• May 1, 2007

Nielsen Co., which owns 58% of BuzzMetrics, Monday said it agreed to acquire the remaining shares of the word-of-mouth media tracking firm, which will be merged with online measurement firm NetRatings later this year. Terms were not disclosed, but the companies said the deal is expected to be completed by the end of May. The move follows a similar agreement for Nielsen to buy out the remaining 40% equity of NetRatings that it does not already own. That deal is expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year. Late last week, Nielsen Co. Executive Vice President Susan Whiting announced a restructuring of Nielsen Media Research that will put oversight of Nielsen BuzzMetrics and Nielsen//NetRatings under long-time media research division executive Dave Thomas. Thomas continues to report to Whiting.