Today, there are two companies that dominate the movie box office business. But by the end of 1Q 10, there will only be one: Nielsen is selling its movie-industry tracking division to competitor Rentrak for about $15 million.
The combined operations of Rentrak’s Box Office Essentials and Nielsen EDI will give Rentrak a 90 percent share of the global theatrical ticket sales tracking more than 50,000 movie screens in 14 countries.
Ron Giambra, EVP of theatrical worldwide for Rentrak doesn’t believe there will be any regulatory hurdles given the small size of the market ironically noting, “we are now the sole provider. That was the reason for this purchase.”
Nielsen has been doing a year-end “fridge clean out” of its financial books, selling less profitable enterprises. Eight media magazines were sold off including the Hollywood Reporter and Billboard magazine as well as closing the 100 year old Editor & Publisher publication.
The LA Times says Nielsen EDI’s strengths in Spain, Britain, France, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Australia complements Rentrak’s dominance in several smaller markets like India and Russia.
Insiders say that Nielsen EDI, although strong internationally, was losing share domestically and had fallen out of favor with many of the top studios.