Nielsen acquires Sorensen Media

NielsenMeasurement and data analytics company Nielsen has acquired Sorenson Media, an addressable TV technology provider that will help transform TV from a one-to-many to a one-to-one medium by powering addressable ad delivery and measurement. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

With the deal, Nielsen announced the launch of a new technology, product and commercial initiative, Nielsen Advanced Video Advertising, that will focus on expanding and innovating addressable advertising for Smart TVs and beyond.

Over the last several years, Nielsen has made a number of strategic acquisitions that have strengthened its technology offerings and positioned it to thrive in the addressable TV future. It acquired Qterics, a Smart TV software and privacy management company. Integrated into the firmware layer of millions of Smart TVs, Gracenote’s ACR technology provides the ability for real-time, frame-level ad detection regardless of source or platform. And the most recent acquisition of Sorenson Media completes Nielsen’s go-to-market technology stack with an end-to-end ad delivery solution enabling addressable advertising for TV at scale.

David Kenny, CEO of Nielsen, said, “It’s clear that a significant portion of TV advertising will be addressable long into the future. With the continued evolution of our Total Audience measurement, underpinned by decades of trust, transparency and independence, it was evident that we needed to bring our unique set of technology assets and talent to tackle the greatest challenges the TV advertising industry is facing. And with the Sorenson Media acquisition, we can create improved value and efficiency across the entire media chain – from ad targeting and delivery to measurement and attribution – and make addressable TV more of a reality.”

UK, Oxford & USA, Salt Lake City, UT

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RTL Netherlands acquires media company BrandDeli

RTL NetherlandsRTL Netherlands is to acquire BrandDeli, the sales house for the Discovery, Fox and Viacom brand portfolio for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is the result of RTL Netherlands, Discovery Benelux, Fox Networks Group Benelux and Viacom International Media Networks entering into a strategic sales partnership as of 1 January 2019.

RTL will be granted the right to sell advertising space for at least three years for the Discovery, Fox and Viacom brand portfolio, offering a wider range of spot time, branded partnerships and online (video and display) advertising space.

Advertisers will have access to a larger overall reach, especially in younger target groups in both daytime and prime time slots. Discovery, Fox and Viacom also keep the opportunity to sell their own airtime.

Ton Rozestraten, CCO RTL Netherlands, said, “In five years, BrandDeli has grown into a successful company that we look at with admiration. Cooperation enables us to market an even wider and more varied range of products with the beautiful brands that BrandDeli represents. It fits in with our growth strategy to strengthen our position as a local player within the globalising playing field. Like no other, we are able to reach the masses with high-quality programmes and digital propositions. By combining this strength with BrandDeli’s rich cross-media offering (apps, social media, linear TV and websites), we offer advertisers access to an even more varied and growing fan base.”

Netherlands, Hilversum & Amsterdam

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Grey to acquire advertising and communications company The Volcano Group in South Africa

wppWPP’s wholly-owned operating company Grey, the global marketing communications agency, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in The Volcano Group, a leading South African advertising and communications company. Following acquisition, The Volcano Group will rebrand as Grey Africa.

Founded in 1994 in Johannesburg, Volcano provides integrated marketing services covering traditional and digital advertising, PR, insight and social. Clients include Procter & Gamble, First National Bank, Sony and Consol Glass.

Volcano’s unaudited consolidated revenues for the year ended 31 May 2013 were approximately ZAR 61 million, with gross assets at the same date of approximately ZAR 26 million.

UK, London & South Africa, Johannesburg

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JWT to acquire creative digital agency Lemon Sky in Poland

wppWPP‘s wholly owned operating company JWT, the  marketing communications agency, has agreed to acquire Lemon Sky, a creative digital marketing company in Poland.

Founded in 2000 and employing around 70 people in Warsaw and Wroclaw, the agency specialises in producing a broad range of digital advertising and campaign services.  Clients include Nestle, Orange, Tesco and Leroy Merlin.

Lemon Sky’s unaudited revenues for the year ended 31 December 2013 were EUR 2.7 million with gross assets of approximately EUR 2.4 million as at the same date.  Following the deal, Lemon Sky will join JWT Warsaw to create one truly integrated communications agency for Poland.

UK, London & Poland, Warsaw and Wroclaw

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Future Plc preliminary results – earnings boosted by digital growth

Future plc has reported a rise in 2012 earnings with a 26% increase in operating profit to 6.8 million pounds. Revenue was down 13% to £123.5 million.

Digital growth was particularly strong. Group digital revenues were up 30% to £20.6m, with digital advertising accounting for 44% of total advertising. Visits to Future websites were up 70%, to more than 50m global unique users per month.

Mark Wood, Future’s Chief Executive, said: “This has been a year of substantial progress for Future and the Group is now well positioned to grow and diversify revenues as a global digital business. Our US operations have been restructured and are heading for profit in 2013. We are a leading publisher in tablet markets and our online audience has grown by 70% to more than 50 million unique users a month. These advances are opening new opportunities and we will accelerate Future’s digital transformation in the year ahead.”

UK, London

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