• by September 12, 2008

As members of the Council for Research Excellence (CRE), we take issue with Frank S. Foster's recent article about the set-top box project we have been exploring. The CRE is an independent committee of some 40 senior research professionals including a full range of industry firms: broadcasters, media agencies, advertisers, etc. It currently has four working subcommittees on topics such as multi-media, industry standards, and non-response issues.

Projects are funded by Nielsen after they have been developed and recommended by its subcommittees and the full CRE. To date, Nielsen has funded every project the CRE has authorized without any interference on its part. The CRE by-laws require such independence with the only exception being that Nielsen reserves the right to deny funding for a project that might be executed by a competitor.

The members of the CRE have been serving since 2005 and we are proud of our contribution to these projects as part of an industry effort, not a Nielsen effort. In turn, we thank Nielsen for making such funding available to address industry-wide projects that will benefit all.