Groundbreaking Cross-Media Research Using "Hub and Fusion" Launched For The First Time In The Us By CIMM - The Coalition For Innovative Media Measurement

“TouchPoints” Survey Has Already Transformed The Way Media Is Planned, Bought And Sold In The UK

NEW YORK, August 10, 2010 -- The “TouchPoints” initiative, launched in 2006 in the United Kingdom, is now entering the United States thanks to the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM), it was announced today by Jane Clarke, Managing Director at CIMM. This landmark research project – based on the UK Institute of Practitioners in Advertising’s IPA TouchPoints® service and licensed by the Media Behavior Institute (MBI), will be fielded by MBI in partnership with GfK MRI. IPA TouchPoints has provided the media industry in the U. K. a single source of media planning data, which cuts across a range of media including TV, radio, print, online and mobile.

“A new media world requires new tools for measurement. Developing these tools is the mission of CIMM,” said Colleen Fahey Rush, Executive Vice President, Strategic Insights and Research for MTV Networks and Chairman of the CIMM Executive Board. “As we approach the first anniversary of CIMM’s founding, we’re pleased to be launching this innovative US version of ‘TouchPoints.’”

“We scoured the globe to find the most consumer-centric cross-platform approaches before identifying and initiating a thorough consultant-led study of U.K. Touchpoints,” explained Clarke. “It is by far the most comprehensive and provides the best way to link cross-media measurement and understand media usage in the context of daily life activities. We’re delighted to be partnering with MBI to bring this innovative measurement tool to the US Media industry.”

The project will include a sample of 1000 men and women aged 18-54 drawn from respondents who have completed GfK MRI’s widely used “Survey of the American Consumer,” and will employ eDiaries in which participants will record their media behavior at 30 minute intervals over 10 days. That data will be fused with existing media measurement services. This "hub and fusion" approach to cross-platform media measurement provides a time-based way of understanding consumers’ media behavior. The final database will, for the first time in the U.S., allow media planners, buyers and sellers a look into the full picture of how respondents use all types of media and how to measure unduplicated reach across all media.

The study will run from September 2010 to February 2011. CIMM members will have exclusive, unlimited access to the Hub Database & the Integrated Channel Planning Tool for six months.

“The Media Behavior Institute was formed to address the growing need for more actionable multimedia planning insights. Working with CIMM enables us to realize this critical capability with the full support of the industry we plan to serve. We can’t imagine a better way to launch USA TouchPoints,” said Bill Moult, MBI’s CEO.

About MBI

Media Behavior Institute LLC was created in 2008 to address the industry need for advanced multimedia measurement and analysis. Building on years of Sequent Partners’ collaboration with Ball State University’s Center for Media Design, starting with Middletown Media Studies II in 2005, these two organizations conducted a number of unique observation studies, including a Media Acceleration Project in 2006 and the Video Consumer Mapping Study for the Nielsen-funded Council for Research Excellence in 2008-2009. ??Shortly after Media Behavior Institute was formed in 2008, MBI struck an exclusive agreement with the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) of the UK to bring their TouchPoints© brand and method to the US. In its very first year of existence, therefore, Media Behavior Institute was making a clear commitment to not only be multimedia, but also be multi-method. MBI has made significant investments of time and money to update the electronic diary data collection platform to one that is mobile phone-based. The March 2010 announcement of MBI’s partnering with GfK MRI has taken the USA TouchPoints multi-method approach to an even more highly integrated level.

About CIMM

The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) was founded by several leading television content providers, media agencies and advertisers to promote innovation in audience measurement for television and cross-platform video. CIMM will explore and identify new methodologies and approaches to audience measurement through a series of pilot studies with independent measurement companies focusing on two key areas: the current and future potential of television measurement through set-top-box data, and new methods for cross-platform media measurement.

