comScore and Viacom Ink Transformational Multi-Year Deal for Cross-Platform Measurement
First Post-Merger Cross-Platform Deal for comScore Marks a Turning Point in the Use of Advanced Currencies
Industry-Leading Viacom Vantage Expands Its Capabilities Even Further with Access to comScore's Uniquely Extensive Data, Delivering Unparalleled Value to Marketing Partners
March 18, 2016 02:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA) and comScore (NASDAQ: SCOR) today announced a breakthrough multi-year partnership for cross-platform measurement, which marks the first cross-platform deal for the newly merged comScore and Rentrak. The alliance represents a turning point in the business of television and advanced currency.
Viacom will have deep access to comScore's robust set of cross-platform measurement tools and advanced demographic capabilities, which span the linear TV, video-on-demand, digital, and over-the-top environments. In turn, the data will be uniquely translated by Viacom's proprietary suite of industry-leading data-driven Vantage advertising products and available for use as a currency for transacting, thereby unlocking maximum value to marketing partners by delivering the most complete view of the consumer in the industry. Entering its third year, Viacom Vantage pioneered the data-driven product arena when it was introduced and has constantly evolved to stay ahead.
"This partnership with comScore marks a fundamental watershed moment in the business of television," said Bryson Gordon, SVP Data Strategy, Viacom. "This revolution in targeting, currency and measurement is the equivalent of shifting from black and white to color. Viacom's longstanding investment in data and innovation and our unique ability to merge creativity and science has positioned us far ahead in the marketplace by delivering what partners crave – the most comprehensive view of the consumer and the most effective way to reach them."
The data for comScore's revolutionary cross-platform tools gather information from a massive footprint of the population covering more than 40 million televisions and 120 million video-on-demand users in 210 markets across the United States, in addition to more than 1.5 trillion monthly digital interactions.
comScore's rich data is augmented by visibility into associated consumer behaviors, such as shopping, leisure activity and geolocation information. When Viacom Vantage translates these many layers of data, it unlocks state-of-the-art capabilities for advertisers to target television advertising, as well as reach audiences wherever they are consuming content, and then measure the impact of their spend in unprecedented ways.
"We are excited to partner with Viacom on a deal that we believe will transform the way that advertising will be bought and sold," said Serge Matta, CEO of comScore. "Viacom's expertise in data strategy makes them an ideal first partner to leverage our cross-platform metrics and advanced demographics as a more powerful currency on which to transact. With these new capabilities, Viacom's advertising partners will be the first to benefit from a radically more efficient way of conducting business and reaching the most precise audiences imaginable."
Viacom has long pioneered the arena of innovative data-driven ad products, investing in in-house data strategy teams, research, and partnerships. The expanded suite of Vantage products launched ahead of this Upfront season includes products that transform how audience segments are built, how integrated and social marketing content is designed, and how a broad set of advertisers can adopt predictive targeting in days, not weeks. The five new proprietary products are:
Vantage Target Discovery - uses sophisticated data-mining techniques to help marketers identify "persuadables," the consumers who are not currently using a particular brand but have the propensity to be receptive to the advertiser's messaging.
Vantage Instant Audience - makes the power of Vantage accessible to a broader array of clients by simplifying the data-driven targeting process.
Viewprint - a data-driven creative map that innovates how custom marketing campaigns are developed by enhancing the level of visibility into consumer segments during ideation to inform and focus creative aspects.
Echo Social Graph 2.0 - measures the effectiveness and virality of custom creative marketing campaigns; updated to integrate Canvs' emotional analysis to deliver deeper insights about the consumer impact of a campaign.
Velocity Content Network (VCN) - a virtual network of custom creative branded content programs informed by data and distributed across social platforms. VCN weaves in Viewprint during ideation; Vantage for targeting; and, Echo Social Graph 2.0 for measurement.
About Viacom
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling television programs, motion pictures, short-form content, apps, games, consumer products, social media experiences, and other entertainment content for audiences in 180 countries. Viacom's media networks, including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Spike, BET, CMT, TV Land, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., Channel 5 (UK), Logo, Nicktoons, TeenNick and Paramount Channel, reach over 3.5 billion cumulative television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.
For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/viacom.
About comScore
comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a leading cross-platform measurement company that precisely measures audiences, brands and consumer behavior everywhere. comScore completed its merger with Rentrak Corporation in January 2016, to create the new model for a dynamic, cross-platform world. Built on precision and innovation, our unmatched data footprint combines proprietary digital, TV and movie intelligence with vast demographic details to quantify consumers' multiscreen behavior at massive scale. This approach helps media companies monetize their complete audiences and allows marketers to reach these audiences more effectively. With more than 3,200 clients and global footprint in more than 75 countries, comScore is delivering the future of measurement. For more information on comScore, please visit comscore.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, but not limited to, expectations regarding the impact and benefits of impact of the strategic partnership between comScore and Viacom, financial or otherwise. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to: the features and characteristics of the products, the rate of development of the digital marketing intelligence, Internet advertising and e-Commerce markets; the growth of the Internet as a medium for commerce, content, advertising and communications; and the acceptance of new products and methodologies by the industry, including existing and prospective clients.
For a detailed discussion of these and other risk factors, please refer to comScore's most recent respective Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K and from time to time other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which are available on the SEC's Web site (http://www.sec.gov).
Stockholders of comScore are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date such statements are made. comScore does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or new information after the date of this press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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