcaster Sky News has signed up to use a new “sentiment search engine” from Tweetminster, which allows Twitter users to follow MPs and keep track of political issues.
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BlueKai launches audience analytics service
9-Dec-2009
US— Online data provider BlueKai has launched a new service that profiles online shoppers by the market segments they are interested in.
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Institute of Fundraising to form charity research body
9-Dec-2009
UK— The Institute of Fundraising is to form a new think tank to focus on the research needs of charities, such as examining donor behaviour, which it says is “desperately needed” to improve the success of fundraising activities.
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Media measurement coalition appoints managing director
8-Dec-2009
US— Time Warner’s Jane Clarke has been appointed MD of the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement, the body set up by broadcasters, media agencies and advertisers to develop new audience measurement techniques.
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Evoc Insights signs up for Omniture analytics
8-Dec-2009
US— Customer experience consulting agency Evoc Insights has struck a deal with Omniture to use its web analytics software to track consumers’ online behaviour.
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ComScore expands Asia Pacific reporting services
8-Dec-2009
INDONESIA— ComScore has launched internet measurement services in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
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Ipsos integrates gaming services into new practice
8-Dec-2009
US— Ipsos has set up a new practice to serve video game developers, marketers and console manufacturers.
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Balloon hunt shows research power of social networks
7-Dec-2009
US— A team of students from MIT’s Media Lab has won a competition to see how long it would take people using social networking sites to determine the locations of 10 weather balloons released around the country.
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Tulsa call centre closes its doors
7-Dec-2009
US— More than 100 employees have been left without wages after Automated Research & Marketing closed its Tulsa call centre.
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Few companies using social media for insight, survey says
7-Dec-2009
UK— Only a quarter of companies using social media are tapping its potential for customer feedback, according to Econsultancy’s latest report on customer engagement.
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Vision Critical names new MD for Australia and New Zealand
7-Dec-2009
AUSTRALIA— Peter Harris has been appointed managing director for Australia and New Zealand at online research agency Vision Critical.
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Nielsen scoops Puerto Rico TV contract
7-Dec-2009
PUERTO RICO— Nielsen has been awarded a contract to measure TV usage in Puerto Rico, and will deliver the first set of ratings in the first quarter of 2010.
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NBC signs Arbitron, ComScore and Omniture for Winter Olympics
4-Dec-2009
US— Arbitron, ComScore and Omniture have been signed up by NBC to provide cross-platform audience measurement for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
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Chartwell forms research council for energy firms
4-Dec-2009
US— Utilities industry information provider Chartwell has launched a research council to help companies in the sector better understand their customers.
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Investors pump $5.8m into OwnerIQ
4-Dec-2009
US— Behavioural targeting firm OwnerIQ has been awarded $5.8m in growth financing from a group of private equity houses.
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People on the move
4-Dec-2009
The latest appointments and promotions from around the industry, including news from GfK Custom Research North America, TNS Media Intelligence, The Modellers and more.
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Arbitron boss defends PPM technology at House hearing
3-Dec-2009
US— Arbitron chief executive Michael Skarzynski defended his firm’s portable people meter (PPM) technology at the US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government reform yesterday.
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Mob4Hire and InfoStretch team up to test mobile apps
3-Dec-2009
The two firms will offer clients the opportunity to trial their new apps “on real people, on real phones” around the world through a joint marketing platform.
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Vizu scoops $6.75m private equity funding
3-Dec-2009
The funding was co-led by iNova Capital and Greycroft Partners with participation from existing investors Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Esther Dyson.
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Market Rates Insight launches financial services tracking report
3-Dec-2009
US— Market Rates Insight has launched a report that allows consumers to compare products in the financial services sector.
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CIM survey finds marketers 'quietly confident'
3-Dec-2009
UK— Marketers are “quietly confident” about the UK economy and their companies’ prospects over the next year, according to the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s latest trends survey.
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Itracks upgrades Populis community tool
2-Dec-2009
CANADA— Itracks has released an updated version of its Populis online research community tool.
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MBO at the Future Foundation
2-Dec-2009
UK— The management team at consumer insight agency the Future Foundation has completed a buy-out of the firm from parent company Experian.
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QualVu launches QuickVu webcam service
2-Dec-2009
US— Video research technology firm QualVu has unveiled a new tool that gives clients access to online panels equipped with webcams.
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Gartner agrees AMR Research acquisition
2-Dec-2009
US— IT analyst Gartner has agreed a $64m deal to acquire AMR Research, which specialises in research services for the supply chain and IT sectors.
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Techneos adds location and photo functions to mobile surveys
2-Dec-2009
CANADA— Mobile survey software provider Techneos has added location capture and photographic capabilities to the latest version of its survey tool.
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Harris Interactive regains Nasdaq compliance
1-Dec-2009
US— Nasdaq has told online researcher Harris Interactive that it has regained compliance with its listing standards.
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New consulting arm at Cadient Interactive
1-Dec-2009
US— Cadient Interactive has launched a new division, Hatch Consulting, to offer clients a range of research, insight and CRM services.
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Webtrends unveils social media tracking service
1-Dec-2009
AUSTRALIA—Webtrends has launched a new tool that tracks conversations across social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
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New radio ratings client on the Radar for Arbitron
1-Dec-2009
US— Marketing and ad agency Burrell Advertising has agreed a multi-year deal to use Arbitron’s Radar network radio rating service.
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Former Hilton International director joins BDRC
1-Dec-2009
UK— Jude Bissert, the former director of global business products and promotions at hotel chain Hilton International, has joined research firm BDRC as a client services director in its hotels and hospitality team.
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Experian compiles picture of German consumers
30-Nov-2009
GERMANY— Data firm Experian has introduced a German version of its Mosaic consumer segmentation system.
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Creston posts insight revenue drop, but CEO upbeat
30-Nov-2009
UK— Research and marketing services group Creston has reported an 8% decline in revenue to £7.8m in its research business for the six months ending 30 September.
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TNS Media Research wins new five-year BSkyB deal
30-Nov-2009
UK— Broadcaster BSkyB has awarded TNS Media Research a new five-year contract to run its SkyView audience measurement panel.
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Intermarketing launches Intervue insight arm
27-Nov-2009
UK— Peter Simpson, a co-founder of First Direct Bank, has joined forces with full-service creative agency Intermarketing Group to launch a new consumer insight and planning consultancy, Intervue.
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Portrait Software celebrates revenue rise
27-Nov-2009
UK— Portrait Software, a developer of customer interaction technologies, has reported a 9% rise in revenue for the six months ending 30 September.
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Tangent reports first-half revenue drop
27-Nov-2009
UK— Marketing strategy group Tangent Communications has reported a slight drop in revenue for the half year ending 31 August.
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KeyQuest Health appoints project director
27-Nov-2009
UK— Healthcare research fieldwork agency KeyQuest Health has appointed Leticia Del Gaudio as a project director.
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Site Intelligence named Thomas Cook analytics supplier
26-Nov-2009
UK— Travel agent Thomas Cook Group has contracted Site Intelligence to supply e-commerce analytics and business intelligence services.
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Non-exec chairman David Marshall to step down at Creston
26-Nov-2009
UK— David Marshall is to step down next year from his position as non-executive chairman at research and marketing services group Creston.
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Newspaper Society launches integrated print and online currency
26-Nov-2009
UK— The Newspaper Society has launched a new currency, “Locally Connected”, which combines print and online readership data for local papers.
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Attentio wins funding for global expansion
26-Nov-2009
BELGIUM— Social media analytics agency Attentio has been awarded €525,000 in funding from the Brussels Regional Investment Company (SRIB/GIMB).
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Bloosky Interactive acquires Tracking202
25-Nov-2009
US— Online advertising and direct marketing agency Bloosky Interactive has acquired pay-per-click analytics business Tracking202 for an undisclosed amount.
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People on the move
25-Nov-2009
The latest appointments and promotions in global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: Ipsos, Comscore, Opinion Leader, Purdie Pascoe, Biz360, Ace Metrix and GMI.
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Shareholders approve e-Rewards acquisition of Research Now
25-Nov-2009
UK— Research Now investors today overwhelmingly approved e-Rewards’ takeover bid for the online fieldwork provider at a general meeting in London.
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TNS Telegal renews Israeli TAM contract
25-Nov-2009
ISRAEL— The Israeli Audience Research Board (IARB) has renewed TNS Telegal’s contract to run the country’s television audience measurement service.
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Barb says all systems go for new TV ratings in January 2010
25-Nov-2009
UK— The Broadcaster’s Audience Research Board (Barb) today confirmed 1 January 2010 as the go-live data for its new TV audience measurement service.
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DVR metric row heats up as Nielsen hits back at AAAA
24-Nov-2009
US— Nielsen has hit back at the the American Association of Advertising Agencies over criticism of its plan to introduce a new ‘live plus same day’ audience measurement metric next year for local TV markets.
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Former BBC insight and strategy manager joins Kadence
24-Nov-2009
UK— Kadence International has appointed former BBC researcher Marie Laver as insight director, with responsibility for delivering projects across the agency’s client base.
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Nielsen names financial services head for South Asia
24-Nov-2009
INDIA— Nielsen has appointed Shubhranshu Das as regional head for the South Asian arm of its new global financial services practice. Das joined the firm in 2008 and has served as director of client solutions, based in Mumbai.
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Half-year revenue down at Media Square but Illuminas 'optimistic'
24-Nov-2009
UK— Media Square has reported an £8.3m drop in revenue for the six-month period ending 31 August but its Illuminas research business is “on course to have a good year”, according to group director Mike Roderick.
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ESPN Sports Poll kicks off in Europe
23-Nov-2009
UK— TNS and sports broadcaster ESPN have launched a European version of the Sports Poll, a joint venture that measures the attitudes and behaviours of sports fans.
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Nielsen Online promotes Matt Bruce to Australian MD
23-Nov-2009
AUSTRALIA— Nielsen Online has promoted Matt Bruce to managing director for Australia from his previous role as sales director.
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Business services tops Insolvency Index again
23-Nov-2009
UK— The business services sector has once again seen the highest number of company failures, according to Experian’s latest Insolvency Index.
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Cespedes named MD for Synovate Chile
23-Nov-2009
CHILE— Rafael Cespedes has been appointed managing director at Synovate in Chile, having previously headed the agency’s operations in Peru and Ecuador.
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Merkle names Hennessy and Berry co-presidents
20-Nov-2009
US— Database marketing and analytics firm Merkle has promoted executive vice presidents Patrick Hennessy and Tim Berry to co-presidents.
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US launch for Toluna's QuickSurveys
20-Nov-2009
US— Toluna has launched its on-demand survey platform QuickSurveys in the US. The tool, which was launched in Europe in late 2008, allows users to create surveys of up to five questions in length.
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Investors pump $15m into Manthan Systems
20-Nov-2009
INDIA— Retail analytics and intelligence firm Manthan Systems has scooped $15m in Series B funding from a group of private equity investors.
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AAAA attacks Nielsen over new DVR metric
20-Nov-2009
US— Nielsen is facing a protest over plans to replace its ‘live’ viewing metric as the main ratings currency in local people meter markets with a new ‘live plus same day’ metric.
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Former Harris CFO takes new role
20-Nov-2009
US— Robert Cox has been appointed chief financial officer at credit card payment services firm Planet Payment following his resignation from Harris Interactive.
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Conquest unveils viral ad testing tool
20-Nov-2009
UK— Conquest has launched AdSpark, an online tool to test the viral potential of new adverts, which is based on the firm’s Metaphorix system of using avatars to measure how respondents feel about brands.
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Amex launches business insights division
19-Nov-2009
US— American Express has launched a new analytics and consulting business that will identify strategic opportunities based on credit card sales data from 90 million cards.
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Experian rolls out marketing concept testing tool
19-Nov-2009
HONG KONG— Experian has launched a new technology service to test proofs of concepts for data-driven marketing initiatives, called the Customer Lab.
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GuestTek latest: GuestMetrics sold for $5m
19-Nov-2009
UK— GuestTek has sold its consumer insight technology subsidiary GuestMetrics to drinks company Shot Spirits in a share deal worth $5m, a week after it took control of the firm.
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Synovate sees positive signs amid Q3 revenue decline
19-Nov-2009
UK— Synovate’s organic revenue fell 11.5% during the first nine months of the year, its parent company Aegis said in an interim management statement today.
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Phorm's UK managing director departs
18-Nov-2009
UK— Nick Barnett has left his position as managing director of targeted advertising technology company Phorm.
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MMA and Kinesis launch mobile marketers panel
18-Nov-2009
US— The Mobile Marketing Association and Kinesis Survey Technologies have formed a panel of mobile marketers who have agreed to take part in mobile surveys.
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iPerceptions unveils integrated web data dashboard
18-Nov-2009
CANADA— IPerceptions is claiming a ‘first ever’ with the launch of a dashboard that allows website owners to match attitudinal data with behavioural data on the same site visitors.
