NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2006 -  BuzzMetrics and Intelliseek - two leaders in the tracking and analysis of online consumer-generated media -  today announced an agreement in principle under which BuzzMetrics will acquire Intelliseek to create the new global standard for measuring and understanding word-of-mouth behavior and influence.

Both BuzzMetrics and Intelliseek are the recognized leaders in helping Fortune 1,000 companies listen to, measure and act upon the consumer dialogue affecting their markets. The firms' powerful technologies mine publicly archived online sources, including blogs and discussion forums, to collect and transform large volumes of unaided conversations into actionable consumer insights.

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Upon closing of the acquisition, the combined company, BuzzMetrics, Inc., will operate under the "Nielsen BuzzMetrics" brand and be headquartered in New York. Backed by VNU, the Nielsen BuzzMetrics service will bring together the advanced technologies and client relationships of Intelliseek, developed over the past nine years, with the linguistic technologies and client-service expertise of BuzzMetrics.

The Nielsen BuzzMetrics service will fully leverage the strategic and financial backing of VNU, parent to such renowned research names as ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research. VNU will become a majority shareholder in the new BuzzMetrics with 50.1 percent ownership.

New way to measure and analyze
The deal marks the third in a series of word-of-mouth research investments supported by VNU. In February 2005, VNU acquired an equity interest in Israeli-based Trendum, a leader in media and linguistic analysis technologies. In September 2005, Trendum acquired BuzzMetrics, and the new company adopted the BuzzMetrics name.

Consumer-generated media (CGM) - a term created by Intelliseek - describes a variety of new influential sources of online content, including blogs, public message boards, product feedback sites and direct company feedback. The Pew Internet and American Life Project reports that nearly half of adult Internet users use the Internet to publish their thoughts, respond to others, post pictures, share files and otherwise contribute to the explosion of content available online.

"The combination of these companies will result in a world-class organization with well over 100 Fortune 1000 clients and over 100 employees and offices in New York, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Israel," said Itzhak Fisher, chairman of BuzzMetrics, who will remain chairman with the new company. "The Nielsen BuzzMetrics service will set a new standard in helping executives strategically leverage the buzz surrounding their brands and compete more effectively in today's rapidly changing world of consumer marketing."

"The expansion of our measurement experience and leadership into consumer-generated media is an important evolution for VNU at a time when marketers are struggling to fully understand the consequences of consumer control," said Susan Whiting, president and CEO, Nielsen Media Research, and executive vice president, VNU Media Measurement & Information group. "With the emergence of these new consumer-generated media, the addition of the Nielsen BuzzMetrics service to our market-leading audience measurement services will enable us to better understand what consumers say, spread and share, in addition to what they watch, listen to and read."

"In a highly complex, fast-changing marketplace, consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers are focused more intently than ever on creating marketing programs that deliver a real return on investment," said Steven M. Schmidt, president and CEO of VNU's Marketing Information group and ACNielsen.  "The key is understanding all of the factors that influence consumer purchasing, including word-of-mouth dialogue among consumers. Nielsen BuzzMetrics will give VNU a new way to measure and analyze this increasingly powerful force in consumer decision-making."

Impressive client roster
The combined firm will have a client roster spanning nearly every key industry, with deep focus in media and entertainment, automotive, consumer technology, healthcare and consumer-packaged goods. Key clients include: Canon, Comcast, Ford, General Motors, HBO, Kraft, Microsoft, Nokia, P&G, Showtime, Sony, Target and Toyota; 14 of the top 15 pharmaceutical companies; and over eight television networks.

"The combined company leverages Intelliseek and BuzzMetrics' extensive technologies and methodologies, as well as research, sales and marketing teams," said Jonathan Carson, who will serve as CEO of the new BuzzMetrics. "VNU's financial and strategic support of the new company validates CGM and word of mouth, and puts new research in this burgeoning area on par with other traditional media and marketing measurement tools."

"We know from experience that marketers are using CGM to make better, smarter, and more profitable business decisions, from marketing effectiveness to crisis management," said Mike Nazzaro, president and CEO of Intelliseek, who will become president and COO of the new BuzzMetrics. "This deal will help us scale much more quickly, leverage the experience and expertise of Nielsen, and expand our client insights, analysis and recommendations."

"Our combined management team has done and will continue to do an outstanding job building and growing this business," said Mahendra Vora, founder and chairman of Intelliseek and a board member of the new company. "This is an exciting next phase for Intelliseek."

The new combined company will build on its leading search and text-based analytics to help marketers develop more effective marketing strategies, gain new consumer insights, and enhance their relationship marketing and corporate reputation. The new company also will continue its research and development activities to measure the next generation of media technologies by which consumers create and share information, including audio and video.

The new company will continue to advance Blogpulse.com, one of the Web's top blog portals.  Blogpulse.com mines more than 21 million blogs every day, adding approximately 50,000 new blogs to its index each day.

Intelliseek is a venture-backed company, and investors BlueChip, Blue Run and River Cities Capital Funds will be shareholders in the new company.

Media Contacts:
Pete Blackshaw, (513) 618-6725 or 513-608-8913 (mobile)
Max Kalehoff, (646) 489-4629
Jack Loftus for VNU Media Measurement & Information, (646) 654-8360

Press Contact: Sandra Parrelli; Sandra.Parrelli@nielsen.com; 646-654-7772

Sales Inquiries: sales@buzzmetrics.com; 1.877.999.7335

About Nielsen Online:

Nielsen Online, a service of The Nielsen Company, delivers comprehensive, independent measurement and analysis of online audiences, advertising, video, consumer-generated media, word of mouth, commerce and consumer behavior, and includes products previously marketed under the Nielsen//NetRatings and Nielsen BuzzMetrics brands. With high quality, technology-driven products and services, Nielsen Online enables clients to make informed business decisions regarding their Internet, digital and marketing strategies. For more information, please visit www.nielsen-online.com.

About The Nielsen Company:

The Nielsen Company is a global information and media company with leading market positions in marketing information (ACNielsen), media information (Nielsen Media Research), online intelligence (NetRatings and BuzzMetrics), trade shows and business publications (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek). The privately held company is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands, and New York, USA. For more information, please visit, www.nielsen.com.