ACNielsen is a U.S. marketing research firm, based in Schaumburg, Illinois. The company serves the consumer goods market with research on market performance and dynamics, solving marketing and sales problems, and identifying market growth opportunities.

The company was founded in 1923 by Arthur C. Nielsen, Sr. in order to give clients reliable and objective information on the impact of marketing and sales programs.

ACNielsen began expanding internationally in 1939, and now operates in more than 100 countries.

One of ACNielsen's best-known products were the Nielsen Ratings, which measure television, radio and newspaper audiences. In 1996, ACNielsen split off this part of its operations into a separate company called Nielsen Media Research (NMR), which operated as an independent company until it was acquired by Dutch conglomerate VNU in 1999.

In 2001, A C Nielsen itself was acquired by VNU, as part of VNU's Marketing Information group, and thus is now under the same corporate umbrella as the company it spawned, NMR.

Nielsen Media Research is based in New York City, while ACNielsen headquarters remain in Schaumburg, Illinois.

ACNielsen is also a sister company to Nielsen//NetRatings , which measures Internet and digital media audiences.

External link

• ACNielsen