• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, November 26, 2007

In a move emphasizing the increasingly global nature of media audience measurement, the Nielsen Co. last week unveiled plans for a first ever meeting combining its U.S. national and local clients with its international customers.

"As the television industry evolves and traditional business models are changing, we see many benefits in having an annual client meeting with a broad group of clients," Catherine Herkovic, senior vice president-managing director of national television client services, said in a letter sent to some clients just before the Thanksgiving holiday. "At the same time, we recognize that there are topics of special interest to individual client segments. Accordingly a portion of the meeting time will offer dedicated tracks on national and local television audience measurement."

The meeting, which will be held Feb. 13-15, 2008 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas replaces the annual national client meeting that Nielsen traditionally has held each year.