Discovery Communications will use TNS Media Research’s DIRECTView system to access set top box return path data from DIRECTV. TNS and DIRECTV have partnered to make DTV’s data available through TNS’s InfoSys application.
TNS will report 100,000 satellite television subscribers projectable to the entire DIRECTV subscriber base projectable to the 17 million DIRECTV subscriber base. DIRECTView is part of TNS’ InfoSys application that provides analysis of live and time-shifted network program and commercial audiences on a second-by-second basis.
Discovery is the first announced client to the DIRECTView service. Two weeks ago, Nielsen announced National Geographic as its first client to its competitor, DigitalPlus, which is limited to 300,000 Charter Communications households. Discovery Communications used the Charter data in 2007 through TNS Media Research to measure second-by-second viewing behavior of its HD Theater channel before signing on for DIRECTView.
Source: TNS, Nielsen