ACNielsen Media International Wins TV Ratings Contract in Ireland; Irish Broadcasters Renew For Another Five Years.

Business & Television Editors

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2002

ACNielsen Media International, the world's leading multinational media research company and unit of VNU N.V., announced today that it has won a new, five-year contract to provide television audience ratings in Ireland.

The contract takes effect in September 2003 and runs through to August 2008, with an option to extend the agreement through to August 2010.

The company said the Irish Television Management Committee, made up of broadcasters RTE, TV3 and TG4, awarded the contract after a thorough evaluation of ACNielsen Media International and other service providers. ACNielsen Media International has provided TV ratings in Ireland since 1996.

"We had excellent submissions for this tender, and we took great care in evaluating them to find the best TV Audience Measurement System in the world," said Paul Mulligan, head of operations, sales & marketing at RTE. "Overall, ACNielsen, who are our present suppliers, provided the best solution. As the television viewing environment becomes ever more complicated and difficult to measure, we are pleased to be continuing our partnership with ACNielsen."

"Up against very stiff competition, ACNielsen presented us with a very compelling case to retain the television audience measurement contract for Ireland," added Pat Kiely, TV3's director of sales and marketing. "ACNielsen demonstrated to us an all-round ability to successfully evolve television audience measurement in Ireland, recognizing the technological challenges that lie ahead. We look forward to extending our partnership, and maintaining the very high standards already set by ACNielsen, into the future."

Dave Moore, research manager at TG4 continued, "It is imperative for the Irish television industry that we are able to keep pace with the way people's viewing is changing, and that viewing on all platforms is measured correctly. We have absolutely no doubt that ACNielsen will continue to provide this service at the very high standard that it has done in Ireland since 1996."

Robert L. McCann, chairman and chief executive officer of ACNielsen Media International said, "We are extremely pleased with this decision, the clear message it delivers about the quality of our services, and the fact that we will be able to extend what has been a very successful, six-year partnership with the Irish broadcast industry. The decision reaffirms the faith and trust the industry places in our service, and underscores our unwavering commitment to providing the highest-quality, most reliable TV audience information possible - in Ireland and around the world."

According to Christopher Bowden, manager of television research for ACNielsen Media International in Ireland, "The Irish television industry required a service that was `future proof,' with the flexibility to meet their changing needs in the coming years. ACNielsen Media International proved to be just the partner they were looking for."

Under the new contract, ACNielsen Media International will introduce advanced metering technology capable of measuring new enhanced services such as digital electronic programming guides (EPGs) and interactive TV. In addition, ACNielsen will introduce new, next-generation reporting and analysis software that will facilitate more advanced analysis of commercial and programme activity for broadcasters and media buyers & planners.

Bowden noted that the industry's decision to renew with ACNielsen means that broadcasters, advertisers and agencies will have an uninterrupted service through to 2008, making continuous trend analysis possible during and after the transition to the new contract. "In addition, many of the enhancements outlined in the new contract will be put in place before the end of the current contract next year," Bowden said.

ACNielsen Media International is the world leader in international media research and analysis. The company is active in 40 markets, offering television and radio audience measurement, advertising information services, print readership and customised media research services.

ACNielsen Media International and its sister company, Nielsen Media Research, which provides TV audience ratings in the United States, are part of the VNU Media Measurement & Information Group, the global leader in information services for the media and entertainment industries. Active in more than 40 major markets worldwide, and powered by leading-edge technology and specialised expertise, the Group serves the information and marketing needs of the television and radio industries, advertisers, agencies, media planners, music companies, publishers, motion-picture studios, distributors and exhibitors, and the Internet industry. The Media Measurement & Information Group is part of VNU, one of the world's leading media and information companies. VNU employs more than 35,000 people and has annual revenues of approximately EUR 4 billion.

For further information, visit www.acnielsen.com/ie or www.vnu.com