Current participants are: AT&T, Belo, CBS Corporation, Carat USA, Comcast Networks, ConAgra, Discovery Communications, Gannett, GroupM, Hearst, Interpublic Group’s Mediabrands, Microsoft, NBC Universal, News Corporation, Omnicom Media Group, P&G, PepsiCo, Publicis Groupe, Time Warner, Unilever, Viacom and The Walt Disney Company.

Contacts

FOR CIMM:

Laura Nelson - The Gilbride Group - 646.712.1614 - laura.nelson@mac.com

Mark Jafar - MTV Networks - 212.846.8961 - mark.jafar@mtvstaff.com

FOR MBI:

Jim Spaeth - Media Behavior Institute - 212.696.9299 - jim@mediabehavior.com

Press

May 12, 2010
Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) Introduces New Lexicon for Set-Top Box Measurement
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January 25, 2009
New Members Welcomed as CIMM Announces Next Steps in Set Top Box Measurement Initiative
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December 8, 2009
Jane Clarke Named Managing Director of the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM)
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November 16, 2009
CIMM Posts Updated RFI on Website
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November 2, 2009
CIMM to hold meeting to discuss set top box measurement
View Story

September 10, 2009
Media Industry Leaders to Launch CIMM
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September 10, 2009
Executives from the 14 Founding Companies Comment on the Organization
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Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) Introduces New Lexicon for Set-Top Box Measurement

NEW YORK – (May 12, 2010) – The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) today introduced the CIMM Set-Top Box (STB) Lexicon, a common set of more than 800 terms for use in analyzing and processing STB measurement.

Available at http://www.cimm-us.org/lexicon.htm, the CIMM STB Lexicon will provide a shared, foundational language to inform CIMM’s forthcoming STB pilot projects. The Lexicon will also support broader industry innovation and collaboration among end users of STB data, including television content providers, media agencies, and advertisers.

“Analysis of set-top box data remains in its formative stages, and getting to the next level in data collection, aggregation, and measurement will require that everyone in the industry speaks the same language,” said Jane Clarke, Managing Director, CIMM. “With the CIMM STB Lexicon, we’re providing a strong foundation for cross-industry collaboration around set-top box data as it becomes increasingly available.”

“We are delighted that CIMM has been so active in addressing the critical common language gap for STB,” said Kate Sirkin, Executive Vice President and Global Research Director for Starcom MediaVest Group. “We believe this will allow all suppliers and data owners to provide a more actionable product to the marketplace and inspire users to really start to integrate insights from the data into their day-to-day plans and buys for their clients.”

The CIMM STB Lexicon covers terms and definitions for actions, business units, data types, ad and program formats, hardware, software, indicators, measurement and metrics related to STB data. CIMM submitted the Lexicon for review to more than 30 companies and organizations, including cable, satellite, and telco distributors, hardware and software companies, and industry associations. CIMM will continue to solicit feedback from across the industry to edit and expand the Lexicon as STB measurement evolves.

Media research consultant Charlene Weisler authored the STB Lexicon, drawing from the RFIs submitted by data and technology providers. Weisler worked closely with Clarke, the companies that submitted RFIs, and the CIMM STB Working Committee.

About CIMM

The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) was founded by several leading television content providers, media agencies and advertisers to promote innovation in audience measurement for television and cross-platform video. CIMM will explore and identify new methodologies and approaches to audience measurement through a series of pilot studies with independent measurement companies focusing on two key areas: the current and future potential of television measurement through set-top-box data, and new methods for cross-platform media measurement.

Current participants are: AT&T, Belo, CBS Corporation, Carat USA, Comcast Networks, ConAgra, Discovery Communications, Gannett, GroupM, Hearst, Interpublic Group’s Mediabrands, Microsoft, NBC Universal, News Corporation, Omnicom Media Group, P&G, PepsiCo, Starcom MediaVest Group Worldwide, Time Warner, Unilever, Viacom and The Walt Disney Company.

