A Nielsen survey asking Olympics viewers about commercials aired during NBC’s primetime Olympic coverage through February 20 shows that six of the ten most liked ads contained an Olympics theme.

How well a TV ad does can often rely on “Earned Media” — the volume and value of the online conversations that happen before an after it airs.

TV ads airing in last year’s Daytona 500 were 26% more likely to be recalled by viewers than those who saw the ad run elsewhere.

In demographic analysis of Super Bowl ads, Nielsen uncovers which brands performed best with male and female audiences.

Americans are watching network TV content online mostly to catch up with programming, not as a replacement for standard TV viewing.

Facebook and The Nielsen Company today announced that Nielsen BrandLift™, which uses the Facebook platform to measure the effectiveness of online brand advertising, is now available in the UK.

When it comes to “success” for a major advertising spend, we should spend more time worrying about the time consumers spend with a site, and not just the incremental audience generated.

The use of ad effectiveness measurements to buy and sell spots on the networks is one of the biggest trends in the TV ad industry. Lois Miller, President of Nielsen IAG Automotive, explained this new advertising “currency” to the Nielsen Wire, and why it’s become an important tool for marketers in the auto industry.
Q: An article in the latest BusinessWeek explains how program engagement and advertising effectiveness measurements are changing the way companies place their ads. How is Nielsen helping to change the game of TV advertising?
Lois Miller: Nielsen’s TV …

Charlie Buchwalter, Nielsen Online
Having been to just about every ad:tech show during the last 10 years, I have to say that the show in San Francisco this week was one of the best ever. The Moscone West venue was great, the keynotes were superb, and sat through a number of panels with top-notch panelists and moderators. And there’s nothing better than reconnecting with some of the great friends I’ve made over the years in the interactive space.
The folks at socialmedia.com hosted the ad:tech Chairman’s reception Monday night, and I gave …

Ford Motor Co. was the big winner at Nielsen IAG’s 3rd annual Automotive Ad Awards, presented Wednesday, April 8 at the opening breakfast for the 2009 New York International Auto Show.
The automaker took home the prize for Most Effective Auto Ad of the Year for its spot featuring several real-life women test-driving a Ford Focus for the first time. Other winners included Lexus for Most Effective Green Ad of the Year and Volkswagen for Most Effective Sales Event Campaign of the Year.

Watch highlights and insight from Nielsen IAG’s Lois Miller …