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In-Touch Survey Systems reports Q3 revenue drop
18-Nov-2009
CANADA— Data collection agency In-Touch Survey Systems has reported a 22% drop in revenue for the third quarter of 2009, but the firm still managed to achieve a modest profit.
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Harris Interactive parts company with CFO after five months
18-Nov-2009
US— Robert Cox has resigned from his position as chief financial officer at Harris Interactive after only five months.
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MBO at Research and Marketing Plus in Cardiff
18-Nov-2009
UK— Chief executive Phil Evans has led a management buy-out at Cardiff-based full-service agency Research and Marketing Plus.
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Roger Green & Associates hires client strategies EVP
17-Nov-2009
US— Healthcare market research agency Roger Green & Associates has appointed Ajit Baid as executive vice president of client strategies.
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GuestTek acquires Enable Software in $1m share deal
17-Nov-2009
US— GuestTek, the owner of hospitality industry insight solutions provider GuestMetrics, has acquired email management firm Enable Software in a $1m all-share deal.
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Blurring the boundaries between MR and consulting
17-Nov-2009
Earlier this month Nunwood CEO Clare Bruce hailed a “major coup” as her firm appointed former Accenture Marketing Sciences global president James Walker as its new chief strategy and development officer.
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Nunwood plans new offices in Asia Pacific, Europe and the US
17-Nov-2009
UK— Nunwood is opening four new international offices during the first quarter of next year as part of its global expansion plans.
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Millennial Media awarded $16m funding
16-Nov-2009
US— Mobile advertising agency Millennial Media has scooped $16m in a Series C round of funding from private equity investors.
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Market Probe appoints three to pharma division
16-Nov-2009
US— Research agency Market Probe has strengthened its pharma division with a trio of senior appointments.
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Simpio Marketing acquires keyword researcher Wordze
16-Nov-2009
US— Keyword research technology provider Wordze has been acquired by Texas-based Simpio Marketing for an undisclosed amount.
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Harris strikes South Korea partnership
16-Nov-2009
KOREA— Consumer and political research agency GH Korea has become the thirteenth company to sign up to Harris Interactive’s global partner network scheme.
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'Satisfactory' performance at GfK as sales stabilise in Q3
16-Nov-2009
GERMANY— GfK has reported slight sales declines for both the third quarter and first nine months of the year but said its performance had been “robust”. Q3 sales were down 3.9% to €282.7m, while nine-month sales were €840.2m, down 4.9%.
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Mob4Hire and Flurry team up for mobile app tracking
13-Nov-2009
CANADA— Crowd-sourced mobile application testing agency Mob4Hire has struck a deal with Flurry Analytics to analyse the behaviour of people using mobile apps.
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GuestMetrics now says management to stay in place
13-Nov-2009
US— CEO Brian Barrett and COO Tammy Posten have not left GuestMetrics, despite a statement issued by the company earlier this week in which they were said to have resigned.
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MRA chief executive Larry Brownell resigns
13-Nov-2009
US— The Marketing Research Association is preparing a search for a new CEO to replace Larry Brownell, who has resigned from the position.
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People on the move
13-Nov-2009
A roundup of the latest appointments and promotions in the global market research and consumer insight business. This week: Market Force Information, Voxco, Targetbase Claydon Heeley, Toluna, iPerceptions, RDSi, Insitas, I-Level, MarketShare Partners, Peer Group Media, Double Helix, The Optimization Group and Flow.
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Opinionpanel scoops LSC panel contract
13-Nov-2009
UK— Student-focused research agency Opinionpanel has been commissioned by the Learning & Skills Council to build and recruit a 10,000-strong panel of learners aged 14 and over.
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Merkle launches MR practice, hires Baskin as VP
12-Nov-2009
US— Database marketing agency Merkle has launched a market research practice, with the aim of discovering “how consumer beliefs and attitudes shape purchasing and engagement decisions”.
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CEO leaves GuestMetrics as new owner is unveiled
12-Nov-2009
US— Tech industry veteran David Lovatt has taken over as president and CEO of GuestMetrics after acquiring a controlling interest in the company, which specialises in customer insight solutions for the hospitality industry.
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'Stability' the watchword as Nielsen posts 1% Q3 revenue drop
12-Nov-2009
US— Nielsen’s chief financial officer Brian West hailed “another quarter of stability” today as the ratings giant posted its results for Q3 and the first nine months of the year.
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Iconoculture appoints former GfK execs to lead European expansion
12-Nov-2009
US— Trendspotting research agency Iconoculture has appointed a new director and senior adviser to oversee its expansion into Europe.
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Telco names Pulse Group preferred research vendor
12-Nov-2009
MALAYSIA— Outsourcing firm Pulse Group has been handed preferred research vendor status by Telekom Malaysia.
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Disney pulls out of Family Panel partnership
11-Nov-2009
UK— Disney Interactive Media Group has ended its Family Panel partnership with research agency Opinion Matters following the closure of its family-orientated UK websites Raisingkids.co.uk and UKfamily.co.uk.
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KPO firm Integreon acquires Grail Research
11-Nov-2009
US— Knowledge process outsourcing company Integreon has acquired strategic research agency Grail Research from its parent company Monitor Group.
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Turkish Competition Board decides against AGB Nielsen probe
11-Nov-2009
TURKEY— The Turkish Competition Board (RK) will not be investigating AGB Nielsen over allegations that the firm exploited its position as the country’s dominant TV ratings provider.
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Third-quarter revenue down at Ipsos but firm confident for 2010
11-Nov-2009
FRANCE— Ipsos has reported a drop in revenue for both the third quarter of 2009 and the first nine months of the year.
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IMS Research acquires Young Market Research
10-Nov-2009
US— Electronics market research agency IMS Research has acquired Young Market Research (YMR) for an undisclosed amount.
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Ex-Research International USA chief launches new agency
10-Nov-2009
US— Industry veteran Doss Struse and a group of executives have launched a new research and consulting agency, Definitive Insights.
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Vision Critical hires ex-GfK MD to lead consumer practice
10-Nov-2009
US— Former GfK Custom Research managing director Patricia Hughes has been appointed executive vice president of the consumer division at Vision Critical.
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Nielsen to add same-day DVR data to ratings in January
10-Nov-2009
US— Nielsen will introduce a new Live + Same Day TV measurement metric in January next year to provide ratings for shows that are recorded and watched on the same day.
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Google to buy mobile ad and analytics firm in $750m deal
10-Nov-2009
US— Google has signed a definitive agreement to acquire mobile advertising technology provider AdMob.
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Face names ex-Flamingo man as research director
9-Nov-2009
UK— Co-creation agency Face has appointed Saul Parker as a research director. He joins the agency from Flamingo where he was an associate director and headed the firm’s digital and ethnographic initiatives.
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OMD and CBS team for Las Vegas media research lab
9-Nov-2009
US— Media communications agency OMD has struck a deal with CBS Vision, the research arm of CBS Corporation, to create a ‘media effectiveness communication lab’ at the broadcaster’s Television City in Las Vegas.
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Moxie and OpenAmplify plan online sentiment measurement tools
9-Nov-2009
US— Strategic marketing agency Moxie Interactive has struck a deal with language processing technology firm OpenAmplify to develop tools to measure the sentiment of online conversations between consumers and brands.
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Council for merged Indian print studies gets a name
9-Nov-2009
INDIA— Plans to merge India’s rival print media studies appear to be progressing with a report out today that says a name has been agreed for the body that will conduct the study.
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YouGov Siraj launches Middle East jobs index
9-Nov-2009
UAE— YouGov Siraj and online Middle East jobs website Bayt.com have launched a jobs index to gauge perception of employment availability in the region and across north Africa.
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IBM opens analytics support centre in India
6-Nov-2009
INDIA— IBM has opened a Business Analytics Centre of Competency in Bangalore to provide clients with support for information-based challenges.
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Sony Pictures moves research EVP to marketing role
6-Nov-2009
US— Sony Pictures Entertainment has moved research chief David Kaminow to the newly created role of president of worldwide strategic marketing.
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Nunwood hires former Accenture man in strategy role
6-Nov-2009
UK— Research and consulting firm Nunwood has appointed the former global president of Accenture Marketing Sciences as its new chief strategy and development officer – a hire billed by CEO Clare Bruce as a “major coup”.
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Synovate adds associate director to comms team
6-Nov-2009
UK— Synovate has appointed Martha Hague-Moss as an associate director in its communications specialist research team.
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Illuminas chairman appointed Media Square CEO
6-Nov-2009
UK— Marketing services group Media Square, owner of research agency Illuminas, has appointed Peter Reid as its new chief executive officer.
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T3i Group names new chief executive
5-Nov-2009
US— Telecoms research agency T3i Group has appointed Jim Flinton as its new chief executive officer. He joins the company from call centre technology firm Avaya.
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YouGov unveils 24-hour omnibus
5-Nov-2009
UK— YouGov has launched a 24-hour omnibus service to provide clients with reaction to major news stories and key issues.
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Investment funds to buy IMS Health in $5.2bn deal
5-Nov-2009
US— Investment funds TPG Capital and the CPP Investment Board have agreed a $5.2bn deal to acquire healthcare researcher IMS Health.
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Conversition adds subs option to Twitter monitor
5-Nov-2009
CANADA— Social media research agency Conversition has released a subscription version of its Tweetfeel Twitter monitoring website.
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Maktoob Research opens Arab Eye community
5-Nov-2009
UAE— Maktoob Research has launched an online community called Arab Eye which rewards members for taking part in surveys.
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Pensions Regulator looking for agency ahead of 2012 reforms
4-Nov-2009
UK— The Pensions Regulator is looking for a research agency to help develop its communications strategy to employers ahead of changes in pension regulations.
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Former Harris exec named COO at The Modellers
4-Nov-2009
US— Research and analytics agency The Modellers has hired Mark Wirthlin as its new president and chief operating officer.
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Dettol tops list of 'most effective' adverts
4-Nov-2009
UK— TNS has released a list of the 10 most motivating TV adverts of 2009, based on its Mercury online ad testing tool, which measures ad recognition, message take-out, branding and viewer involvement.
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New CEO at MR software firm Techneos
4-Nov-2009
US— Mobile survey software firm Techneos Systems has appointed Dave King as its new CEO, replacing co-founder Mark Cameron.
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Springfield mayor calls for end to poll probe
4-Nov-2009
US— The mayor at the centre of an investigation over a $2,000 payment made to a research firm run by his mother has asked officials to drop the probe and decide on a penalty.
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EmSense scores $9m in Series C funding
4-Nov-2009
US— Neuromarketing agency EmSense Corporation has secured $9m in Series C private equity funding.
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CIMM to meet set-top box measurement specialists
3-Nov-2009
US— The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement has scheduled a meeting with five research agencies to discuss how to develop more innovative ways of measuring set-top box viewing data.
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Two new client service directors join Verve
3-Nov-2009
UK— Verve has appointed two new client service directors, Jeremy Hollow and Nina Treny.
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Synovate appoints Jessica Liu to China media role
3-Nov-2009
CHINA— Jessica Liu has been appointed research director of Synovate’s media business in Beijing. She was most recently the research director of Ipsos MediaCT Greater China.
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Emak fights second lawsuit from former CEO
3-Nov-2009
US— Marketing services group Emak Worldwide is facing a fresh lawsuit from former CEO Donald Kurz – this time over the right of preferred stockholder Crown Investments to vote in the election of new board directors.
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Media Square shareholders plot to oust chairman
2-Nov-2009
UK— Three companies that own a slice of marketing services group Media Square have requested a general meeting to vote on removing chairman Roger Parry from the company’s board.
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Visible Measures chosen for People's Choice Awards task
2-Nov-2009
US— Web video measurement firm Visible Measures has been chosen to provide online viewing information for the People’s Choice Awards 2010.
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Kadence MD elected president of Singapore association
2-Nov-2009
SINGAPORE— Piers Lee has been elected the new president of the Market Research Society of Singapore with plans to create new certifications for data collection.
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Synovate names new CEO for Censydiam arm
2-Nov-2009
UK— Synovate has promoted Sue Phillips to chief executive of its Censydiam consumer motivational research practice. She previously led training and development for the firm’s global qual practice.
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Research revenue down at Progressive Digital Media
30-Oct-2009
UK— Research revenue fell 4% during the year ending 30 April 2009 at Progressive Digital Media, formerly TMN Group, according to results released today.
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Ipsos promotes Gronberger to head of ASI division
30-Oct-2009
US— Ipsos has promoted Alex Gronberger to chief executive of its ASI advertising research business.
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Nunwood strengthens US team
30-Oct-2009
US— Nunwood has appointed three new staff to its New York office, one of whom has ventured across the Atlantic from the company’s UK headquarters in Leeds.
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Harris starts new fiscal year with 23% revenue drop
30-Oct-2009
US— Harris Interactive has reported a 23% drop in revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2010, though it has cut its losses for the three-month period ended 30 September.
