TNS and Kantar Media announce strategic mobile research partnership with GeoPoll

Under the multi-year agreement, TNS and sister company, Kantar Media, will join forces with GeoPoll to deploy a new range of research products and services intended to deepen and improve market research in Africa, including:

1. Giving TNS access to GeoPoll's platform and user database: TNS will utilize GeoPoll's mobile surveying platform and user database to conduct mobile research projects for clients throughout Africa. In addition, GeoPoll will become the exclusive provider of mobile sample using their platform in key countries.

2. Collaboration on media measurement services: TNS and Kantar Media will work with GeoPoll to expand its Media Measurement Service in selected countries within Sub Saharan Africa, providing support in the areas of media planning software, sampling and weighting expertise.

3. Expanding Kantar Media's data products in Africa: TNS, Kantar Media and GeoPoll will jointly sell Kantar Media's Global TGI product in a number of markets, bringing regular consumer insights on a sector by sector basis.
   

TNS, a global leader in market research and Kantar Media, a leading audience measurement and analytics company, are both part of Kantar, one of the world's largest insight, information and consultancy groups. Future collaboration between GeoPoll and Kantar's other operating companies in the region is envisaged.

Kim MacIlwaine, CEO, TNS Africa, Mediterranean & Middle East said: "Mobile is an increasingly important mode of communication for market researchers, and we're excited to collaborate with GeoPoll to expand our data product offerings in key African markets. We believe GeoPoll's robust mobile surveying technology combined with TNS and Kantar Media's expertise in market and media research will be beneficial to all of our clients working in Africa."

"GeoPoll has worked hard to drive increased access to quality information in Africa. We're excited to partner with TNS and Kantar Media to improve the availability of reliable, cost-effective data across Africa and look forward to expanding the partnership in the coming years," said James Eberhard, CEO of GeoPoll and its parent company Mobile Accord.

In the past two years GeoPoll has rapidly expanded its services in Africa, opening an office in Nairobi, Kenya, and increasing their presence in South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. In June 2014, GeoPoll became the largest provider of overnight media ratings in Africa with the launch of its Media Measurement Service, currently running in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

For Kantar Media, this development also represents the first step in developing a full portfolio of services across the region.

For more information:

Tina Aird
+44 (0) 20 3130 7413/ moc.labolgsnt@dria.anit

Roxana Elliott
+1 202-733-2555 x 223/ moc.lloPoeG@anaxoR

Rena Patel
+44 (0) 203 130 7357/ moc.aidemratnak@letap.aner

About TNS

TNS advises clients on specific growth strategies around new market entry, innovation, brand switching and customer strategies, based on long-established expertise and market-leading solutions. With a presence in over 80 countries, TNS has more conversations with the world's consumers than anyone else and understands individual human behaviours and attitudes across every cultural, economic and political region of the world.

TNS is part of Kantar, the data investment management division of WPP and one of the world's largest insight, information and consultancy groups. Please visit www.tnsglobal.com for more information.

About GeoPoll

GeoPoll is the world's largest mobile survey platform, with a network of more than 200 million users in emerging markets. GeoPoll's platform conducts surveys through the mobile phone and provides results to clients in real-time, giving anyone the ability to make data-driven decisions. Through work with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and governments, GeoPoll provides insights on everything from food security to brand preferences. GeoPoll services include both custom research and subscription products.

About Kantar Media

Kantar Media provides critical information that helps our clients make better decisions about communications. We enable the world's leading brands, publishers, agencies and industry bodies to navigate and succeed in a rapidly evolving media industry. Our services and data include analysis of paid media opportunities; counsel on brand reputation, corporate management and consumer engagement through owned media; and evaluating consumers' reactions in earned media. As the global house of expertise in media and marketing information, Kantar Media provides clients with a broad range of insights, from audience research, competitive intelligence, vital consumer behaviour and digital insights, marketing and advertising effectiveness to social media monitoring. Our experts currently work with 22,000 companies tracking over 4 million brands in 50 countries.

For more information, please visit http://www.kantarmedia.com

About Kantar

Kantar is the data investment management division of WPP and one of the world's largest insight, information and consultancy groups. By connecting the diverse talents of its 12 specialist companies, the group aims to become the pre-eminent provider of compelling and inspirational insights for the global business community. Its 30,000 employees work across 100 countries and across the whole spectrum of research and consultancy disciplines, enabling the group to offer clients business insights at every point of the consumer cycle. The group's services are employed by over half of the Fortune Top 500 companies.

For further information, please visit us at www.kantar.com.