Nielsen swatting employees like flies in its business media division

This comes days after the company announced it will pay $225 to acquire IAG Research, Inc By SDH Nielsen is rolling heads at its media business unit with a concentration in the company’s digital and conference and expo groups. The company just days ago announced that it was buying IAG Research, a privately held company based in New York that measures consumer engagement with television programs, national commercials and product placements for $225 million. Can you imagine what the heads being rolled are saying? This is probably Nielsen’s way of trying to offset that cost? At the end of the day, Nielsen is clearly more interested in tracking how much we watch TV and surf the web than the publications in their Business Media Unit. Their growth avenue is consumer behavior, so why not sell the Business Media Unit, pay down some debt and call it a day.

Nielsen forms new entertainment group and puts former Variety publisher Gerry Byrne in charge

BY SDH As rumors continue to escalate about the possible appointment of Tony Uphoff as CEO of CMP Media, things at his old stomping grounds over at Nielsen are being shuffled around. When Uphoff left his gig as Publisher of The Hollywood Reporter & President of the Film & Performing Arts Group, John Kilcullen was put in charge. Well John Kilcullen is now out and former Variety publisher and media and marketing consultant Gerry Byrne will run the new entertainment group which consists of Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Back Stage, Kirkus Reviews, The Bookseller, Film Journal International, and the film industry expositions ShoWest, ShowEast, Cinema Expo International and CineAsia Exposition. Previously these brands were housed under two separate groups, Film & Performing Arts and Music & Literary. Clearly Nielsen is trying to cut some costs by throwing all these brands under one group and one leader.

Death: Robert Krakoff checks out

Robert Krakoff CEO of Neilson Business Media -fka- VNU Business Media died at his Boston apartment Thursday night leaving many puzzled. Krakoff was 72 and a respected figure in the media industry. R.I.P Rob, R.I.P “He was a giant in our business and bigger than life,” said Gordon Hughes II, president-CEO of American Business Media. “His contributions were not just for the companies he ran, but he was a leader for the industry.” Hughes said Krakoff was instrumental in developing the CEBA (Creative Excellence in Business Advertising) Awards and ABM’s Business Information Network, which tracks ad spending on business media.“He was just a very dear friend,” Hughes said. Krakoff, Head of Nielsen Business Media -- 'E&P' Parent -- Dies Suddenly [E&P]