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Ciao Surveys MD Alberto Abisso departs
29-Oct-2009
GERMANY— Alberto Abisso has left Ciao Surveys after five years following Toluna’s acquisition of parent company Greenfield Online.
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EC ramps up legal action over secret Phorm trials
29-Oct-2009
UK— The European Commission has launched the second phase of infringement proceedings against the UK over the way it handled tests of Phorm’s online targeted advertising software.
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Synovate names Australia CEO to new global role
29-Oct-2009
AUSTRALIA— Synovate has appointed Brent Stewart to the newly created role of global chief executive of strategic units, from his current position as CEO for Australia and New Zealand.
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Bob Meyers appointed TRA president and COO
29-Oct-2009
US— Advertising ROI measurement agency TRA has appointed Bob Meyers as president and to the newly created role of chief operating officer.
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River Research makes a million in first year
29-Oct-2009
UK— River Research has reported turnover of £1.2m for its first year in business, adding clients including Vodafone, Carphone Warehouse, TalkTalk and Arcadia. The firm also made it on to the COI’s research roster.
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Out Now expands LGBT survey across LatAm
29-Oct-2009
ARGENTINA — Out Now Consulting is expanding its previously announced study of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender consumers in Argentina to cover Brazil, Uruguay and Chile.
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MarketTools launches cross-platform version of TrueSample
28-Oct-2009
US— MarketTools has released a cross-platform version of its TrueSample online panel cleaning software.
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New Zealand MR bodies slam Labour for 'deceiving' poll participants
28-Oct-2009
NEW ZEALAND— The Market Research Society of New Zealand and the Association of Market Research Organisations have blasted the Labour Party after one of its MPs polled the public using a defunct company name.
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MDC Partners forms new insight division
27-Oct-2009
US— Marketing and communications group MDC Partners has formed a new consumer insights group.
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Property website makes Rightmove with Vovici software
27-Oct-2009
UK— Property website Rightmove has contracted Vovici to capture and mine feedback data from site visitors.
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CIMM targets STB and cross-platform measurement with first RFPs
27-Oct-2009
US— The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) has released its first requests for proposals as it looks to develop new TV audience measurement systems.
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Sue Frost joins Truth as brand director
27-Oct-2009
UK— Strategic insight consultancy Truth has appointed Sue Frost as a brand director. She joins from Big Green Door where she was strategic director.
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Sundance names project director for South East Asia
27-Oct-2009
UK— Brand development agency Sundance has appointed Jessica Bower as a project director to focus on activities in South East Asia.
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Cooke takes helm at KantarHealth as Riddell leaves
26-Oct-2009
UK— Elaine Riddell has stepped down from her position as joint CEO of KantarHealth to “pursue other opportunities”.
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Out Now Consulting to conduct Argentina's 'first gay study'
26-Oct-2009
ARGENTINA— Out Now Consulting is to carry out the first ever study into gay and lesbian consumers in Argentina.
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Research Now opens in Spain
26-Oct-2009
SPAIN— Online fieldwork agency Research Now has opened a new office in Madrid to serve its Spanish clients.
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Peter Kneale to leave TNS for Incite
26-Oct-2009
UK— Peter Kneale, the joint managing director of TNS Research International’s consumer division, is leaving the company to join Incite.
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Former Synovate man Jeffrey appointed Ipsos Markinor CEO
26-Oct-2009
SOUTH AFRICA— Ipsos Markinor has appointed Ian Jeffrey as its new chief executive officer.
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Casro announces 2011 chair and new board members
23-Oct-2009
US— The Council of American Survey Research Organisations (Casro) has announced its new chair for 2011 and added three new board members.
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HPI strikes Brazilian licensing deal with AboutPeople
23-Oct-2009
BRAZIL— HPI has struck a licensing deal with Sao Paulo-based start-up agency AboutPeople, giving it exclusive use of HPI’s bespoke techniques in the Brazilian market.
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Talking change and relevance with Esomar's new director general
23-Oct-2009
Finn Raben was given the top job at Esomar after a long career on the agency side, latterly as Synovate’s CEO for Southern Europe. In this interview he stresses the importance of making industry associations more relevant to their constituents, but warns of the challenges in doing so.
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Research Now agrees £85m e-Rewards takeover
23-Oct-2009
UK— Research Now has agreed to an £85m takeover by rival online panel firm e-Rewards. Early indications are that the deal will go ahead with 69% of Research Now shareholders having already given their backing.
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Angus Reid Strategies to provide polls for political blog
22-Oct-2009
UK— Angus Reid Strategies has been appointed by the PoliticalBetting.com blog to provide it with polling data ahead of the next general election.
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Kadence appoints insight director for Singapore
22-Oct-2009
UK— Kadence International has appointed Greg Clayton as insight director for its Singapore office. He joins the firm from RS Consulting where he spent seven years working in both qual and quant research.
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Q3 revenue down at IMS, but CEO reports 'improved performance'
22-Oct-2009
US— IMS Health has reported a 6% drop in revenue to $540.8m for the third quarter of 2009 compared to the previous year, with net loss for the period of $9.3m.
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Speedfacts founder von Hessen given Globalpark role
22-Oct-2009
UK—Online panel software provider Globalpark has appointed Boris von Hessen as managing director of its Enterprise Feedback Solutions service.
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E-Rewards makes takeover approach for Research Now
22-Oct-2009
UK— Online panel provider e-Rewards has made an indicative offer to buy online fieldwork agency Research Now, the company announced late yesterday.
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EU Health and Cint team up for medical panel
21-Oct-2009
UK— Healthcare professional database firm EU Health has formed a partnership with online panel provider Cint to build a panel of medical specialists.
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Synovate appointed to football footfall task
21-Oct-2009
UK— Premiership football club Manchester City has installed Synovate’s automated Shopper Count footfall system at its shop at the City of Manchester Stadium.
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People on the move
21-Oct-2009
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research industry. This week: Dunkin’ Brands, Bravo Media, Synovate, Swift Research, Quant Presky Maves, B2B International, The Oxford Research Agency, eXelate and more.
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Japan's Intage plots Chinese expansion after Hyperlink buy
21-Oct-2009
JAPAN— Full-service agency Intage is looking to strengthen its position in the Chinese market after finalising an $11.9m deal to buy Hyperlink Market Research from its parent company Xinhua Sports and Entertainment (formerly XFMedia).
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IMS Health confirms it is exploring 'strategic alternatives'
21-Oct-2009
US— The board of directors at IMS Health said last night that a special committee had been formed to look into “a variety of strategic alternatives” for the firm, following reports that private equity groups were circling the company.
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Doctors.net.uk rolls-out online qual service
20-Oct-2009
UK— Online medical network Doctors.net.uk has launched a new web-based qualitative research service which enables clients to hold online discussions with physicians.
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IMS Health shares leap on private equity takeover talk
20-Oct-2009
US— Shares in healthcare research giant IMS Health rose by 21% to $17.84 yesterday on the back of a report that the company is in talks with private equity firms over a possible sale.
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GfK Asia unveils weekly Korean mobile sales tracker
20-Oct-2009
KOREA— GfK Asia has started offering a weekly tracking service that keeps tabs on mobile phone sales throughout Korea.
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Maine legislature votes to repeal child data law
20-Oct-2009
US— A committee of the Maine legislature has voted to repeal a privacy law that threatened the work of research agencies by prohibiting the sale or transfer of personal data about state residents aged under 18.
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GfK NOP Media launches Rate It! youth panel
19-Oct-2009
UK— GfK NOP Media has launched a new panel made up of more than 1,500 eight to 15-year-olds.
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Synovate expands oncology monitor and creates new global role
19-Oct-2009
US— Synovate has expanded its Global Oncology Monitor into eight new markets and created a new role to lead the service.
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Educational publisher picks Globalpark for community project
19-Oct-2009
UK— Pearson Education and Edexcel have contracted Globalpark to set up an online community of more than 5,500 teachers.
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Cossette reveals interest from 'several' potential buyers
19-Oct-2009
CANADA— Marketing services group Cossette has told shareholders that it has received “several” written expressions of interest from potential buyers after launching a strategic review to find new owners earlier this year.
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Business services sector tops September insolvency list
19-Oct-2009
UK— The business services sector has again topped the list for the number of insolvencies seen in September, according to Experian’s monthly insolvency index.
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TRA rolls-out Optimizer ad targeting service
14-Oct-2009
US— Ad ROI measurement firm TRA has launched a tool to help advertisers more accurately reach their target audiences using data from its single-source database of TV viewing behaviour and purchase information.
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Marketing firm launches iPhone buzz tracking app
14-Oct-2009
US— Digital marketing agency iCrossing has launched an iPhone app that keeps tabs on what is being said across a range of social media sites.
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Research Panel picks Confirmit to aid overseas business plan
14-Oct-2009
JAPAN— Online panel supplier Research Panel has signed up to use Confirmit’s software-as-a-service research platform to assist with its plans to capture business from international clients.
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Cint launches in Australia and adds panel partner
14-Oct-2009
AUSTRALIA— Research software and services firm Cint has launched in Australia and added a new client to its online Panel Exchange service.
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$2m more pumped into media monitor Visible Technologies
13-Oct-2009
US— WPP has increased its investment in social media monitoring agency Visible Technologies with a third cash injection.
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SponsorMap launches experiential marketing testing tool
13-Oct-2009
US— Sports sponsorship measurement agency SponsorMap has launched a new service to measure the impact of brand-owned experiential marketing events on consumers.
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IFF hires director for brand marcoms research
13-Oct-2009
UK— B2B and public sector specialist IFF Research has appointed Sue Burden as director of its brand marketing and communications research team.
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Arbitron adds five new PPM markets
13-Oct-2009
US— Arbitron has commercialised its portable people meter radio ratings service in five new markets.
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Analytics firm Kampyle expands Japanese presence
13-Oct-2009
JAPAN— Online feedback analytics agency Kampyle has strengthened its presence in Japan with a local partnership and a new Japanese language website.
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Former Synovate man Raben appointed Esomar director general
13-Oct-2009
NETHERLANDS— Esomar has filled the role of director general, which has been vacant since April, with the appointment of Finn Raben.
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'No documentation exists' to verify Mayor's mother's survey
12-Oct-2009
US— The mother of a city mayor has said she has no records of a telephone survey on gas tax that she was paid $2,000 to carry out.
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Emak Worldwide vows to fight former CEO's damages claim
12-Oct-2009
US— Marketing services group Emak Worldwide has vowed to “vigorously defend” itself against a lawsuit filed against it by shareholders including former CEO Donald Kurz.
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TNS and RI complete UK merger
12-Oct-2009
UK— The merger of TNS’s UK custom division and Research International has been completed and the combined firm has been rebranded as TNS Research International UK.
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Circle Research names Booth as client director
12-Oct-2009
UK— Andy Booth has been appointed as client director at B2B agency Circle Research. He specialises in research into travel, tourism and logistics and distribution and has spent 30 years working in the business intelligence sector.
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YouGov posts a loss after 'very challenging' year
12-Oct-2009
UK— YouGov has posted a loss of £0.7m for the financial year ending 31 July, in what CEO Nadhim Zahawi called a “very challenging” period for the research industry.
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ComScore launches mobile insight service
9-Oct-2009
US— ComScore has launched a new service to give marketing and advertising clients insight into mobile consumers.
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MetrixLab appoints ex-RI VP to lead NPD expansion
9-Oct-2009
NETHERLANDS— Online researcher MetrixLab has appointed Alexander Kleijngeld to head the expansion of its international innovation division.
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Omniture and Havas Digital strike software deal
9-Oct-2009
US— Web analytics software firm Omniture has struck a deal with Havas Digital, the interactive arm of Havas Media, that will see its SearchCenter customer data technology offered to Havas’s clients.
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Linkdex launches with $1m private equity funding
9-Oct-2009
US— A new agency providing search intelligence for marketers has been launched after receiving $1m in funding from Amadeus and Angels Seed Fund.
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TNS and Ipsos ASI take ad testing online
9-Oct-2009
UK/US— TNS and Ipsos ASI have launched online tools for testing out ad creative.
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People on the move
8-Oct-2009
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research industry. This week: Mindset Media, R&D Leverage, iPerceptions, imc2, Archibald Ingall Stretton, NORC, Inuvo and x+1.
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Social media analyser Amplified State launches
8-Oct-2009
UK— Former media buyer and content producer Spencer Friend has launched a new social media monitoring agency, Amplified State.
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Rentrak bags Jewelry TV measurement deal
8-Oct-2009
US— Audience measurement firm Rentrak has been awarded a contract by Jewelry Television to identify and target consumers who watch TV shopping channels.
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Q Interactive makes Vente acquisition
7-Oct-2009
US— Online lead generation agency Q Interactive has acquired online survey and permission-based marketing firm Vente from Experian.
