Australians are abandoning desktop PCs and flocking to laptops and other wireless devices, according to Nielsen Online’s Internet and Technology Report released today.  In the last year, household ownership of desktop computers declined 10 percent, while ownership of laptops jumped from 49 percent to 63.  Wireless LAN ownership increased more than 20 points in the last year and now stands at 53 percent.  Additionally, broadband subscriptions reached 97 percent, up from 84 percent in 2007.
“As Australians become increasingly less wired in the ways they access the Internet, a greater focus …

Mitch Barns, President, Greater China, The Nielsen Company
China is one of our fastest growing markets globally. We use our broad range of market research and analytical capabilities to bring our clients the clarity and insight they need to make good business decisions.  One of our priorities is to continuously invest in innovation to improve our capabilities in China.  One example of this is our new R&D center in Beijing.
Innovation is the engine of growth so it is important to continuously invest.  But during challenging economic times, we face a difficult …

In perhaps the most challenging and volatile economic climate in over 35 years, holiday spending across food, drug, mass, and convenience stores saw a 5.8% gain. Other bright spots were online shopping, new movie releases and Blu-ray DVDs.

RANK
NAME
NETWORK
DAY
VIEWERS (P2+)

1
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
FOX
WEDNESDAY
24,541,000

2
AMERICAN IDOL THU SP-2/26(S)
FOX
THURSDAY
20,889,000

3
NCIS
CBS
TUESDAY
18,268,000

4
CSI
CBS
THURSDAY
17,724,000

5
CBS SUNDAY MOVIE-SPECIAL(S)
CBS
SUNDAY
15,239,000

6
HOUSE
FOX
MONDAY
14,858,000

7
60 MINUTES
CBS
SUNDAY
14,233,000

8
CRIMINAL MINDS
CBS
WEDNESDAY
13,930,000

9
CSI: NY
CBS
WEDNESDAY
12,563,000

10
TWO AND A HALF MEN
CBS
MONDAY
12,066,000

Source: The Nielsen Company (February 23, 2009 – March 1, 2009)

RANK
NAME
NETWORK
DAY
VIEWERS (P2+)

1
CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL MON
UNI
MONDAY
4,932,000

2
MANANA PARA SIEMPRE MON
UNI
MONDAY
4,884,000

3
CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL THU
UNI
THURSDAY
4,704,000

4
MANANA PARA SIEMPRE THU
UNI
THURSDAY
4,578,000

5
MANANA PARA SIEMPRE TUE
UNI
TUESDAY
4,430,000

6
MANANA PARA SIEMPRE WED
UNI
WEDNESDAY
4,423,000

7
CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL WED
UNI
WEDNESDAY
4,394,000

8
CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL FRI
UNI
FRIDAY
4,335,000

9
MANANA PARA SIEMPRE FRI
UNI
FRIDAY
4,322,000

10
TONTAS NO VAN CIELO MON
UNI
MONDAY
4,151,000

Source: The Nielsen Company (February 23, 2009 – March 1, 2009)

RANK
NAME
NETWORK
DAY
VIEWERS (P2+)

1
WWE ENTERTAINMENT (WWE RAW)
USA
MONDAY
6,276,000

2
CLOSER, THE
TNT
MONDAY
6,011,000

3
WWE ENTERTAINMENT (WWE RAW)
USA
MONDAY
5,737,000

4
PRES ADDRESS/ANALYSIS(S)-02/24/2009
FOXNC
TUESDAY
5,058,000

5
OBAMA CONG ADDRESS
CNN
TUESDAY
5,050,000

6
OBAMA ADDRESS TO CONGRESS(S)-02/24/2009
FOXNC
TUESDAY
5,015,000

7
BURN NOTICE
USA
THURSDAY
4,848,000

8
SR/OBAMA CONG ANALYSIS
CNN
TUESDAY
4,680,000

9
PRES ADDRESS/GOP RESPONSE(S)-02/24/2009
FOXNC
TUESDAY
4,674,000

10
NCIS
USA
THURSDAY
4,535,000

Source: The Nielsen Company (February 23, 2009 – March 1, 2009)

Unemployment is rising in the U.S., hitting sectors of the population typically immune. Growth rates are highest among men, consumers in the upper age ranges, those with college degrees and non-Hispanic whites. Precise targeting of both message and in-store conditions will be necessary for marketers seeking to minimize losses.