iSpot.tv and Crown Media Family Networks have entered into an ad-measurement agreement that gives Crown Media access to a suite of advertising measurement capabilities across Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Hallmark Drama, including always-on ad verification and impressions across more than 150 national networks. “Leveraging iSpot provides powerful insight by allowing us to home in on the real-time performance of ads on our networks,” said Ed Georger, EVP, Ad Sales & Digital Media at Crown Media. “This tool increases our ability to plan and strategize in a way that optimizes the reach and value of our networks for marketers.”

Nielsen now faces competition from several companies, such as Comscore, iSpot.tv and VideoAmp, all of which are trying to measure TV for various forms of effectiveness — from attention to engagement to generating business outcomes. Their efforts to measure these elements can generate various forms of currency. Many of them are trying to make their mark as not only valid forms of measurement, but important forms of currency off of which to evaluate the advertising.