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Emnos appoints former Sainsbury's insight chief
7-Oct-2009
UK— Retail data analysis agency Emnos has appointed Sainsbury’s former head of customer insight Alan Lowthorpe as director of its gaming and leisure sector business.
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Innerscope names former Arbitron exec as sales and marketing EVP
7-Oct-2009
US— Innerscope Research, a media research firm specialising in the application of biometric and neuroscience techniques, has appointed Linda Dupree as executive vice president of sales and marketing.
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Poll picks 'cheesy' name for Vegemite iSnack2.0
7-Oct-2009
AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND— Kraft Foods has renamed its new Vegemite spread Vegemite Cheesybite after 30,000 consumers voted in online and telephone polls.
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FTC sets rules on research use in ad endorsement guidelines
6-Oct-2009
US— The Federal Trade Commission has set out disclosure requirements for the use of research findings in advertising in reissued guidance governing endorsements and testimonials.
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CBS research chief takes advisory role at Marketshare Partners
6-Oct-2009
US— Marketing analytics agency Marketshare Partners has appointed David Poltrack, chief research officer at CBS Corporation, to its board of advisers – its latest high-profile addition.
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Knowledge Networks acquires ad effectiveness agency Dimestore
6-Oct-2009
US— Knowledge Networks has acquired online ad effectiveness testing agency Dimestore Media. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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Passenger launches SaaS community platform
6-Oct-2009
US— Passenger has released a software-as-a-service version of its online community platform, boasting a 24-hour set-up time and needing “zero involvement” from outside community or IT managers.
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BrainActive expands eastern European panels
2-Oct-2009
ROMANIA— Online agency BrainActive Market Research has increased its panel sizes in Russia, Poland and Turkey by “approximately 40%”.
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Quantum brought in as unease over Vegemite iSnack2.0 spreads
2-Oct-2009
AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND— Kraft Foods has turned to Quantum Market Research to resolve consumer unrest over the name of its new cheese-based Vegemite spread.
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Rentrak appoints Chemerow to new COO role
2-Oct-2009
US— Media measurement agency Rentrak has appointed David Chemerow to the newly created role of chief operating officer.
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Phoenix Strategic Partnerships scoops Canadian passport project
1-Oct-2009
CANADA— The Canadian government has contracted research agency Phoenix Strategic Perspectives to gauge public reaction to new electronic passport security features.
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Catinét outsources fieldwork to Norstat
1-Oct-2009
DENMARK— Full-service research agency Catinét is to outsource all its fieldwork activities to data collection firm Norstat as part of a five-year deal.
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Retailer Bank appoints Retail Eyes for customer service task
1-Oct-2009
UK— Fashion retailer Bank has hired Retail Eyes to design and run a programme to improve the way staff engage with shoppers.
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Arbitron forms cross-platform measurement group
1-Oct-2009
US— Arbitron has formed a cross-platform measurement group that will use portable people meter (PPM) technology to measure how media is consumed across TV, radio, internet, mobile and place-based media.
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Western Wats fined over child labour violations
30-Sep-2009
US— The Department of Labor (DOL) has fined fieldwork agency Western Wats more than $500,000 for breaking child labour laws at several of its telephone call centres.
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Opinion Leader names Boelman associate director
30-Sep-2009
UK— Opinion Leader has appointed Olivier Boelman as an associate director. He spent the last five years at Consensus Research, where he primarily covered the financial services sector.
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Sermo unveils on-demand physician panel
30-Sep-2009
US— Online physician community Sermo has launched an on-demand panel service that gives researchers the opportunity to survey its 110,000 members.
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Survey Sampling opens office in Mexico City
30-Sep-2009
MEXICO— Survey Sampling International (SSI) has opened a new office in Mexico City, following the expansion of its online panel in the country earlier this year.
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Digital fingerprinting 'may be unlawful in Canada', warns MRIA
29-Sep-2009
CANADA— The Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) has warned its members that digital fingerprinting may be unlawful in Canada as it “may collect more information than is necessary to identify fraudulent and duplicate respondents in online research”.
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Added Value launches three marketing initiatives
29-Sep-2009
UK— Added Value has launched a trio of new global marketing initiatives, AV-id, Character Creation and a specialist approcah based on tracking trends.
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YouTube adds Insight data to Content ID tool
29-Sep-2009
US— YouTube is to add data from its Insight statistical service to its Content ID tool, which allows users such as TV broadcasters to identify user-uploaded versions of their videos.
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Kwik Fit picks SPSS for customer retention
29-Sep-2009
UK— Kwik Fit Insurance has chosen SPSS’s predictive analytics software tool PASW Statistics to analyse and understand customer motivations when buying motor insurance.
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IFF Research posts 40% sales rise and turnover of £7m
28-Sep-2009
UK— IFF Research has reported a 40% rise in sales to £8.7m for the year ending 31 March 2009. Turnover was up marginally to £6.99m from £6.98m the previous year.
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Synovate expands Retail Performance business
28-Sep-2009
UK— Synovate is looking to expand its Retail Performance shopper counting and analytics business across Europe, Asia and the Americas.
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Beaton merges with Taylor Management Consulting
28-Sep-2009
AUSTRALIA— Business-to-business research and consulting firm Beaton has merged with Taylor Management Consulting.
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YouGov and Sky News launch daily political polls
28-Sep-2009
UK— YouGov and Sky News have launched a daily polling service to coincide with the annual Conservative and Labour party conferences.
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Needham appointed to Tangible board
25-Sep-2009
UK— Cello Group has appointed Face CEO Andrew Needham (pictured) to the board of its Tangible business division.
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European launch for The Sound
25-Sep-2009
UK— Canadian youth research agency The Sound has opened an office in London in the first step of its European expansion.
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Mzinga scoops $10m financing
25-Sep-2009
US— Online analytics software firm Mzinga has received $10m through its second round of private equity funding.
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Ipsos picks RelevantView for online panel task
25-Sep-2009
US— Ipsos has struck a technology deal with RelevantView to run the latter’s RelevantID digital fingerprinting technology across its online panels.
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CIMM preparing first audience measurement RFPs
25-Sep-2009
US— The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) will release its first two requests for proposals (RFPs) for new audience measurement techniques next week, according to reports on the web.
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Angus Reid named marketing legend
25-Sep-2009
CANADA— Research industry veteran Angus Reid has been named as one of eight people joining the Canadian Marketing Hall of Legends this year.
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Business services sector sees highest August insolvency rate
25-Sep-2009
UK— Insolvency rates during August were highest in the business services sector, according to Experian’s Insolvency and Distress Index.
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Strategic Vision chief vows legal action over AAPOR rap
24-Sep-2009
US— David Johnson, the CEO of pollster Strategic Vision, has vowed legal action against the American Association for Public Research after the professional body ruled the agency was in breach of its rules around survey methodology disclosure.
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AAPOR calls out Strategic Vision over poll disclosure
24-Sep-2009
US— The American Association for Public Opinion Research has found pollster Strategic Vision in violation of its Code of Professional Ethics and Practices.
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Cint and Habbo launch online teen panels
24-Sep-2009
SWEDEN— Research software firm Cint has teamed up with Sulake, the owner of online teen community Habbo, to build a series of youth panels around the world.
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Coleman Insights acquires MediaEKG
24-Sep-2009
US— Media research firm Coleman Insights has acquired MediaEKG and its patent-pending consumer feedback technology, which is used to conduct online evaluations of radio and television shows for media companies.
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WPP and Google open second round of research funding
23-Sep-2009
US— Google and WPP are inviting bids for the second stage of their $4.6m three-year programme to fund media research projects.
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The Leading Edge chief executive steps down
23-Sep-2009
AUSTRALIA— Mark Sundquist has stepped down as chief executive of The Leading Edge, a role he has held for three years.
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HMV appoints Retail Eyes for customer service task
23-Sep-2009
UK— Entertainment retailer HMV has contracted Retail Eyes to create and operate a customer experience programme.
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Nielsen moves to dismiss new Sunbeam complaint
23-Sep-2009
US— Ratings firm Nielsen has again asked a court to dismiss anti-trust proceedings bought against it by Florida-based broadcaster Sunbeam Television.
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Nielsen and Facebook form alliance and unveil ad testing tool
22-Sep-2009
US— Facebook and Nielsen have launched an online tool to measure the effectiveness of adverts that appear on the social networking website.
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Cambiar opens marketing and product positioning practice
22-Sep-2009
US— MR consulting agency Cambiar has launched a new practice to help companies improve the positioning and marketing of their products.
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Synovate hires community panels director
22-Sep-2009
UK— Synovate has appointed Marc Chester to the newly created role of community panels director.
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GfK Technology promotes Krajicek to MD in US
22-Sep-2009
US— David Krajicek has been promoted to managing director of GfK Technology from his previous role of executive vice president of the firm’s brand and communications business.
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NeuroFocus appoints lab operations director
21-Sep-2009
US— Steven Miller has been appointed director of global NeuroLab operations at NeuroFocus. He will be based at the neuromarketing agency’s main lab in Berkeley, California.
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Nasdaq warns Harris over share price
21-Sep-2009
US— Nasdaq has given Harris Interactive 180 days to raise its share price as the research agency’s stock has closed below the minimum listing price of $1 for the last 30 consecutive business days.
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Barb sets sights on measuring online TV viewing
21-Sep-2009
UK— The Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board (Barb) wants to start measuring TV content watched on PCs and laptops - providing it can find a satisfactory way of doing so.
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Phorm cuts first-half loss, but still no revenue to report
21-Sep-2009
UK— Online targeted advertising firm Phorm managed to cut its losses in the first six months of the year but still has no revenue to report, according to results.
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Esomar announces 2009 award winners
18-Sep-2009
SWITZERLAND— Esomar has announced the winners of its 2009 Congress Awards from Montreux in Switzerland.
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Synovate to close Iowa call centre
18-Sep-2009
US— Synovate is to close its call centre in Ottumwa, Iowa, in November, according to press reports.
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People on the move
18-Sep-2009
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research industry
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Merkle launches LogicLab analytics business
18-Sep-2009
US— Database marketing agency Merkle has launched a new business, LogicLab, to provide data and analytics to media buyers.
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In-Stat launches STB, Wi-Fi and pay TV databases
18-Sep-2009
US— Technology market research agency In-Stat has launched three new databases, covering the markets for pay TV, set-top box and Wi-Fi enabled products.
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Arbitron and radio industry to create 'affinity' metric
18-Sep-2009
US— Arbitron and a group of radio broadcasters, advertisers and media buyers have formed a task force to develop a new metric to measure the relationship or ‘affinity’ listeners have with stations.
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RS Consulting shuffles leadership pack
17-Sep-2009
UK— Research group Cello has named a new leadership team for its RS Consulting subsidiary and confirmed that Neil Swan is leaving the company.
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Draftfcb shifts MR work to Interpublic
17-Sep-2009
US— Draftfcb has closed its Worldwide Marketing Research Services group, transferring its work to Interpublic’s Center for Marketing Intelligence.
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Echometrix receives $2m investment
17-Sep-2009
US— Investment house Rock Island Capital has invested $2m into marketing intelligence software provider Echometrix through the purchase of stock at $9.09 a share.
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Photon Group raises AUS$114m through share offering
17-Sep-2009
AUSTRALIA— Photon Group, the owner of research agencies The Leading Edge and Jigsaw, has raised AUS$114.6m in two rounds of new share offerings.
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Toluna posts 67% first-half revenue rise
17-Sep-2009
UK— Toluna has reported a “strong” first half of 2009, with total revenue up 67% to £13.7m from £8.2m in the same period last year. Operating profits were up 21% on last year, at £1.6m compared to £1.3m, and pre-tax profits rose 12% to £1.6m from £1.4m.
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United Sample launches panel for RedFlagDeals.com
16-Sep-2009
CANADA— Online sample supplier United Sample has launched a new panel for shopping comparison website RedFlagDeals.com, which is owned by Clear Sky Media.
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Arbitron awarded out-of-home ad audit task
16-Sep-2009
US— Arbitron’s portable people meter (PPM) technology is to be used to deliver a “proof of play” advertising audit for out-of-home video networks.
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Easyjet re-signs Virtual Surveys for community task
16-Sep-2009
UK— Easyjet has renewed its contract with Virtual Surveys to operate its online customer community in 2009-10.
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Mayor's mother quizzed over gas tax poll
16-Sep-2009
US— Oregon state investigators have written to the mother of Springfield mayor Sid Leiken demanding information about a telephone poll allegedly carried out by her market research company.
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Adobe to buy web analytics firm Omniture for $1.8bn
16-Sep-2009
US— Design software firm Adobe has agreed a $1.8bn deal to acquire web and marketing analytics software developer Omniture. Adobe says the deal paves the way for ad designers, developers and online marketers to embed Omniture’s “optimisation capabilities” into their creative work.
