Do perceptions of physical appearance — specifically, what constitutes a healthy weight — vary throughout the world?
According to a recent 52-country survey by Nielsen, some of these attitudes are universal: almost two-thirds (60%) of the world’s population struggle with their weight — 50% with overweight and 10% with underweight issues.
But as Jonathan Banks, Business Insights Director, Nielsen, notes in the January issue of Nielsen’s “Consumer Insight” online newsletter, tactics for paring pounds — and body image — vary by country.
North Americans, for instance, self-identify as “very overweight” at double the …

Rank
Program
Network
Match-Up
Viewers (P2+)

1
FOX SUPER BOWL XLII
FOX
NY GIANTS VS NEW ENGLAND
97,563,000

2
FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
FOX
NY GIANTS AT GREEN BAY
54,005,000

3
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP ON CBS
CBS
SAN DIEGO AT NEW ENGLAND
44,850,000

4
FOX NFC PLAYOFF-SUN
FOX
NY GIANTS AT DALLAS
40,094,000

5
SUM OLYM TUE PRIME 1
NBC
 n/a
34,586,000

6
SUM OLYM SUN PRIME 1
NBC
 n/a
32,679,000

7
SUM OLYM SAT PRIME 2
NBC
 n/a
31,890,000

8
AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF-SU
CBS
SAN DIEGO AT INDIANAPOLIS
31,598,000

9
AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF-SA
CBS
JACKSONVILLE AT NEW ENGLAND
30,932,000

10
SUM OLYM MON PRIME 1
NBC
 n/a
30,579,000

Source: The Nielsen Company (2008).

Nielsen has released a new white paper on mobile video use, as reported in Nielsen’s “Consumer Insight” online newsletter.  Details from the report include:
-Each month, 10.3 million U.S. mobile phone subscribers access video content via their phones — up 14% from 2007
-Still, mobile video use in the U.S. remains low (5% of all subscribers), compared to other mobile media
-Among mobile video users, Apple’s iPhone is the most popular phone: as of Q3 2008, 11% of all streaming video users were using an Apple iPhone, and 35% of iPhone users reported …

Baby boomer households represented more than 50% of sales in 98 of 122 consumer packaged goods (CPG) product categories analyzed in a recent study by Nielsen and the Hallmark Channel.  That adds up to almost $200 billion in total sales in those categories. 
But despite the evident buying power of boomers, many advertisers — intent of wooing loyal lifetime customers — continue to focus their advertising on younger consumers.
Writing in the January issue of Nielsen’s “Consumer Insight” online newsletter, Howard Shimmel, Senior Vice President, Consumer Insights, Nielsen, and Jess D. Aguirre, …

The column below, by Tom Pirovano, Nielsen, was recently published in Nielsen’s “Consumer Insight” online newsletter.
1. Take higher margins in less price-sensitive categories
Ranking categories based on purchase frequency is a fast and inexpensive way of identifying categories that are least sensitive to higher pricing.  Shoppers are less likely to remember pricing on products purchased only once or twice per year. For higher-priced products, however, shoppers are more likely to shop around for the best deal.
2. Lower the thermostat in stores this winter
Your customers will be wearing coats anyway.  This will …

In November, eBay drew more unique visitors than any other apparel and beauty retail website: 7.05 million.
But it was Bath & Body Works’ website – ranked ninth, with 3.56 million unique visitors – that showed the most impressive year-over-year growth: 39%. 
American Eagle (+25%) and Gap (+23%) also logged impressive gains over November 2007.
The top 10 apparel and beauty online shopping destinations, ranked unique visitors in November, are below.

With the nationwide transition to digital TV in the U.S. little more than one month away, 6.8% of U.S. households remain unready for the switch to all-digital broadcasting, according to Nielsen.
Nielsen Wire recently spoke with Patricia McDonough, SVP of Insights, Analysis and Policy, Nielsen, about the company’s efforts to accurately measure TV viewing following the February 17 digital transition.
Nielsen Wire: What is Nielsen doing to prepare for the transition to digital TV broadcasting?
Patricia McDonough:
We are planning for a busy post-holiday season in which we expect many unprepared households to purchase …

By: Nic Covey, Director of Insights, Telecom Practice, The Nielsen Company
SUMMARY: Today, 10.3 million U.S. mobile subscribers use mobile video, which still leaves 214 million U.S. mobile subscribers who don’t. In the markets in which Nielsen tracks video over phones, the U.S. is tops in terms of penetration, but at 5%, the medium is far behind even other mobile media. Three key developments in the space could fuel considerable growth in the market.
An old idea, renewed
Back in 1966, Popular Mechanics reported that a portable television would be launched under a …

Artists such as Lil Wayne, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Coldplay and Flo Rida helped consumers make more decisions to buy music than ever for the fourth year in a row according to Nielsen SoundScan. While total album sales slipped 14% from 500.5 to 428.4M in 2008, sales of digital albums were up 32% from 50M to 65.8M in 2008. Sales of individual digital tracks also grew, soaring 27% over the previous year’s sales. Ironically, in the new digital age, sales of vinyl LPs were at an all-time high (1.88M).
More SoundScan data …

Jon Gibs
Hello all, and welcome from a slightly chilly Las Vegas. I’m a bit of a gadget dork, so coming to CES (Consumer Electronics Show) has been something I’ve looked forward to for some time. But you might be asking yourself, “Jon covers media, not technology, why, during these challenging economic times would Nielsen send Jon to hang out in the desert and lose money on cards for three days?”
The answer is twofold. First, I’m speaking on a panel tomorrow (if you’re around, stop by and say …