Contacts

Liz Fischer - NBC Universal - 212.664.4825 - liz.fischer@nbcuni.com

Mark Jafar - MTV Networks - 212.846.8961 - mark.jafar@mtvstaff.com

Elissa Johansmeier - Fox - 212.556.2567 - elissa.johnsmeier@fox.com

Scott Grogin - Fox - 310.369.4733 - scott.grogin@fox.com

Gannett, Pepsico, Belo, ConAgra, Hearst and Microsoft Join Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM)

New Members Welcomed as CIMM Announces Next Steps in Set Top Box Measurement Initiative

NEW YORK – (January 25, 2010) – In its first member meeting of the new year, The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) today announced that Gannett, PepsiCo, Belo, ConAgra, Hearst and Microsoft have joined the group, expanding its membership to 21 television content providers, media agencies and advertisers.

"As our set top box measurement initiative gets underway, it’s exciting to bring aboard new members who will strengthen and bring a greater diversity of perspectives to CIMM," said Jane Clarke, Managing Director of CIMM. "We are pleased to welcome Gannett, PepsiCo, Belo, ConAgra, Hearst and Microsoft into CIMM."

Next Steps in Set Top Box (STB) Measurement Initiative

Upon welcoming the new members, CIMM unveiled the next steps in its set top box (STB) measurement initiative. CIMM will first establish the CIMM STB Lexicon, a common set of terms for analyzing and processing STB measurement, and then begin testing the methodologies behind those terms, using test data from STB data providers.

"Upon review of the RFIs we collected last month, it is clear the industry needs a common language around set top box data," said Clarke. "By establishing common definitions for processing and analyzing set top box data, CIMM is strengthening the foundation for cross-industry collaboration around new measurement."

To help develop the STB Lexicon, CIMM has hired media research consultant Charlene Weisler. In addition to writing columns for MediaPost and CableFax, Weisler is working on STB initiatives as part of the MPG Collaborative Alliance. For CIMM, Weisler is analyzing all the RFIs received from the data and technology providers and is developing a draft set of terms. She is working closely with the companies that submitted RFIs and the CIMM STB Working Committee.

About CIMM

The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) was founded by several leading television content providers, media agencies and advertisers to promote innovation in audience measurement for television and cross-platform video. CIMM will explore and identify new methodologies and approaches to audience measurement through a series of pilot studies with independent measurement companies focusing on two key areas: the current and future potential of television measurement through set-top-box data, and new methods for cross-platform media measurement.

Current participants are: AT&T, Belo, CBS Corporation, Carat USA, ConAgra, Discovery Communications, Gannett, GroupM, Hearst, Interpublic Group’s Mediabrands, Microsoft, NBC Universal, News Corporation, Omnicom Media Group, P&G, PepsiCo, Publicis Groupe, Time Warner, Unilever, Viacom and The Walt Disney Company.

Contacts

Liz Fischer - NBC Universal - 212.664.4825 - liz.fischer@nbcuni.com

Elissa Johansmeier - Fox - 212.556.2567 - elissa.johnsmeier@fox.com

Scott Grogin - Fox - 310.369.4733 - scott.grogin@fox.com

Jane Clarke Named Managing Director of the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM)

NEW YORK – (December 8, 2009) – The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) today named Jane Clarke its Managing Director. As the newly created group’s first Managing Director, Clarke will oversee all day-to-day operations for CIMM, including management of the RFI process, vendor relationships and the resulting research studies. Clarke will report directly to the CIMM Executive Board.

"Jane has the knowledge, experience and relationships to drive a collaborative effort like CIMM toward identifying excellence in media measurement innovation," said Colleen Fahey Rush, Chairman of the CIMM Executive Board and Executive Vice President of Strategic Insights and Research for MTV Networks. "CIMM needs a strong dedicated leader to maintain and grow its early momentum, and we’re thrilled to have someone of Jane’s caliber in this crucial role."

As Managing Director, Clarke will be responsible for developing CIMM’s strategy and vision as it promotes innovation in traditional and new media measurement. Clarke will coordinate communications among and supply monthly updates to CIMM member companies, while facilitating new membership for interested television content providers, media agencies and advertisers.