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AskYourTargetMarket unveils 'research on-demand' service
15-Sep-2009
US— Beta testing is underway for an online, on-demand survey tool called AskYourTargetMarket.com that allows users to quiz its consumer panel for as little as $29.95.
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First public sector wins for Spring Research
15-Sep-2009
UK— Spring Research has won its first public sector clients - Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the Central Office of Information and communications watchdog Ofcom.
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Direct Marketing Association hails insight as crucial
15-Sep-2009
UK— The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has urged marketers to make greater use of research and insight in their campaigns.
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ComScore promotes Dale to COO
15-Sep-2009
US— ComScore has promoted chief technology officer Gregory Dale to the newly created post of chief operating officer, where he will oversee all the firm’s operating activities.
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Kuoni and Club Med sign for GfK travel monitor
14-Sep-2009
UK— Swiss tourism company Kuoni and French resort chain Club Med have signed up to GfK Ascent MI’s Leisure Travel Monitor (LTM), which provides market intelligence on forward booking information for the outbound holiday market.
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Veteran statistician launches BarryAnalytics
14-Sep-2009
UK— Marketing statistician Barry Leventhal has launched a new data analytics consultancy, BarryAnalytics.
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eDigital names Eccleston to board, hires research manager
14-Sep-2009
UK— Online agency eDigital Research has promoted Derek Eccleston to the board of directors and hired a new research manager, Daniel Curtis.
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Nielsen appoints consumer research director in India
14-Sep-2009
INDIA— Nielsen has appointed former Heinz India research manager Sandeep Ranada as director of client solutions in the consumer research division.
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Verve opens in Australia and New Zealand
14-Sep-2009
AUSTRALIA— Verve has opened an office in Sydney as it launches its customer advisory panel and online brand community offer in Australia and New Zealand.
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E-Rewards adds AeroMexico passengers to panels
11-Sep-2009
US— E-Rewards and AeroMexico have agreed a deal that will see the airline’s passengers join the online researcher’s Mexico business-to-business and affluent-consumer panels.
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Google creates online stats repository
11-Sep-2009
UK— Google has created an online repository of facts about consumer trends, media consumption, the media landscape, macro economic trends and technology.
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Mixed messages from new TV industry consortium
11-Sep-2009
A coalition of US media buyers, TV broadcasters and advertisers has stressed that it doesn’t intend to replace Nielsen’s existing rating system, but it is actively looking for another way to measure television viewing. Its message is muddled.
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Sears to destroy web tracking data
11-Sep-2009
US— The Federal Trade Commission has approved a final consent order that requires the owner of Sears and K-Mart to disclose the installation of tracking software on consumers’ computers in the future.
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People on the move
10-Sep-2009
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: YouGov Psychonomics, Passenger, Opinion Leader, iCrossing and Experian.
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Critical Mass launches marketing measurement arm
10-Sep-2009
CANADA— Omnicom-owned digital marketing agency Critical Mass has launched a new business arm to measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
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TV industry unveils the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement
10-Sep-2009
US— A group of 14 advertisers, TV content providers and media agencies have officially launched the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement, with the aim of “promoting innovation in audience measurement for television and cross-platform media”.
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Nielsen makes Korean web measurement acquisition
10-Sep-2009
KOREA— Nielsen has acquired online measurement firm KoreanClick. The firm uses proprietary technology to measure usage and attitude data across online messaging, gaming and multimedia web platforms.
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Research industry charity requests double
9-Sep-2009
UK— The Market Research Benevolent Association has seen applications for financial support nearly double this year amid the recession.
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Nielsen TV panel to track online viewing
9-Sep-2009
US— Nielsen has developed a new meter to track online TV viewing, and will start adding it to households in its National People Meter panel by the end of the year.
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IAB Singapore appoints new leadership
9-Sep-2009
SINGAPORE— The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Singapore has elected a new chairman and a 10-strong leadership council.
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NPD promotes in food and beverage unit
8-Sep-2009
US— Mark East has been promoted to president of the North American food and beverage business unit at The NPD Group.
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Colmar Brunton and Communispace partner in AsiaPac
8-Sep-2009
AUSTRALIA— US-based Communispace has teamed up with Australian research agency Colmar Brunton to develop online research communities in the Asia Pacific region.
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Majestic MRSS in Middle Eastern expansion
8-Sep-2009
UAE— India-based full service agency Majestic MRSS has strengthened its presence in the Middle East with a trio of new appointments.
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The Newspaper Works opens Australian readership tender
8-Sep-2009
AUSTRALIA— Print industry body The Newspaper Works has officially opened tendering to find an agency to carry out its new readership survey.
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Ogilvy handed regional role at Effective Measure
8-Sep-2009
UAE— Brendon Ogilvy has been appointed regional director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at online audience measurement firm Effective Measure.
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GfK's EMO Sensor to gauge emotional response to adverts
7-Sep-2009
GERMANY— GfK has launched a service to measure consumers’ emotional reactions to advertising and marketing campaigns, called the EMO Sensor.
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ESRC appoints new council members
7-Sep-2009
UK— John Beath has been appointed a member of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the organisation responsible for funding research into social and economic matters.
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JRA hires former Harris divisional leader
7-Sep-2009
UK— JRA Research has appointed David Hassall, formerly in charge of the business and industrial research division at Harris Interactive, as head of business research.
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Cagney shareholders approve AIM de-listing
28-Aug-2009
UK— Shareholders at marketing services group Cagney, which owns research agency Tree, today passed a motion to de-list the firm’s shares from the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).
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MR firm in mayoral finance probe
28-Aug-2009
US— Sid Leiken, the mayor of Springfield, Oregon, is being investigated by the Oregon Secretary of State over a $2,000 payment he made to a market research firm run by his mother.
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Philpott takes top job at Synovate as Adrian Chedore retires
28-Aug-2009
US— Adrian Chedore (pictured) is to retire from his position as global CEO of Synovate on 1 September after eight years in the role, handing control over to global chief operating officer Robert Philpott.
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CommonHealth's MBS/Vox research unit adds two
27-Aug-2009
US— MBS/Vox the research consultancy arm of WPP-owned healthcare communications agency CommonHealth, has appointed David Curry as a senior analyst and Julie Hoops as an analyst.
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Ex-Forrester analysts Owyang and Li reunited at Altimeter
27-Aug-2009
US— High-profile Forrester Research analyst Jeremiah Owyang has joined his former colleague Charlene Li at Altimeter, a digital strategies consulting agency she formed last year.
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A Sticky state of affairs
27-Aug-2009
Viacom’s new MTV Sticky website promises to provide the media and ad industries with fresh insight into youth culture. We spoke to Helen Rose, director of insight, to find out about how the site came about and what she has planned for it in the future.
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Rentrak names Goerlich and Vinson to research team
27-Aug-2009
US— Media measurement agency Rentrak has appointed Bruce Goerlich as chief research officer and Michael Vinson as vice president of statistical sciences and analytics, both newly created roles.
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Iconoculture launches packaging advisory service
27-Aug-2009
US— Trend researcher Iconoculture has launched a service to provide insight into how consumer values influence packaging preferences.
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ISR appoints Survey Research Center director
26-Aug-2009
US— William Axinn has been appointed director of the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research (ISR).
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Revenue down at Ipsos 'for first time in 30 years'
26-Aug-2009
FRANCE— Ipsos has reported a 3.2% drop in revenue to €447.8m for the first half of 2009 – its first decline in group sales since 1977, the company said. Gross profit fell 1.9% to €279.7m.
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MTV launches Sticky youth insight website
26-Aug-2009
UK— MTV has launched Sticky, a website through which it aims to provide the media and advertising industries with insight into youth culture.
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Sister firms FDS and 3000ft make appointments
26-Aug-2009
UK— Research group Munro Global has added new staff at two of its subsidiaries, customer satisfaction specialist FDS International and social trend analyst 3000ft.
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YouGov and Mediametrie debut in global rankings
26-Aug-2009
US— YouGov and Mediametrie are the only new entrants in this year’s list of the world’s top 25 research agencies compiled by Inside Research.
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IFF awarded gender pay gap survey contract
25-Aug-2009
UK— The Equality and Human Rights Commission has commissioned IFF Research to conduct a survey into gender pay gaps.
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Phones 4u launches uBar online community
25-Aug-2009
UK— Mobile retailer Phones 4u has launched uBar, an online community to exchange feedback and ideas with mobile phone users to test new products and services.
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Yahoo acquires Maktoob Research and parent
25-Aug-2009
US— Yahoo has entered into an agreement to buy Middle Eastern online community Maktoob and its Maktoob Research subsidiary for an undisclosed amount.
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Roy Morgan 'to compete' with new readership survey
24-Aug-2009
AUSTRALIA— Roy Morgan has vowed to continue running its newspaper readership survey, despite a rival being planned by industry body The Newspaper Works, according to reports.
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GfK Custom NA appoints financial services MD
24-Aug-2009
US— Douglas Cottings has been appointed managing director of the financial services business at GfK Custom Research North America.
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Investor withdraws bid for Media Square directorship
24-Aug-2009
UK— Peter Lynch has withdrawn his request to join the board of marketing communications group Media Square, owner of research agency Illuminas.
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Discovery brings clients to its Thinking Shed
24-Aug-2009
UK— Discovery Group – owner of Discovery Research – has invested in a new online qualitative evaluation tool called The Thinking Shed which has already secured backing from 11 clients.
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Kadence appoints UK healthcare director
24-Aug-2009
UK— Rachel Lewington has been appointed as healthcare director at Kadence International. She joins the firm from pharma research agency Genactis, where she was global head of the qualitative research centre of excellence.
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ORC scoops insurer survey contract for third time
20-Aug-2009
UK— The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has awarded ORC International the contract to carry out its Customer Impact Survey for the third consecutive year.
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OFT considers probe of behavioural targeting
20-Aug-2009
UK— The Office of Fair Trading is considering whether to investigate behavioural targeting practices in a study into how consumers are affected by misleading online adverts and pricing.
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Interpret examines mobile handset purchases
20-Aug-2009
US— Interpret has launched a tool to understand what motivates consumers when choosing mobile phone handsets, especially in the final few moments before buying.
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Globalpark posts 35% Q2 revenue hike to €2.5m
20-Aug-2009
US— Online panel software provider Globalpark has reported a 35% jump in revenue to €2.5m for the second quarter of 2009 compared to the same period last year.
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BDRC launches rapid ad-evaluation tool
19-Aug-2009
UK— BDRC has launched AdForensics, an ad-evaluation tool to help organisations understand how their target market responds to advertising efforts.
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Vimto appoints McCallum Layton for sensory research task
19-Aug-2009
UK— Soft drinks brand Vimto has appointed McCallum Layton to undertake a combined sensory and consumer research study for the company’s product development programme over the next two to three years.
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Time Warner signs 'three-screen' measurement deal with Nielsen
19-Aug-2009
US— Time Warner has signed a seven-year contract with Nielsen to provide ratings services for all its businesses - the news coming in the same week that the media giant was reported to be part of a consortium planning to launch its own measurement system to rival the ratings firm.
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BigChampagne scoops Universal Music analysis task
19-Aug-2009
US— Music measurement firm BigChampagne has been contracted by Universal Music Group (UMG) to track online listening and song downloading habits across social networks and music sites.
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United Sample and eSpin launch teen community
19-Aug-2009
US— Online panel provider United Sample has teamed up with teen social networking firm eSpin to launch a new teenage research community, Surveys4Teens.
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Nielsen responds to rumours of rival ratings consortium
18-Aug-2009
US— Nielsen has responded to reports that a group of media agencies and advertisers are planning to launch a rival video measurement service, telling staff that “three-screen” measurement remains central to its strategy.
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TPSi launches pharma opinion leaders panel
18-Aug-2009
UK— Pharmaceutical market research agency The Planning Shop International (TPSi) has launched a new online panel of key industry opinion leaders from around the world.
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GfK Healthcare launches brand tracking service
18-Aug-2009
US— GfK Healthcare has launched Brand Beat, a package of diagnostic tools to measure a brand’s cognitive and emotional strengths.
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Online audio measurement firm Ando Media merges with Spacial
18-Aug-2009
US— Ando Media, which measures audiences for online audio, has merged with Spacial Audio Solutions, which provides software for audio streaming and ad insertion.
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Cossette looking for alternative takeover options
18-Aug-2009
CANADA— Marketing services group Cossette has dismissed a takeover proposal from its former vice-chairman François Duffar and has instructed its financial advisers to solicit proposals from other parties.
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In-Touch Survey Systems rues cancelled orders
17-Aug-2009
CANADA— Data collection firm In-Touch Survey Systems has reported that its revenue grew by 8% in the second quarter of 2009, but the firm’s electronic data collection activities took a C$1m hit as clients cancelled orders.
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Research owner Photon looking to raise AUS$115m
17-Aug-2009
AUSTRALIA— The Photon Group, owner of research agencies The Leading Edge and Jigsaw, is looking to raise AUS$115 million through a share offering.
