Meter monopoly broken
THE Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) switched its television measurement contract to A C Nielsen media and market research company, after more than 20 years with Survey Research Singapore (SRS).
Though neither party had been officially informed of the decision before Lunar New Year, agency sources in Singapore confirmed SBC had told media departments about Nielsen's appointment.
The S$1.4 million (HK$6.5 million) contract represented Nielsen's first appointment in Asia.
bb10 It may affect Survey Research in Hongkong as its present AGB PeopleMeter television measurement contract will be under pressure to consider Nielsen when comes up for renewal.
The Survey Research Group (SRG) operates PeopleMeters in Hongkong, Thailand and Korea, and is launching them in Taiwan and Malaysia.
Nielsen may go after remaining contracts in Asian countries including the Philippines and Indonesia which do not have meter-based TV measurement systems at present.
While SRG has consolidated its hold in Asia over the past 30 years, Nielsen is strong in Australia and Europe.