"As change accelerates across the media landscape, it’s imperative that content providers and marketers work together to articulate our shared needs and spark innovation in measurement," said Clarke. "I’m looking forward to working with all our member companies to develop measurement that will power the continued growth and evolution of the media industry."

Clarke brings to her new role more than 30 years experience in the media industry collecting and analyzing strategic insights into global consumers. Most recently, Clarke was Vice President of Insights and Innovation at Time Warner Global Media Group where her work fueled marketing solutions across television, online, mobile and print. She led cross-media measurement initiatives both internal to Time Warner as well as external, as a co-chair of the Advertising Research Foundation’s 360 Media & Marketing Super Council and a contributor to the Council for Research Excellence’s Video Consumer Mapping Study. Over the course of her career, Clarke has held positions at Time Warner divisions including Warner Music Group, Time Inc and the Time Video Development Group. She’s also served in the research organizations of the Children’s TV Workshop and National Geographic Society.

About CIMM

The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) was founded by several leading television content providers, media agencies and advertisers to promote innovation in audience measurement for television and cross-platform video. CIMM will explore and identify new methodologies and approaches to audience measurement through a series of pilot studies with independent measurement companies focusing on two key areas: the current and future potential of television measurement through set-top-box data, and new methods for cross-platform media measurement.

Current participants are: AT&T, CBS Corporation, Carat USA, Discovery Communications, GroupM, Interpublic Group’s Mediabrands, NBC Universal, News Corporation, Omnicom Media Group, P&G, Starcom MediaVest Group Worldwide, Time Warner, Unilever, Viacom and The Walt Disney Company.

Contacts

Liz Fischer - NBC Universal - 212.664.4825 - liz.fischer@nbcuni.com

Scott Grogin - Fox - 310.369.4733 - scott.grogin@fox.com

Mark Jafar - MTV Networks - 212.846.8961 - mark.jafar@mtvstaff.com

Elissa Johansmeier - Fox - 212.556.2567 - elissa.johnsmeier@fox.com

CIMM Posts Updated RFI on Website, www.cimm-us.org

Deadline for RFI Submission is December 4

New York -- November 16, 2008 -- Based on feedback received during its recent meetings with five different providers of set top box data, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) has posted a revised RFI (Request for Information) on its website, www.cimm-us.org. Deadline for submission of the RFI is December 4, and all interested parties are invited to visit the website for more information.

The RFI is part of CIMM’s overall RFP process, which will initially focus on set top box data measurement. The group’s other area of focus – cross platform video measurement -- will be addressed shortly. CIMM recently met with five current providers of set top box data – Nielsen, Rentrak, TiVo, TRA and TNS – to solicit feedback on the set top box RFP process and discuss how those companies would like to work with CIMM going forward.

The meetings were a first step in a new approach CIMM is taking with the overall RFP process. Rather than designating one "winner" among multiple proposals across the industry, CIMM intends to foster a collaborative relationship with various data and technology providers to help identify and fund multiple projects that meet the group’s criteria.

Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) to Hold Meeting to Discuss Set Top Box Measurement

Five Current Providers of Set Top Box Data Invited to Participate

NEW YORK – (November 2, 2009) On November 10, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) will meet with the first five in a group of companies that are currently providing set top box data to see how they and CIMM can work together to help foster research innovation in that area. The meetings are a first step in CIMM’s RFP process, which will initially focus on set top box measurement. The group’s other area of focus, cross platform video measurement, will be addressed shortly.

The five companies are Nielsen, Rentrak, TiVo, TRA and TNS. The meetings will be completely proprietary and will solicit feedback from the organizations about the set top box RFP process and how they would like to work with CIMM going forward. CIMM will also help provide the organizations with more detail on their expectations and discuss potential projects they’d like the groups to consider.

