All Shook Up in the World of Media Intelligence
Jinfo Blog

By Chris Porter

Abstract

As two of the world's leading players in media intelligence software (Vocus and Cision) look set to change ownership, Chris Porter examines how this - and changes amongst the smaller players - will affect buyers of media monitoring, media measurement & analysis, and journalist contact management tools.

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The world of media intelligence software services is set for a major shake-up as two of the leading international players, US company Vocus and Sweden's Cision are both in the process of changing ownership.

Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR and well-known web-based news aggregator Meltwater are both in buying mode; many other leading players around the world are also reported to be gearing up for changes, so the market landscape could look very different by the end of this year.

Providing Intelligence for Marketers & More

Media intelligence services typically combine traditional and social media monitoring, media measurement & analysis and journalist contact management.

They mainly target public relations and corporate communications professionals, though they can potentially benefit many other users within large organisations.

Worldwide Changes Create Interesting Times

Elsewhere in this market, UK-based arch-rivals Gorkana and Precise Media are both reported to be seeking ownership changes during 2014 and Asia-Pacific market leader iSentia, previously known as Media Monitors, is gearing up to go public.

The NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions division, owner of press release distribution service GlobeNewswire, grew its share of the market significantly last year through acquisition of the PR and investor relations businesses of Thomson Reuters.

WPP-owned Kantar Media Intelligence has also grown its presence through acquisition of companies such as Press Index, in Europe, and CIC, a major player in Chinese social media intelligence.

Even market leader PR Newswire has been the subject of speculation that its parent company, UBM, may be prepared to part company with it.

Interesting times, for buyers of these services. 

Editor's Note

FreePint Subscribers can log in to read and share more in Chris Porter's article Major Shake-Up in Media Intelligence as Vocus and Cision Set to Change Hands.

Editor's Note: Social Media Monitoring Tools

Read Chris Porter's introduction to FreePint's focus on social media monitoring tools, which runs during March and April 2014, in Social Media Monitoring: the Options.

Editor's Note: Beyond Aggregation

FreePint readers may be interested to read more about news products in our FreePint Topic Series: Beyond Aggregation, which ran from October to November 2013. You can still register your interest to receive a free copy of the FreePint Report: Buyer's Guide on News Content published in early December.

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