Nielsen Media Research Wins Australian Radio Contract.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 2003

Nielsen Media Research, a unit of VNU Media Measurement & Information, has been awarded a three-year contract to measure radio audiences in Australia, the company announced today.

The contract, which takes effect in January 2004, was awarded after a competitive tender process by Commercial Radio Australia, an industry group representing the nation's radio broadcasters. Terms were not disclosed. Nielsen Media Research has been measuring radio audiences in Australia for the last 30 years.

"This decision confirms the industry's continued confidence in our radio ratings as the most reliable system for measuring radio audiences in Australia," said Robert L. McCann, chairman and chief executive officer of Nielsen's international division. "We are committed to providing the world's highest standard of radio audience research, and keeping pace with new advances in the field."

"The next three years will be vital growth years for the radio industry, supported by Nielsen Media Research's continued commitment to quality assurance and researching new technologies to enhance audience measurement," said Peter Cornelius, managing director of Nielsen Media Research in Australia. "We will continue to introduce data, software and education enhancements to assist radio and agency users with the highest quality research tools available."

Nielsen Media Research provides radio audience measurement (RAM) services in 12 markets across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific. RAM information, also known as radio ratings, establishes the size and demographic profile of the listening audience. Nielsen Media Research measures listening patterns and habits on a quarter-hour basis, by collecting information from listener diaries on a weekly basis. In some markets, the company conducts weekly telephone interviews with a randomly selected portion of the population to determine the size and composition of audiences.

Looking to the future, Nielsen Media Research is exploring the use of electronic devices to measure radio audiences and listening behavior. Worn by panel members, these devices determine which radio station is tuned in by using sophisticated audio-matching techniques.

In addition to basic audience data, Nielsen Media Research offers a variety of tools and services that help clients analyze its information, and determine the most effective ways to plan and buy radio advertising.

About Nielsen Media Research

Nielsen Media Research is the leading provider of television audience measurement and related services, worldwide. In the United States, Nielsen's National People Meter service provides audience estimates for all national program sources, including broadcast networks, cable networks, Spanish language networks, and national syndicators. Local ratings estimates are produced for television stations, regional cable networks, MSOs, cable interconnects, and Spanish language stations in each of the 210 television markets in the U.S., including electronic metered service in 55 markets. Nielsen Media Research is active in 38 countries worldwide, offering television and radio audience measurement, print readership and customized media research services. Nielsen Media Research also provides competitive advertising intelligence information through Nielsen Monitor-Plus both in the U.S. and in 30 markets worldwide. Through a network of affiliates, coverage is extended to more than 70 countries, representing 85% of the world's advertising spending. In addition, Nielsen collects Internet usage and advertising information through Nielsen//NetRatings. More information is available at www.nielsenmedia.com.

Nielsen Media Research is part of the VNU Media Measurement & Information Group, a global leader in information services for the media and entertainment industries. The Group serves the information and marketing needs of television and radio broadcasters, advertisers, agencies, media planners, music companies, publishers, motion-picture studios, distributors and exhibitors, and the Internet industry. VNU is active in more than 100 countries, spread across all continents. VNU employs more than 38,000 people and has annual revenues of more than EUR 4.3 billion. For more, visit www.vnu.com.