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Virtual Surveys wins Kellogg's community contract
17-Aug-2009
UK— Breakfast cereal manufacturer Kellogg’s has commissioned Virtual Surveys to set up and run an online research community of women looking to “manage their shape”.
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Youth news site Ypulse merges with researcher SurveyU
17-Aug-2009
US— Ypulse, an online news and comment site for youth media and marketing professionals, has merged with SurveyU, an online research community made up of college students.
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Networks and marketers 'plan rival TV ratings'
14-Aug-2009
US— A group of media companies, advertisers and marketers are planning to launch a TV and digital video audience measurement service to rival Nielsen, the Financial Times has reported.
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Mintel Comperemedia appoints senior vice president
14-Aug-2009
US— Mintel Comperemedia, the direct marketing competitive intelligence arm of consumer goods researcher Mintel, has appointed Andrew Davidson as senior vice president.
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Creston reports like-for-like Q1 revenue down 6%
14-Aug-2009
UK— Research and marketing services group Creston has seen like-for-like revenue fall 6% in the first quarter of the new financial year, compared to growth of 5% last year.
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Media Square moves to block appointment of new director
13-Aug-2009
UK— Media Square, the marketing communications group that owns research agency Illuminas, has urged shareholders to vote against a resolution at its AGM that would see one of the firm’s investors take a seat on the board.
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Disney launches UK parent panel with Opinion Matters
13-Aug-2009
UK— Disney Interactive Media Group (DIMG) has launched a panel of around 10,000 parents, the UK Family Panel, in partnership with online research agency Opinion Matters.
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TNS and Rovi team up for set-top-box measurement
12-Aug-2009
US— TNS Media Research and digital technology firm Rovi have struck a deal to collaborate on advanced audience measurement services using data from TV set-top boxes.
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ICF Macro awarded $15m Homeland Security contract
12-Aug-2009
US— ICF Macro has been awarded a $15.2m contract by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct the National Survey on Recreational Boating Safety over the next five years.
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Kantar adds LatAm president and P&G account director
12-Aug-2009
UK— Kantar has appointed a new president for its Latin-American operations and a key client account director in the UK.
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Mediabrands goes 'hyper-local' with Geomentum
12-Aug-2009
US— Media management firm Mediabrands has launched a new insight agency, Geomentum, to help marketers and advertisers pinpoint and market to audiences at a local level.
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Nielsen transfers on-trade service to CGA Strategy
11-Aug-2009
UK— On-trade research agency CGA Strategy has taken over Nielsen’s sales tracking activities in the sector, with Nielsen taking a minority stake in the company in exchange.
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Datascension sees gross profit rocket but revenue decline
11-Aug-2009
US— MR and data collection outsourcing firm Datascension has reported a huge rise in gross profit for the second quarter of 2009, but a double-digit decline in revenue.
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Capgemini bags UAE TV measurement consulting task
11-Aug-2009
UAE— The National Media Council (NMC) and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) have appointed Capgemini to manage the first phase of the country’s new TV audience measurement initiative.
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Broadcasting reps urge Obama to join PPM wrangle
11-Aug-2009
US— Representatives of minority-owned radio broadcasters have written to President Barack Obama urging the federal government to step into the ongoing row over Arbitron’s PPM.
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DisplaySearch launches solar panel reports
10-Aug-2009
US— DisplaySearch, which specialises in researching the market for flat panel displays (FPDs) used in other TVs and other devices, has announced that it is launching new reports focusing on the market for solar panels.
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MarketTools promotes Millard to marketing SVP
10-Aug-2009
US— MarketTools has promoted Amy Millard to senior vice president of marketing.
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Market Force Information appoints COO
10-Aug-2009
US— Mark Newhall has been appointed chief operating officer at customer experience information and insight agency Market Force Information.
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Datamonitor integrates technology subsidiaries
10-Aug-2009
UK— Business information group Datamonitor is to merge its three technology businesses - Butler Group, Datamonitor Technology and Ovum - under the Ovum brand in September.
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StrategyEye and Cleantech Group join forces for tracking
7-Aug-2009
UK— Business intelligence firm StrategyEye and Cleantech Group have teamed up to monitor the latest news in the clean technology sector.
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ResponseTek launches Twitter scanning tool
7-Aug-2009
CANADA— Software firm ResponseTek has launched a tool to scan Twitter, social media and news networks for discussions and coverage of brands.
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Rasmussen Reports secures 'major' investment
7-Aug-2009
US— Pollster Rasmussen Reports has received a “major growth capital investment” from private equity firm Noson Lawen Partners.
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Mayor of London seeks agencies for city rebrand
6-Aug-2009
UK— The Greater London Authority (GLA) is looking for agencies to engage with the public over Mayor Boris Johnson’s plans to rebrand the city after the 2012 Olympics.
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Carphone Warehouse picks Face for social media task
6-Aug-2009
UK— Co-creation planning agency Face is to work with the mobile phone retailer to inform its social media engagement strategy.
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TNS launches sports passion measurement service in Asia
6-Aug-2009
HONG KONG— TNS has launched a syndicated report to cover the sporting and entertainment passions of people in Hong Kong and Singapore. The research sets out to identify what is ‘hot’ in the region.
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AOL's Adtech launches analytics tool for campaign measurement
5-Aug-2009
UK— Adtech, the AOL-owned provider of ad serving platforms, has announced a new tool to provide ad agencies and publishers with insight into the performance of advertising campaigns and placements.
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Passenger Focus renewing research roster
5-Aug-2009
UK— Passenger Focus, the national passenger watchdog, is looking for between eight and 24 agencies to join its market research roster.
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IASH picks ComScore for website vetting task
5-Aug-2009
UK— The Internet Advertising Sales Houses (IASH), a council of the Internet Advertising Bureau, has appointed ComScore to provide independent site vetting services to ensure online ads are placed next to suitable content.
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Motally launches beta version of iPhone apps tracker
5-Aug-2009
US— Mobile analytics firm Motally has launched a beta version of a service to track usage of applications on iPhone and BlackBerry handsets.
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Cagney wants AIM de-listing to concentrate on MR
5-Aug-2009
UK— Cagney, owner of research agency Tree, wants investors to approve the firm’s de-listing from the stock exchange so it can concentrate on developing new market research offerings.
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RivalWatch names new CEO and president
4-Aug-2009
US— Competitive intelligence agency RivalWatch has appointed Marty Hodgett as president and chief executive officer.
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Starcom and Telemundo to delve into Latino population
4-Aug-2009
US— Media agency Starcom MediaVest and broadcaster Telemundo Communications Group have launched the Beyond Demographics Latino Identity study.
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Baird looks to research to change energy use
4-Aug-2009
US— The House of Representatives is set to vote on a proposal from Congressman Brian Baird that would establish a research programme to “identify and understand social and behavioural factors that influence energy consumption”.
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Synovate rolls-out MMA in Asia Pacific
4-Aug-2009
INDIA— Synovate has launched its marketing mix modelling business Marketing Management Analytics in the Asia Pacific region. MMA will work alongside the Synovate Business Consulting operations in India.
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Microsoft and ComScore team up for digital ad tool
3-Aug-2009
US— Microsoft and ComScore have joined forces to launch the Reach and Frequency Planner for predicting and measuring the succes of online advertising campaigns.
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YouGov trading in line with expectations
3-Aug-2009
UK— YouGov said today that business for the year ending 31 July “was in line with current market expectations”.
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Webtrends agrees Widemile deal
31-Jul-2009
US— Web analytics firm Webtrends has agreed a deal to acquire Widemile, a provider of multivariate testing and site optimization technologies and services.
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Harris chief Till taps TNS again for TMT unit leader
31-Jul-2009
US— Harris Interactive CEO Kimberley Till has hired Michael Saxon from TNS as SVP of the Technology, Media & Entertainment and Telecommunications business unit.
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C-sat firm Confero appoints business development manager
31-Jul-2009
US— Customer experience measurement agency Confero has appointed Janet Morrison as business development manager.
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Granite Broadcasting drops Nielsen in all markets
30-Jul-2009
US— Granite Broadcasting has revealed that it has stopped using Nielsen ratings for all 12 of its TV stations – switching instead to International Demographics.
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Forrester 'on target' during second quarter
30-Jul-2009
US— Forrester Research has reported declines in second-quarter and first-half revenue and income – but chairman and CEO George Colony said the firm’s performance was “on target”. Q2 revenue was down 3% year-on-year to $61.6m, while net income declined 28% to $6.2m.
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Cegedim acquires patient data firm Hospital Marketing Services
30-Jul-2009
FRANCE— Healthcare research agency Cegedim Strategic Data has acquired UK-based Hospital Marketing Services for an undisclosed amount.
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Screen Digest and Media Partners Asia join forces
30-Jul-2009
HONG KONG— Media intelligence firms Media Partners Asia and UK-based Screen Digest have inked a deal to collaborate on research and consulting services.
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Datamonitor grows in first half of 2009
28-Jul-2009
UK— Market intelligence firm Datamonitor delivered “another six months of top-line growth”, according to parent company Informa’s half-year results.
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Nunwood hires CFO to spearhead expansion strategy
28-Jul-2009
UK— Nunwood has appointed financial strategist Kieran Marsh to the newly created role of chief financial officer to oversee its “substantial” growth plans.
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Ex-Common Knowledge exec launches sales consultancy
28-Jul-2009
US— Paul Kirch, the immediate past-president of the northwest chapter of the Marketing Research Association, has launched a new sales management consultancy aimed at the market research industry.
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Fed to peg impact of recession through re-interviews
28-Jul-2009
US— The Federal Reserve Board is planning to re-interview more than 4,000 people who took part in its 2007 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) to gauge the impact of the recession.
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Granite Broadcasting picks The Media Audit over Nielsen
27-Jul-2009
US— Granite Broadcasting has ditched Nielsen ratings in four TV markets, choosing instead to sign with International Demographics and its qualitative audience survey The Media Audit.
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People on the move
27-Jul-2009
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research industry.
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DeBiase out, Kent named general manager at TNS Media
27-Jul-2009
US— TNS Media North America has appointed Terry Kent as general manager following the departure of Dean DeBiase.
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Prompt RI introduces 'snapshot' ad testing service
27-Jul-2009
SOUTH AFRICA— Eye tracking firm Prompt Research Insights has introduced a system to asses how well print and billboard ads are recognised in a single glance.
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Ex-ITV research manager given Clear Channel Outdoor role
27-Jul-2009
UK— Emma Jones, the former commercial research and insight manager at broadcaster ITV, has joined outdoor media owner Clear Channel Outdoor as UK research and insight manager.
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OTX appoints MTVN researcher to new family and youth business
24-Jul-2009
US— OTX Research has appointed Donna Sabino to lead its new youth and families research practice.
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JiWire to use Nielsen Claritas data for wi-fi targeting service
24-Jul-2009
US— Mobile audience media agency JiWire has agreed a deal with Nielsen Claritas for a new service that aims to help marketers better target advertising to consumers who use the company’s 25,000 wi-fi hotspots.
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E-Rewards appoints SVP of international operations
24-Jul-2009
UK— Online panel provider E-Rewards has appointed former TNS director Mark Walton as senior vice president of international operations.
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Majestic MRSS launches in Indonesia
23-Jul-2009
INDONESIA— Full service research agency Majestic MRSS has opened a new office in Jakarta and hired Teju Harjono as executive director of operations.
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New GSRU head promises stronger links with research community
23-Jul-2009
UK— The new head of the Government Social Research Unit (GSRU), Cressy MacDonald, has outlined her desire to develop stronger links with research agencies, councils and societies.
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EMI Music appoints insight VP in digital marketing reshuffle
23-Jul-2009
UK— EMI Music has reshuffled its digital marketing operations following the recent arrival of Cory Ondrejka as executive vice president.
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Omniture reports record second-quarter revenue
23-Jul-2009
US— Analytics software firm Omniture has reported a 22% rise in revenue to a record $87.6m for the second quarter of 2009, up from $71.6m.
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Omniture appoints corporate development vice president
22-Jul-2009
US— Brian Andersen has been appointed vice president of corporate development at analytics software firm Omniture, where he will be responsible for mergers and acquisitions.
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UK sales up 40% at Kadence in 2008/09
22-Jul-2009
UK— Kadence International has reported a 40% increase in UK sales to £4m for the financial year 2008/09.
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Former GfK NOP man Stracey given InterQuest community role
22-Jul-2009
UK— InterQuest has appointed Daniel Stracey as community research manager.
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Nationwide opts out of Phorm
22-Jul-2009
UK— Nationwide Building Society has become the latest company to tell Phorm it does not want its web pages scanned by the firm’s targeted advertising software, Webwise.
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Former Qualcomm analysis director charged with insider trading
21-Jul-2009
US— The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Qualcomm’s former director of strategic marketing analysis with insider trading.
