Nielsen, AGB Merge International Ops

Nielsen Media Research International and AGB Group have formed a joint venture to offer TV ratings in 30 countries.

The 50/50 partnership will go under the name of AGB Nielsen Research, be headed by AGB's management team and merge Nielsen's international operations with Kantar Media Research-owned AGB Group.

The combined operation, which will run as an independent company, will have projected revenues of about $110 million.Nielsen says there is virtually no overlap between the international operations. Among the markets that will be covered in the deal are Australia, China, Hong Kong, Italy, South Africa, and the UK. The one market with overlap is the Philippines, where there could be some layoffs.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.