CIMM is holding this first series of meetings to break away from the traditional RFP process of designating one “winner” among multiple proposals across the industry. Instead, recognizing that the development of new measurement systems poses significant challenges, CIMM intends to foster a collaborative relationship with various data and technology providers to help identify and fund multiple projects that meet the group’s criteria.

A set of RFIs as part of the RFP process are available on a newly created website, www.cimm-us.org, which will serve as the central source for all CIMM related information. All interested parties are invited to visit the site and submit proposals for the various projects.

Media Industry Leaders to Launch The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM)

Unprecedented Research Effort to Foster Innovative Cross-Platform Media Measurement

NEW YORK – September 10, 2009 –In an effort to promote innovation and explore new, high quality ways to measure audiences across traditional and new media, a group of leading US television content providers, media agencies and advertisers are joining together in an historic initiative to create the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM).

Signaling the critical importance within the industry for such an organization, CIMM is being announced today by the following executives from all 14 founding member companies:

• Jeff Bewkes, Chairman and CEO, Time Warner
• George Bodenheimer, President of ESPN and ABC Sports, and Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks
• Nick Brien, President & CEO, Interpublic Group’s Mediabrands
• Chase Carey, Deputy Chairman, President and COO, News Corporation
• Philippe Dauman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Viacom
• Laura Desmond, CEO, Starcom MediaVest Group Worldwide
• Dina Howell, Vice President, Global Media & Brand Operations, The Procter & Gamble Company
• Laura Klauberg, Senior Vice President, Global Media, Unilever
• Esther Lee, Senior Vice President, Brand Marketing and Advertising, AT&T
• Sir Martin Sorrell, Group Chief Executive, WPP, holding company for GroupM
• Anne Sweeney, President, Disney-ABC Television Group and co-chair, Disney Media Networks
• Nancy Tellem, President, CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group
• Page Thompson, CEO, North America, Omnicom Media Group
• David M. Zaslav, President and CEO, Discovery Communications
• Jeff Zucker, President and CEO, NBC Universal

CIMM will work to explore and identify new methodologies and approaches to audience measurement. The group will initiate, fund and evaluate a series of pilot studies with independent measurement companies focusing on two key areas: the current and future potential of television measurement through set-top-box data, and new methods for cross-platform media measurement. CIMM will publish all research findings to its members and make them publicly available as well.

CIMM will be funded by the group’s founding participants, who will hire an independent managing director to oversee day-to-day operations. Any US television content providers, buying agencies or advertisers that are interested in joining CIMM should contact NBC Universal Research President Alan Wurtzel, alan.wurtzel@nbcuni.com, for additional information.

Media Industry Leaders to Launch The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM)

Executives from the 14 Founding Companies Comment on the Organization

NEW YORK – September 10, 2009 Executives from the 14 companies representing the founding members of the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) today commented on the formation of the organization:

Jeff Bewkes, Chairman and CEO, Time Warner:
"As we continue to make our content available across additional and emerging platforms through initiatives like TV Everywhere, it becomes increasingly important to measure consumer interaction with our brands. Comprehensive and accurate measurement will have a direct effect on the continued growth of our industry."

George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports, Co-chairman, Disney Media Networks:
"When you get down to it, we're all looking for answers to some very similar questions. It makes sense to come together to help advance the measurement of media across all platforms to serve our strategic needs, while helping the industry build smarter accountability for our advertisers."

Nick Brien, President and CEO, Interpublic Group's Mediabrands:
"The velocity of today's technology developments enables us to demand a more sophisticated measurement model that provides greater accountability and accuracy to increase the effectiveness of our clients' media and marketing investments. We can no longer subscribe to outdated perceptions of engagement. As we strive for the most accurate and useful data, we must support innovation in measurement and build new platforms to compete with our increasingly measurable world."

Chase Carey, Deputy Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer, News Corporation:
"At News Corp we've been calling for more accurate television measurement for some time. We're happy to support this bold industry initiative—which is the first step in a major movement by media companies and their advertising partners to explore available ways to better measure the various platforms that support video content."