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Variety and Visible Measures launch online trailer chart
21-Jul-2009
US— Internet measurement firm Visible Measures and entertainment publisher Variety have launched a weekly chart of the top performing online film trailers.
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People on the move
21-Jul-2009
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research industry
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Nielsen launches web audience measurement in Taiwan
21-Jul-2009
TAIWAN— Nielsen has launched a new internet audience measurement service in Taiwan.
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Spring's Emotimeter aims to grab gut reaction to ad campaigns
20-Jul-2009
UK— Spring Research has launched a new online service to “capture the basic emotion” a consumer feels when seeing an advert.
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Equity fund invests in Kenya's Research Solutions Africa
20-Jul-2009
KENYA— Private equity house TBL Mirror Fund has invested £196,000 (25m Kenyan Shillings) in full-service agency Research Solutions Africa (RSA).
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Added Value moves Drinkwater to Sydney
20-Jul-2009
AUSTRALIA— WPP-owned marketing insight agency Added Value has moved Peter Drinkwater to its Sydney office where he will take the role of director of insight and brand development.
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B2B research spend 'resilient', Circle survey finds
17-Jul-2009
UK— Business-to-business market research spend over the next 12 months is set to be “resilient”, according to the results of Circle Research’s B2B Barometer.
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Krüger promoted to lead consumer division at TNS Infratest
17-Jul-2009
GERMANY— Jens Krüger has been promoted to head of the consumer and retail division at TNS Infratest.
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Toluna completes Greenfield Online acquisition
17-Jul-2009
FRANCE— Toluna has completed the $40m acquisition of the internet survey business of Greenfield Online and its subsidiary Ciao after securing shareholder backing earlier this week.
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Australian newspaper body plans measurement tender
17-Jul-2009
AUSTRALIA— An industry body created to prove the effectiveness of newspapers as an advertising medium is on the hunt for an agency to provide readership measurement metrics.
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Ipsos France deputy CEO given Syntec role
16-Jul-2009
FRANCE— Ipsos France’s deputy CEO Patrice Bergen has been elected president of the board of directors at the Syntec Marketing Research and Opinion organisation.
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Enthuze secures $1.65m funding
16-Jul-2009
US— Texas-based consumer research agency Enthuze has been awarded $1.65m by the technology investment house Satai and the South Texas Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization.
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TV Dragon takes a bite out of MR blocker Truecall
16-Jul-2009
UK— TV entrepreneur Peter Jones has bought a 12.5% stake in Truecall, a firm that designed a robotic answering machine to block unwanted calls from market research agencies, telemarketers and malicious callers.
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New non-exec directors and CFO at Aegis
16-Jul-2009
UK— Aegis has appointed three new non-executive directors and a new group finance chief as incumbent Alicja Lesniak (pictured) retires.
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Added Value takes 51% stake in Saffron Hill
16-Jul-2009
UK— WPP-owned marketing insight firm Added Value has acquired a 51% shareholding in Saffron Hill Research, a full-service agency based in Singapore and the Philippines. The firm lists BAT, Epson, Microsoft, Nokia and Johnson & Johnson among its clients.
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Former eBay CMO joins Marketshare advisory board
15-Jul-2009
US— Mike Linton has been appointed to the board of advisers at marketing analytics agency Marketshare Partners.
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Alterian snaps up social media tracker Techrigy
15-Jul-2009
UK— Alterian has acquired New York-based social media monitoring and analytics software firm Techrigy in an all-share deal that could be worth up to $4.1m.
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TNS Gallup lands new net measurement deal in Norway
15-Jul-2009
NORWAY— The Norwegian Media Businesses’ Association (MBL) has renewed TNS Gallup’s contract to provide internet audience measurement data in the country - moving from a site-based to a user-based system.
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Allegiance makes Inquisite acquisition
15-Jul-2009
US— Feedback management software developer Allegiance has acquired online survey software firm Inquisite for an undisclosed amount. Its clients include AT&T, Dell, Intel, Visa, Johnson & Johnson, Siemens and Xerox.
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Sternberg out as Magna reorganises
13-Jul-2009
US— Veteran media researcher Steve Sternberg has left his role as executive vice president of audience analysis at Magna Global after the Interpublic-owned media agency reorganised the division.
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MMR Group promotes Mat Lintern to MD
13-Jul-2009
UK— Mat Lintern has been promoted to managing director of MMR Research Worldwide and online agency Qubiq-Online by MMR Group.
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People on the move
13-Jul-2009
The latest appointments and promotions in the global research and insight industry. This week: news from AMR Research, Sky, GeoAnalytics, Progressive, Maktoob, WDMP and Servint.
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Toluna shareholders approve Greenfield Online deal
13-Jul-2009
FRANCE— Toluna shareholders approved plans to acquire the survey businesses of Greenfield Online and Ciao at a general meeting held earlier today.
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SSI expands in Asia Pacific and Latin America
8-Jul-2009
US— Survey Sampling International has opened new offices in Hong Kong and Singapore, and launched expanded panels in Brazil and Mexico.
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Quamnet picks Hitwise for competitive intelligence
8-Jul-2009
HONG KONG— Online financial services portal Quamnet has contracted Experian Hitwise to provide competitive intelligence to feed into the development of ad strategies.
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BT says privacy concerns not an issue with Phorm
8-Jul-2009
UK— BT has gone on record to say that privacy issues played no part in its decision not to deploy Phorm’s targeted advertising technology, Webwise.
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'Encouraging' first half for BrainJuicer
8-Jul-2009
UK— Online research agency BrainJuicer saw revenue grow 22% during the first half of 2009, according to a trading statement released today.
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Now Carphone Warehouse shuts door on Phorm
7-Jul-2009
UK— Carphone Warehouse, the owner of internet provider Talk Talk, has become the second ISP in two days to decide against introducing Phorm’s Webwise targeted advertising software.
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Lightspeed promotes Jethwani to VP of client ops
7-Jul-2009
US— Tara Jethwani has been promoted to vice president of client operations at Lightspeed Research in the Americas.
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Changes at the top at Attentio
7-Jul-2009
BELGIUM— Social media analytics agency Attentio has promoted Amaia Lasa to CEO and reorganised other senior management positions.
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GfK acquires Ifop Music and stake in Watch Media
7-Jul-2009
GERMANY— GfK Retail and Technology has acquired French music sales tracking firm Ifop Music – one of two purchases announced today.
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Ipsos Loyalty adds mystery shopping experts
6-Jul-2009
US— Mark Greene and Dolores Forget have joined Ipsos Loyalty’s new mystery shopping division as vice president and director respectively.
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Nunwood hires trio of new staff
6-Jul-2009
UK— Nunwood has boosted its ranks with the addition of three new senior members of staff.
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EasyInsites chosen for Surrey Chamber of Commerce task
6-Jul-2009
UK— The Surrey Chamber of Commerce has contracted online agency EasyInsites to design, build and maintain an online research panel.
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BT backs away from Phorm's Webwise technology
6-Jul-2009
UK— BT has decided against deploying Phorm’s targeted advertising software, Webwise, choosing to devote resources to “other opportunities”.
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Appointments and promotions – roundup
3-Jul-2009
Appointments and promotions in the global market research industry, including: Fanscape, Portrait Software, Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment, InsightExpress, Screen Digest, ForeSee Results, Edigital Research, Wyndham Hotel Group, Cambridge Market Research and Qforma.
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Arbitron: FCC 'has absolutely no authority' to regulate PPMs
3-Jul-2009
US— Arbitron has told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it has “absolutely no authority to impose regulations” on its portable people meter-based (PPM) radio ratings system.
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Conquest aims for ‘gut’ reaction with new testing tool
3-Jul-2009
UK— Conquest Research has launched iSpark, an online tool to measure consumers’ “gut reactions” to new products.
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Cello warns of mixed first half with gross profit down 10%
3-Jul-2009
UK— Cello warned that gross profit will be down around 10% for the first half of 2009, in a mixed trading update released today.
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OTX appoints SVP for TV entertainment arm
2-Jul-2009
US— David Klein has been appointed senior vice president of the TV entertainment division at consumer research and consulting agency OTX.
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IMS Health hires chief privacy officer
2-Jul-2009
US— Kimberly Gray has joined healthcare data firm IMS as chief privacy officer. She will be responsible for ensuring privacy laws are complied with in the company’s activities in the US, Canada and Latin America.
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GfK ups stake in Indian joint venture with Nielsen
2-Jul-2009
INDIA— GfK has become the majority owner in ORG-GfK, the joint venture it runs with Nielsen, increasing its stake from 40% to 50.1%.
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COI appoints 108 agencies to roster
2-Jul-2009
UK— The Central Office of Information, the government’s marketing communications arm, has appointed 108 firms to its market research agency roster, half of whom are new additions.
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Financial research agencies merge
1-Jul-2009
UK— Research agencies NMB and H2B have merged to create what they claim will be the “UK’s leading research company dedicated solely to the financial services sector”.
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New MP rules put research at risk, says ComRes chief
1-Jul-2009
UK— Andrew Hawkins, CEO of pollsters ComRes, has attacked new legislation that would require MPs to declare all their outside interests – including any incentives they receive for taking surveys.
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Nielsen expands NY and LA TV samples
1-Jul-2009
US— Nielsen is increasing the size of of its Local People Meter samples in New York and Los Angeles from 800 to 1,000 households.
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Research Now growth beats predictions
1-Jul-2009
UK— Online panel and fieldwork provider Research Now has reported a 24% rise in revenue to £23.6m for the six months ended 30 April 2009.
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Jeeran Research launched in Middle East
30-Jun-2009
JORDAN— Former Ipsos and Maktoob researcher Nisreen Akkawi has launched a new online agency, Jeeran Research, to focus on the Middle East and North Africa region.
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Telmar Peaktime names MD for Netherlands and Germany
30-Jun-2009
NETHERLANDS— Gerard van der Werf has been promoted to regional manager of the Netherlands and Germany at media planning software and analytics firm Telmar Peaktime.
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Opinium and LSE scoop European identity survey
30-Jun-2009
UK— Online agency Opinium Research and the London School of Economics have been awarded a contract by the Economic and Social Research Council to conduct a study into the meaning of ‘the European identity’.
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Toluna buys Greenfield Online survey business for $40m
26-Jun-2009
US— Online panel firm Toluna has agreed a deal to acquire Greenfield Online’s internet survey business from Microsoft for $40m – one third of what Microsoft originally wanted for it.
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AGB Nielsen to investigate Turkish TV tampering
26-Jun-2009
TURKEY— AGB Nielsen and Turkey’s TV audience measurement body, TÍAK, have launched a legal investigation after some members of Nielsen’s TV panel reported being offered money to change their viewing habits.
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Cambiar launches Research Transformation Consulting Practice
25-Jun-2009
US— MR consulting firm Cambiar has opened a new practice to help major corporations improve the effectiveness of their research efforts.
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Blueview makes double acquistion
25-Jun-2009
UK— Strategic marketing group Blueview acquires digital agency Glass and lead generation and research firm Logicall Results.
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Innerscope Research adds two to advisory board
24-Jun-2009
US— Biometric and neuroscience agency Innerscope Research has appointed Joseph Plummer and Sandy Pentland (pictured) to its advisory board.
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TMN investors approve Danson takeover
24-Jun-2009
UK— Shareholders at research and direct marketing group TMN have approved a reverse acquisition deal that will see Datamonitor founder Mike Danson take control of the firm.
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'Outside the box and inside the budget'
24-Jun-2009
UK— Richard Jameson takes over as managing director of GfK NOP on 1 July. We speak to him about his plans for the company and how he sees the industry coping with the recession.
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Royal Mail probes claims of 'rigged' research
24-Jun-2009
UK— Postal services regulator Postcomm and Royal Mail are looking into allegations that research to assess the quality of Glasgow’s postal service was rigged.
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Sky News revamps consumer panel
23-Jun-2009
UK— Sky News is relaunching its online research panel with a redesigned website and several new features.
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CMW appoints Mesh's Blackden to planning role
23-Jun-2009
UK— Erminia Blackden has been appointed senior account planner at marketing communications agency CMW.
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Arbitron plans out-of-home TV measurement
23-Jun-2009
US— Radio ratings firm Arbitron is to use its portable people meter technology to measure out-of-home TV viewing in the US.
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Jameson made MD, Macfarlane named chair at GfK NOP
23-Jun-2009
UK— Richard Jameson has been promoted to managing director of GfK NOP, replacing Phyllis Macfarlane, who moves to the new role of chairman.
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Western Wats upgrades Data Express tool
22-Jun-2009
US— Western Wats has released Version 3 of its Data Express survey data reporting tool.
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HCD Research makes business development hire
22-Jun-2009
US— James O’Hara has been appointed executive vice president of the business development division at HCD Research.
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Polaris appoints project manager
22-Jun-2009
US— Kristopher Bober has been hired by full service agency Polaris Marketing Research as a project manager.
