• March 4, 2008

Enhancing its digital capabilities, market research firm TNS has acquired Web measurement service Compete for $75 million.

TNS will use the clickstream data from Compete's panel of 2 million Internet users to provide clients with insight into purchasing behavior and the effectiveness of online and offline advertising. Compete's revenue last year grew by 50% to $14.9 million, while losing $4.5 million.

The company has raised $43 million since 2000 from venture investors including Charles River Ventures and Commonwealth Capital Partners, according to the TechCrunch blog. Compete will remain as a stand-alone company but will combine its data with TNS' existing consumer panels to track campaigns across all media.

The deal comes a year after TNS acquired Cymfony, a leading marketing analytics company that monitors online social media and blogs, as well as more traditional media sources.

--Mark Walsh