Nielsen Online strikes China web venture

Beijing - Nielsen Online has announced a joint with ChinaRank, a Beijing-based publisher of website rankings, to develop and deliver internet measurement and analysis services in China's rapidly evolving internet market.

Beijing Zhongqian Wangrun Information Technology, which owns ChinaRank, the only internet firm authorised to create and publish website rankings in China, will partner with Nielsen Online under a new venture called CR-Nielsen.

CR-Nielsen has been officially licensed to operate in China and Nielsen said it is the first company authorized to support the delivery of standardised internet measurement services in China.

As part of today's announcement, the venture released initial findings on traffic to top web sites, along with insights into several categories, including search, financial services and video sites.

"We are pleased to be working together to extend our leadership position in the dynamic and rapidly growing Chinese market," Ge Zhao, president of CR-Nielsen, said.

"Nielsen has set the standard for quality, reliability and innovation in internet measurement and analysis, and we look forward to working together to help clients understand the evolving digital landscape in China - from usage metrics to demographics; from search activity to advertising intelligence."

Itzhak Fisher (pictured), executive chairman of Nielsen Online, said with more than 250 million internet users, China represents a significant opportunity.

"There has been a loud call to support this expanding market with high-quality, independent online measurement services," Fisher said.

CR-Nielsen's product portfolio will include a range of online audience and advertising measurement services, including NetRatings census measurement data, web analytics technology SiteCensus and AdRelevance technology.