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FoxSports.com picks Unica for web analytics task
22-Jun-2009
US— FoxSports.com has signed a deal with marketing management software firm Unica to use its NetInsight OnDemand tool.
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Call for tougher polling rules in Indonesia
22-Jun-2009
INDONESIA— A member of the Indonesian Public Opinion Survey Association’s newly-formed ethics council has called for new rules that would prevent polls paid for by political parties from being released to the public.
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Discovery Channel appoints new SVP of research
19-Jun-2009
US— The Discovery Channel has appointed former Nielsen executive Steve McGowan as senior vice president of research, where he will be responsible for planning and directing all broadcast, digital media, marketing and ancillary research.
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YouGov and Markit launch Household Finance Index
19-Jun-2009
UK— Financial information services firm Markit has teamed up with YouGov to launch the Household Finance Index (HFI), a monthly survey tracking the changing levels of household spending.
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Emap Data and Insight chief steps down
19-Jun-2009
UK— Neil Bradford has resigned from his position as co-chief executive of the Data and Insight group at publisher Emap after a year in the role.
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Marketing guru Jim Stengel takes UCLA post
19-Jun-2009
US— Proctor & Gamble’s former chief marketing officer Jim Stengel has been appointed an adjunct marketing professor at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
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Porter Novelli strikes social media monitoring partnership
18-Jun-2009
US— Public relations agency Porter Novelli and social media monitoring firm Crimson Hexagon have formed a strategic alliance to analyse online conversations about brands.
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QSR inks reseller agreement with Malaysia's StatWorks
18-Jun-2009
AUSTRALIA— QSR International has struck a deal with Malaysian firm StatWorks to manage the reseller network for its qualitative data analysis software in Malaysia and Singapore.
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Satmetrix appoints new chief operating officer
18-Jun-2009
US— Customer loyalty agency Satmetrix has appointed David Cooper as chief operating officer and chief financial officer.
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Ad targeting firm Phorm posts £30m loss for 2008
18-Jun-2009
UK— Online targeted advertising firm Phorm slipped deeper into the red last year, with an operating loss of £30.6m compared to £20.1m in 2007.
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Indonesian survey associations to audit pollsters
18-Jun-2009
INDONESIA— MR associations have vowed to scrutinise the methodology used by their members to produce voting intention surveys ahead of the country’s presidential election, amid claims of “inaccurate and biased” polls.
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InSites Consulting to open in UK and Switzerland
17-Jun-2009
BELGIUM— Research agency InSites Consulting is to open new offices in London and Geneva.
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Nielsen to reissue ABC data
17-Jun-2009
US— Nielsen is reissuing TV ratings for broadcaster ABC after an error meant that viewing figures were undercounted during the country’s switch to digital transmission last week.
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Canadian man found guilty in $1m mystery shopping scam
17-Jun-2009
CANADA— A 33-year-old man has been found guilty of fraud and other offences tied to the running of a mystery shopping scam. Lookman Temidayo conned people out of money by telling them they had been hired to evaluate an international money transfer service.
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Ace Metrix launches TV ad measurement tool
17-Jun-2009
US— Ad measurement agency Ace Metrix has launched a new service to evaluate the performance of TV advertisements.
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SmartRevenue hires global retail strategy chief
16-Jun-2009
US— Shopper-focused research agency SmartRevenue has appointed Candace Adams, Wal-Mart’s former director of customer in-store experience insights, as its president of global retail strategy.
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Nielsen and Digimarc form mobile video tracking JVs
16-Jun-2009
US— Nielsen and technology firm Digimarc Corporation are to launch two joint ventures to track mobile video viewing.
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ROI firm appoints Arbitron veteran Guyther
16-Jun-2009
US— Jay Guyther has joined media consultancy ROI Media Solutions (ROIMS) as a partner after a 25-year spell at Arbitron.
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New chairman for Nielsen supervisory board
16-Jun-2009
US— James Kilts, a former vice chairman of Procter & Gamble, has been appointed chairman of Nielsen’s supervisory board of directors, succeeding Dudlay Eustace.
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Nielsen Online promises 'leap' in web measurement
15-Jun-2009
US— Nielsen Online is boosting the size of its NetView panel from 28,000 to 200,000 members as part of a major overhaul of its web audience measurement services in the US.
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Arbitron to reissue Tampa ratings
15-Jun-2009
US— Arbitron is having to reissue radio ratings data for Spring Phase 1 in the Tampa/St Petersburg/Clearwater market after seven diaries were returned from one household.
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Meteor Solutions appoints former ARF man as COO
15-Jun-2009
US— Word-of-mouth measurement agency Meteor Solutions has hired Taddy Hall, the Advertising Research Foundation’s (ARF) former chief strategy officer, as its new chief operating officer.
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PSL Research appoints UK managing director
15-Jun-2009
UK— Christine Corner, the former head of client services at TNS Healthcare, has been appointed managing director of healthcare agency PSL Research’s UK operations.
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InSites Consulting to examine digital media marketing challenges
12-Jun-2009
BELGIUM— Research agency InSites Consulting has teamed up with IAB Europe to create a report into 17 challenges facing digital media marketers.
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New chairman at ESRC
12-Jun-2009
UK— Veteran banker Alan Gillespie has been appointed chairman of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson.
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Two more tune in to Nielsen radio ratings
12-Jun-2009
US— Broadcaster Maverick Media and media agency TargetCast tcm have signed up to use Nielsen’s radio ratings, and the former is planning to ditch Arbitron’s service next year.
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Millward Brown restructures European operations
12-Jun-2009
EUROPE— Kantar-owned Millward Brown has restructured its European business, merging the UK and Ireland regions with continental Europe.
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RG+A appoints client strategies SVP
11-Jun-2009
US— Healthcare market research agency Roger Green and Associates (RG+A) has appointed Steve Fleischmann as senior vice president of client strategies.
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SPA co-founder given Tpoll non-exec role
11-Jun-2009
UK— Online research agency Tpoll has appointed SPA’s executive chairman Jon Priest as a non-executive director.
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Nielsen files to dismiss Sunbeam case
11-Jun-2009
US— Nielsen has moved to dismiss Sunbeam Television’s anti-trust case against it, claiming the broadcaster’s allegations are not sufficient to warrant a trial.
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Young Market Research launched for energy technologies
11-Jun-2009
US— Father and son team Barry and Ross Young form new agency focused on technologies affecting consumer electrical consumption.
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Cint makes double appointment
10-Jun-2009
CANADA/US— Research software and services firm Cint has appointed Lindsay Veling as senior sales director in Toronto and Marc McDonough as sales director at its new Indiana office.
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IntrinsiQ acquires healthcare MR firm WWMR
10-Jun-2009
US— Oncology information supplier IntrinsiQ has acquired healthcare research agency WWMR for an undisclosed amount.
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Phorm bags £15m to fund rollout of ad targeting system
10-Jun-2009
UK— Online behavioural advertising firm Phorm has raised £15m to fund the continued implementation of its services in the UK and Korea.
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Julian Bond takes Incite role post-RI departure
10-Jun-2009
UK— Former Research International UK chairman Julian Bond will join research consultancy Incite as a director next week.
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Zogby and 463 Communications form JV
9-Jun-2009
US— Pollster Zogby International and 463 Communications have combined forces to launch a joint venture, Zogby463.
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Motally secures financing for analytics platform
9-Jun-2009
US— Mobile data collection and analytics agency Motally has completed a Series A financing round, securing backing from venture capitalist house BlueRun and an angel investor.
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E-Rewards Europe appoints business development SVP
9-Jun-2009
UK— E-Rewards has appointed Alki Manias, former YouGovCentaur MD, as senior vice president of sales and business development for Europe.
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Spring Creek Group names web analytics leader
8-Jun-2009
US— Xavier Jiménez has been appointed principle and practice lead for web analytics and measurement at social media marketing agency Spring Creek Group.
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New MRIA president interviewed
8-Jun-2009
James Verrinder talks to David Stark of Canada’s Marketing Research & Intelligence Association about government spending, sugging and online privacy.
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EasyInsites appoints advisory board
8-Jun-2009
UK— Online research agency EasyInsites, which was formed earlier this year by former Research Now executive Charles Pearson, has formed a three-strong advisory board.
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TNS to lead DfT study on climate change
8-Jun-2009
UK— A TNS-led consortium has scooped a contract from the Department for Transport (DfT) to investigate whether people’s attitudes towards climate change are affecting their travel preferences.
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Polish researchers most trusted, GfK survey finds
5-Jun-2009
GERMANY— Polish market researchers are the most trusted in Europe, according to the results of GfK’s latest Trust Index Survey, which rates the most ‘trustworthy’ professions.
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FTC raps Sears over website tracking software
5-Jun-2009
US— Retail group Sears Holding Management, which owns Sears and K-Mart, has fallen foul of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after failing to properly notify customers who signed up to a research community that it was installing tracking software on their computers.
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Datamonitor founder inks deal to take control at TMN
5-Jun-2009
UK— Michael Danson, the founder of market intelligence agency Datamonitor, is set to take control of research and direct marketing group TMN after a reverse acquisition was agreed.
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TrendSource makes mystery shopper buy
4-Jun-2009
US— Consumer research and intelligence agency Trendsource has acquired healthcare mystery shopping firm Examine Your Practice for an undisclosed amount.
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ESPN Radio signs up for Nielsen’s new ratings
4-Jun-2009
US— Sports broadcaster ESPN Radio has signed up to use Nielsen ratings data in 51 small and medium-sized markets, but not at the expense of Arbitron’s system.
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Harper government doesn’t ‘fully appreciate value’ of research
4-Jun-2009
CANADA— A change in political leadership in Canada is the only way to stop the current round of government cuts to public opinion research spend, according to the new president of the country’s Marketing Research & Intelligence Association (MRIA).
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Zussi in the Zone with community launch
3-Jun-2009
UK — Zussi Research has launched a new online research community, Zussi Zone, that will go live at the end of June.
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More marketers see gloom of recession lifting
3-Jun-2009
UK— Marketers increasingly believe that the worst of the recession is over, but most still expect a tough 2009 according to the results of the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s latest Marketing Trends survey.
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Phorm CEO slams ad targeting critics as vociferous ‘minority’
3-Jun-2009
UK— Phorm CEO Kent Ertugrul today hit back at UK critics of his firm’s targeted advertising technology, claiming that it has not met the same level of hostility from other countries.
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WPP shareholders pass executive bonus plan
2-Jun-2009
UK— An executive bonus plan that threatened to divide WPP shareholders last week was passed at the firm’s AGM today.
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GM owes marketing agencies almost $200m
2-Jun-2009
US— Five marketing service agencies are owed almost $200m between them after financially stricken car and truck manufacturer General Motors (GM) filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection yesterday.
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IFM Sports Marketing Surveys looks East
1-Jun-2009
JAPAN— IFM Sports Marketing Surveys has opened new offices in South Korea and Japan.
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Clarity Strategic Research launched in Australia
1-Jun-2009
AUSTRALIA— Alex Sweeney and Alasdair Johnston have formed Clarity Strategic Research, a new agency that will offer qual and quant research services to the financial, B2B, telecoms, retail, FMCG and media sectors.
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Court date set for Nielsen and Sunbeam
1-Jun-2009
US— Nielsen and Sunbeam Television will square up in court in December over claims that the ratings giant has an illegal monopoly.
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60 Second Soapbox – Vanella Jackson
June 2009
The product I’m most excited about…My new MBT trainers. They promise to tone my calves, exercise my thighs and give me a flat tum and a tight butt, all without a visit to the gym. The miracle of science.
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E-Tabs adds to London and Chicago teams
28-May-2009
UK/US— E-Tabs, a developer of research data reporting software, has added four new staff to its London and Chicago offices.
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[x+1] hires partnerships and strategy VP
28-May-2009
US— Dedric Choi has been appointed vice president of partnerships and strategy at predictive marketing agency [x+1].
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Arbitron to reissue New York PPM data
28-May-2009
US— Arbitron is having to reissue four months’ worth of portable people meter (PPM) radio ratings for the New York market because of a data entry error.
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Product of the Year launches in Canada
27-May-2009
CANADA— TNS Canadian Facts will survey 12,000 consumers to find out Canada’s Product of the Year for 2010, the first time the scheme has been run in the country.
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WOMMA preps social marketing metrics guide
27-May-2009
US— The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) is looking for feedback on its new measurement and metrics guidelines.
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Telegraph Media Group launches research unit
27-May-2009
UK— Telegraph Media Group (TMG), publisher of the Daily Telegraph, has created a new research operation to survey reader opinion and target new advertisers.
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WPP shareholders split over share incentive scheme
26-May-2009
UK— WPP shareholders are split over a new senior executive incentive scheme at the marketing and research group, which is due to be voted on at the firm’s AGM next week.
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Verve forms advisory panel to aid expansion
22-May-2009
UK— New consultancy Verve Partners has set up an advisory board to help it prepare for international expansion.