Following more than two years of informal talks among industry stakeholders, including the IPA, ISBA, the IAB and the AOP, a new digital audience research body, JICIMS, is constituted as a limited company. It is tasked, in the first instance, with overseeing a digital Establishment Survey in partnership with the National Readership Survey; but it is also invited to explore options for broader progress in digital audience research. Consensus, however, will prove elusive.
At a landmark Town Hall event held at the IAB, attended by senior representatives of media owners, agencies and advertisers, including P&G and Unilever, the industry finally grasps the nettle – and votes unanimously in favour of the creation of an industry-regulated single source of digital audience measurement research. JICIMS, led by General Manager Peter Bowman is charged with producing workable proposals.
JICIMS is reconstituted as UKOM. At the Town Hall meeting, UKOM stakeholders had voted to explore a “3rd way” option – a partnership with a data company, which would deliver flexibility at a much reduced cost. But the IPA and ISBA, while sanctioning this option, now decide they cannot take ownership seats with the AOP and IAB on the UKOM board. Instead, they will be represented on the board in an advisory capacity.
In September, UKOM had appointed Nielsen to deliver audience data from site auditing and from a panel of around 35,000 consumers across home and work locations. Now, a month later at an official launch event, Douglas McArthur is unveiled as UKOM Chairman. McArthur announces that digital audience data will begin coming on stream during January 2010.
UKOM announces that, following an industry consultation and a pitch process, it has decided not to renew with Nielsen. The new incumbent is to be Comscore, on an initial three-year deal beginning at the start of 2013. New challenges include the ability to measure across all devices and locations, including mobile.
UKOM extends its contract with Comscore, with provision for a rolling review process, working together to stay abreast of new platforms while addressing the evolution of new technologies and consumer behaviour.
UKOM appoints Ian Dowds as its first chief executive. With senior experience across broadcasters, agency, print, online display and mobile Ian brings with him a significant breadth of knowledge. Julie Forey, with a wealth of research experience, joins Ian's team as UKOM's Director of Insight early in 2016.
ISBA joins the AOP and IAB as co-owners of UKOM. The IPA remains on the board in an advisory capacity.
UKOM appoints Ipsos as the new supplier of the UK industry standard for online audience measurement from January 2021. The appointment follows a broad industry consultation and a tender process undertaken to ensure that UKOM endorsed data for audience reporting is at the forefront of an evolving online marketplace.
A leading light at the IAB in its early days (1996-2007: he was co-founder then CEO), Danny was an early advocate of an industry-wide approach to digital audience research.
MD, EMEA, Nielsen Online, 2006-2011. Louise took a prominent role in debating digital audience research issues, not least on conference platforms. Nielsen went on to win UKOM’s first contract.
IAB CEO, 2007-16. Guy picked up where Danny Meadows-Klue left off – and laid the groundwork for the evolution of JICIMS into UKOM.
Chair of JICIMS from mid-2008, then of UKOM until July 2009, Mark chaired the milestone Town Hall meeting in October 2008.
General Manager of JICIMS (2007-8), taking the same role as the body evolved into UKOM. Peter’s technical group drew up UKOM’s first RFP and oversaw a pitch process won by Nielsen.
Douglas took over chairmanship of UKOM from Mark Cranmer in July 2009. Douglas saw Comscore take over from Nielsen in 2012, appointed Ian Dowds as UKOM’s first CEO in 2015 and was instrumental in ISBA joining the IAB and AOP as UKOM co-owners in 2018.
In early 2010, James Smythe succeeded Peter Bowman as UKOM general manager. With a strong industry background, James had previously headed sport research at BMRB and market research at GCap. By 2013, UKOM and Comscore unveiled tablet metrics in response to the pressing commercial need to quantify multi-device media consumption.
© 2024 UKOM Ltd. No reuse without permission. This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Read our cookie statement.
