Nielsen Launches New Measurement Service for VOD Usage

NEW YORK, January 25: The Nielsen Company has announced the
commercial launch of a web-based measurement service that aggregates and
anonymously reports on VOD usage based on real-time transactions collected from
set-top boxes, with Comcast coming aboard as the first platform to utilize the
new tool.

By providing set top box-level data on actual VOD
selections, NORA Nielsen On Demand Reporting & Analytics will enable
Nielsen clients to interpret VOD viewing trends as well as analyze the impact
of VOD usage. Part of the Nielsen DigitalPlus service, NORA will also provide
integrated data sets from other measurement services from across The Nielsen
Company, including Nielsen EDI and Nielsen VideoScan. The new offering
complements Nielsen’s existing panel-based National People Meter VOD Audience
Measurement service.

At launch, cable provider Comcast will be providing VOD data
for the NORA service, covering January 1, 2007 to the present. Comcast will
also begin using the NORA service immediately to analyze trends in VOD usage
based on a number of factors, including programmer, program distributor,
program category (e.g., if the program is available at no charge, is part of a
premium service or is a title customers pay for individually) and the
box-office revenue.

“Nielsen is very pleased to build on the success of our
trial work over the past year with the commercial launch of NORA,” said Holly
Leff-Pressman, Nielsen’s senior VP of on demand and television practice.
“Between our new transactional measurement service for VOD and our National
People Meter VOD service, Nielsen is well-equipped to help our clients make the
most informed business decisions regarding the on-demand distribution
platform.”

“On Demand usage is skyrocketing with more than 275 million
programs viewed monthly on Comcast alone,” said Derek Harrar, the senior VP and
general manager of video products for Comcast. “Our work with Nielsen will help
us better understand what our customers like to watch, which is an important
part of our commitment to providing the best viewing experience possible.”

—By Irene Lew