| In-depth TV Ratings Analytics Provide Live and Time-shifted
Second-by-Second Audience Measurement of Programs and Commercials
in 100,000 DIRECTV Homes
New York - January 28, 2009 - TNS Media Research, a division of
TNS Media providing TV, Internet, and radio audience measurement
worldwide, today announced the launch of the DIRECTView™
Service, an advanced TV ratings analytics tool that is the largest
national audience measurement service in the U.S.
DIRECTView, which leverages Return Path Data (RPD) from the digital
set-top boxes of 100,000 DIRECTV satellite television subscribers,
enables measurement of the entire spectrum of live and time-shifted
(DVR) audience viewing behaviors at a second-by-second level across
more than 350 channels. The data is projectable to DIRECTV’s
entire 17.3 million customer base.
“DIRECTV partnered with TNS Media Research for its rigorous
research pedigree in audience measurement and RPD technology that
will provide valuable viewing information for our advertisers
and programmers,” said Eric Shanks, executive vice president
of Entertainment for DIRECTV. “We look forward to continuing
to grow our relationship with TNS and bring more detailed ratings
analytics to the U.S. marketplace.”
“This is the type of transparent audience ratings data
that advertisers, TV networks and agencies have been seeking –
research that truly reflects the programming and advertising services
consumed by viewers,” says Dean DeBiase, CEO, TNS Media.
Leading U.S. advertising agencies and programmers have already
signed on to use DIRECTView’s live and time-shifted audience
ratings at a second-by-second interval to help navigate the complexities
of the digital TV landscape.
“With the level of granular insights available from the
DIRECTView Service, clients can better understand why programs
and commercials are watched or not, and gain greater confidence
in their marketing decision-making,” says George Shababb,
President, TNS Media Research North America.
DIRECTView provides users with a dashboard look-and-feel, graphical
reporting and flexible end-user customization. Features of the
service include ad occurrence data provided by TNS Media Intelligence
and top market breakouts, as well as the ability for users to
set their own retention metrics to evaluate commercial avoidance,
creative wear-out level and audience flow. DIRECTView’s
robust database enables stable, consistent ratings for even small,
digital and HD networks.
TNS Media Research processes DIRECTV set-top box (STB) data through
InfoSys, the most widely-used media analysis and planning system
in the world, to provide highly detailed analysis of audience
viewing behavior.
About TNS Media Research
TNS Media Research is the leader in providing digital TV audience
and advertising measurement tools and intelligence derived from
second-by-second return path data. With a proven track record
in audience research services across 32 countries, TNS Media Research
is at the forefront of technological developments in audience
measurement in the media industry, working with broadcasters and
advertisers, media agencies and industry committees. For more
information on TNS Media Research and DIRECTView, visit www.tns-mr.com.
TNS Media Research is part of the TNS Media Group. Established
in more than 30 countries, TNS Media explores all media –
print, radio, TV, Internet, social media, cinema and outdoor worldwide,
24 hours a day, seven days a week, and offers a full range of
insights, analyses and audience measurement services.
For further information, please visit www.tnsmediagroup.com
About Kantar Group and TNS
The Kantar Group is one of the world's largest research, insight
and consultancy networks. By uniting the diverse talents of more
than 20 specialist companies – including the recently-acquired
TNS – the group aims to become the pre-eminent provider
of compelling and actionable insights for the global business
community. Its 26,500 employees work across 80 countries and across
the whole spectrum of research and consultancy disciplines, enabling
the group to offer clients business insights at each and every
point of the consumer cycle. The group’s services are employed
by over half of the Fortune Top 500 companies. For further information,
please visit www.kantargrouptns.com
About DIRECTV, Inc.
DIRECTV, Inc. (NASDAQ:DTV), the nation's leading satellite television
service provider, presents the finest television experience available
to more than 17.3 million customers in the United States and is
leading the HD revolution with more than 130 HD channels. Each
day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 265 channels of
100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming, industry-leading
customer satisfaction (which has surpassed national cable companies
for eight years running) and superior technologies that include
advanced DVR and HD-DVR services and the most state-of-the-art
interactive sports packages available anywhere. For the most up-to-date
information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.
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