PRN Corporation Announces Results of Nielsen Media Research Study for the Wal-Mart Television Network

PRN Corporation Announces Results of Nielsen Media Research Study for the Wal-Mart Television Network

Study Highlights Strong Growth in Wal-Mart TV Viewership

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Premier Retail Networks (PRN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thomson SA (NYSE:TMS), announced today the results of its most recent viewership research study for the Wal-Mart Television Network, a network of televisions strategically placed throughout Wal-Mart stores that air a customized mix of informative content and advertising.

The results from Nielsen Media Research's 2005 study highlight a 9% increase in Wal-Mart TV Network viewership per store (among viewers 10+) as compared to Nielsen's 2004 study. According to the new study the network delivered 49,024 gross impressions per store for the 4-week period measured by Nielsen, a 9% increase over the 44,857 impressions in the 2004 study. For Wal-Mart's core demographic of females (F18+), viewership increases were even stronger, resulting in a 24% increase in 2005 compared to 2004. The study found that shopper attitudes toward Wal-Mart TV were excellent, 88% percent of viewers agreed that the "network is a good thing" for Wal-Mart to offer its customers, 86% percent agreed that the "network is informative" and 84% agreed that Wal-Mart TV "provides relevant advertising." PRN reports that the network is currently installed in more than 2,800 Wal-Mart stores.

Mark Mitchell, Executive Vice President of Advertising Sales at PRN, commented, "We are very proud that viewership for the largest in-store television network continues to increase each year and that the breadth and depth of the network continues to provide an excellent media value to advertisers."

Eric Bindelglass, President of PRN Corporation, commented, "These very strong results provide further confirmation that Wal-Mart TV is a powerful medium that engages customers and improves their shopping experience. Based on these Nielsen results and the planned expansion of the network, we project that Wal-Mart TV will reach 140 million viewers per 4 week flight in 2006 which is a 15% increase vs. 2005."

"In-Store Television is coming of age as an advertising medium and PRN has taken a leadership role by providing annual measurements of their audience in terms of gross impressions, reach and frequency. We commend their effort to provide agencies and advertisers with metrics that compliment the traditional media planning process and we will continue to provide our clients with this type of forward leaning research data," said Beth Corbett, Vice President Nielsen Media Research.

About the Study

Nielsen Media Research's New Media Services fielded intercept interviews and enumeration counts for a statistical probability sample of affiliated Wal-Mart stores, dates and dayparts. During a 21-day measurement interval of April 17-May 7, 2005, traffic counting and interviewing took place over 59 dayparts in 57 different network stores. The 21-day results were projected to 28 days. Intercept interviews were completed with 3,578 store visitors 10 years of age or older as they exited the main store exits. Sample stores were selected from the 2,699 total affiliated stores installed with Wal-Mart Storewide TV in the U.S. as of December 2004. Study results assume 100% media compliance. Weighted estimates in the study were calculated based on PRN's estimated 2006 store mix and install plans which includes installation of new TVs in 1,180 Supercenter and 311 Division 1 stores.

About PRN Corporation

Founded in 1992, the PRN Corporation operates the PRN Network, the largest in-store television network in the United States based on the number of consumers reached each month. Through the PRN Network, PRN enables national and local advertisers to target consumers in over 5,000 leading retail stores in all of the 210 media markets designated by AC Nielsen in the United States. PRN works with retailers and advertisers to create in-store television programming that includes entertainment, news, product information, advertising and community content. Retailers carrying the PRN Network include Albertsons, Best Buy, Circuit City, Costco, Jewel-Osco, Pathmark, Ralphs, SAM'S CLUB, Sears, Shaw's, ShopRite, Star Market, and Wal-Mart Stores. Based on information provided by several third-party research firms and retailers, PRN Network is watched more than 180 million times each month by consumers in retail stores. PRN's headquarters are in San Francisco, California. PRN is wholly-owned by Thomson (Euronext: 18453), the world leader in integrated solutions (technologies, equipment and services) for the entertainment and media industries. For more information, please visit http://www.prn.com/ .

About Nielsen Media Research

Nielsen Media Research is the world's leading provider of television audience measurement and advertising information services. In the United States, Nielsen's National People Meter service provides audience estimates for all national program sources, including broadcast networks, cable networks, Spanish language networks, and national syndicators. Local ratings estimates are produced for television stations, regional cable networks, MSOs, cable interconnects, and Spanish language stations in each of the 210 television markets in the U.S., including electronic metered service in 56 markets. Nielsen Media Research is part of VNU Media Measurement & Information, a global leader in information services for the media and entertainment industries. VNU is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands and New York, USA. Total revenues under IFRS amounted to EUR 3.3 billion in 2004. VNU is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange.

For more information, please visit the VNU website at www.vnu.com.

Source: Premier Retail Networks

CONTACT: Genet Garamendi, +1-415-808-9167, or Genet_Garamendi@prn.com, or Erica Pettit, +1-212-850-5614, or epettit@fd-us.com, or Evan Smith, CFA, +1-212-850-5606, or esmith@fd-us.com, all of Premier Retail Networks; or Matt Tatham of Nielsen Media Research, +1-646-654-8362, or matt.tatham@nielsenmedia.com

Web site: http://www.prn.com/

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