Check this out...

http://quote.fool.com/news/news.asp?sid=265b1176

The story says that ACNielsen and NetRatings are going to start an international Internet measurement service. Previously, Nielsen/NetRatings provides domestic measurement. Media Metrix does as well.

The new international service will be marketed under the Nielsen/NetRatings banner. ACNielsen is providing a lot of the cash for the deal to NetRatings. Nielsen Media Research is going to continue to own a portion of Nielsen/NetRatings. Nielsen Media Research was spawned from Dun&Bradstreet when they owned ACNielsen. Nielsen....the television ratings, right? Who is ACNielsen and who is Nielen Media Research? Confusing as heck. ACNielsen (ART) and Nielsen Media Research (NMR) are not the same company. VNU recently purchased NMR so NMR stock will no longer be traded once the acquisition is complete. Media Metrix is a public company (MMXI) which is doing quite well. So does this mean that the new "Nielsen/NetRatings" service will spin off of who? ACNielsen or NMR, or neither.

Strange days ahead,

Gary