The Newspaper Works announced in December that GfK: Mediamark Research & Intelligence, Ipsos MediaCT and TNS Australia would be invited to tender for the contract. Formal RFTs will be issued to the trio on Monday, said CEO Tony Hale (pictured).

Roy Morgan Research’s readership survey is currently the de facto print currency in Australia. The agency did not apply for the Newspaper Works contract and has vowed to continue running its own service despite the threat of competition.

The Australian media industry has been split over the possibility of two competing surveys, with some companies such as ACP Magazines backing Roy Morgan and others, including The Magazine Publishers of Australia and The Media Federation of Australia supporting The Newspaper Works’ nascent offering.