Network Ten research manager to lead OzTam

Peiffer (pictured) has been with the broadcaster since 2001, prior to which he held senior roles within research agencies Nielsen and TNS.

Inglis-Clark is also a former Nielsen executive, spending six years as business development director at AC Nielsen before joining OzTam in February 2004. Her future plans are not known.

OzTam chairman Steve Weaver thanked Inglis-Clark “for her many achievements as CEO and her efforts in maintaining the credibility and integrity of the OzTam ratings service”.

Turning to Peiffer, he said: “Doug’s understanding of television ratings and the broader media research industry are unsurpassed.”

Weaver himself is set to be replaced soon as chairman in keeping with an undertaking agreed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to appoint an independent chair and director.

The ACCC was called in by Network Ten CEO Grant Blackley because he was reportedly unsatisfied with the way that his network’s new sports channel’s ratings were reported.

An investigation concluded that the OzTam setup – controlled as it is by representatives from each of the three TV networks that owns it, Seven, Nine and Ten – could raise trade practice concerns.

ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel explained that “an OzTam nominee director representing the interests of a particular shareholder could affect the reporting and marketing of new digital channels by refusing consent to the separate reporting of ratings data for those new channels”.

It is envisaged that the independent chair and director agreed with the ACCC will have casting vote powers on such matters.

Weaver works for Nine Network.