Philippe Dauman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Viacom:
"Today's audiences are consuming more media in more ways than ever before. We all have an urgent need to evolve our methods of measurement such that advertisers and programmers can better understand consumer behavior. CIMM's strong and coordinated commitment to driving advances and innovation in audience measurement will ultimately help us deliver more value to our advertising and marketing partners."

Laura Desmond, Global CEO, Starcom MediaVest Group:
"It's a new media ecosystem, yet the industry relies on old media metrics. This simply can't continue. Finding consistent, reliable measurement for today and future realities, needs to be a top priority. With CIMM we look to address the issues--from unlocking the full potential of set-top-box data to identifying standards for assessing cross-platform performance--head on and with vigor."

Dina Howell, Vice President, Global Media & Brand Operations, The Procter & Gamble Company:
"P&G is focused on serving more consumers more fully with our marketing communications. We believe a system that holistically measures the range of touchpoints across media is essential if we are to better engage our consumers when and where they are most receptive. And, it only makes sense that we explore and learn in this area as an industry."

Laura Klauberg, Senior Vice President, Global Media, Unilever:
"Unilever is aggressively pursuing new ways to connect our brands with consumers. The ability to accurately measure the impact of our investments in this evolving and fragmented media landscape is critical for informing business decisions. To that end, we are extremely pleased to join with our industry peers in this initiative."

Esther Lee, Senior Vice President, Brand Marketing and Advertising, AT&T:
"Connecting customers is at the heart of the AT&T brand, so having a better understanding how our customers actually connect and respond to our advertising – whether it's TV, online or over their handsets – will help us do a better job of driving value through those media investments. That's why we are excited to be involved with this coalition of industry leaders who are committed to working with the best data providers and analysts to create an effective cross-platform media metric solution."

Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief Executive, WPP, holding company for GroupM:
"Given the recent changes in media consumption habits, it is critical for the various constituencies of our industry to agree on the priorities for the next generation of media measurement systems. Once we have agreed on these priorities, we can identify the most promising opportunities and initiatives and concentrate our future investments on the most effective systems that meet our objectives in this new media environment."

Anne Sweeney, President, Disney/ABC Television Group, and Co-chair, Disney Media Networks:
"The digital era has empowered the viewer with choice of content and platform. Better understanding the evolving dynamics of how the audience connects with our content will help us reach them more effectively. This is essential for content providers, agencies, and advertisers alike; and working together will ensure we achieve it."

Nancy Tellem, President, CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group:
"As more professional content finds its way to multiple platforms it's imperative that content owners receive value for viewing on these screens. CIMM underscores the mutual need for those on the buying and selling side to come together to establish metrics across all platforms in an accurate and credible way. This announcement shouldn't be seen as an alternative to Nielsen. It's quite the contrary; we expect Nielsen, along with other research entities, to be a part of the solution."

Page Thompson, CEO, North America, Omnicom Media Group:
"There is only one constant in the media industry today -- and that is that everything is changing. New ways of thinking and new technologies are driving this change. As an industry, we've been quick to adapt to sharp and swift changes in how, when, where and even why people use media. The goal of this alliance is to ensure that we can provide a context for measurement that is more relevant and reliable in the brave new media world that we have helped create. There is no better time than now to harness this new thinking and technology to provide a new measurement currency."

David Zaslav, President and CEO, Discovery Communications:
"CIMM's mission is to tackle the industry's most pressing issues—higher levels of accountability and cross-platform measurement—to enable solutions that keep pace with innovation at the consumer level which will ultimately benefit advertisers, agencies and media companies alike.

Jeff Zucker, President and CEO, NBC Universal:
"Twenty-first century media needs 21st century measurement techniques. Existing systems are incapable of accurately measuring the media habits of our audience across today's multiplicity of platforms. CIMM is an important step in helping to address this problem. As an industry, we can't afford not to do this, because if we can't measure our audience accurately, we can't sell it."