comScore Brings Independent Metrics to Programmatic Buying to Elevate Quality Inventory and Trust in TransactionsMedia Buyers Will Be Able to Transact Using the Same Trusted Metrics in Both Programmatic and Direct Buying EnvironmentsRESTON, VA, January 22, 2015 - comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ : SCOR) today announced that media buyers will be able to use key comScore advertising metrics directly in programmatic trading platforms. This is the first offering from the comScore Industry Trust Initiative, which is designed to enable trusted transactions of quality advertising between buyers and sellers.
The key advertising metrics available in programmatic trading platforms - collectively called the comScore Trust Profiles -- include non-human traffic (NHT) certifications, top properties rankings, viewability and demographic statistics, all of which are consistent with the key metrics available in comScore MMX Multi-Platform and validated Campaign Essentials (vCE ) that advertisers use for traditional ad buys. Beginning today, publishers who are comScore clients are able to privately view their own Trust Profiles in the comScore interface. This publisher-only view gives each publisher insight into their own Trust Profiles, and the opportunity to see how these sites are represented in programmatic platforms.
comScore Trust Profiles will first be available in MediaMath, Turn, The Trade Desk, Rubicon Project and Eyereturn Marketing this quarter and throughout 2015, and will also be made available in additional programmatic buying and selling platforms.
Despite the ongoing innovation and growth in digital advertising, the industry is increasingly in need of greater transparency when it comes to advertising being bought and sold, especially in programmatic environments, said Serge Matta, CEO of comScore. Buyers want to know that there is consistent quality across the inventory they are buying, ensuring that their money and impressions are not being wasted. Sellers want to get full value for their quality inventory. As an independent measurement company, we believe that offering consistent, independent metrics in both programmatic and direct environments will instill greater confidence in the industry. The Industry Trust offers a proactive way to elevate quality inventory and create a trusted marketplace that better serves both buyers and sellers.
comScore will be introducing additional products as part of the Industry Trust Initiative later this year, including a seller certification program. All products are designed to help both buyers and sellers create a high quality programmatic environment.
Partners Support comScore's Efforts to Enable Trusted Transactions of Advertising
Initiatives like comScore Industry Trust help give buyers and sellers the assurance that they are transacting upon quality inventory, whether those transactions are done programmatically or through a traditional buy. Having comparable metrics in both programmatic and traditional is a critical step forward in enhancing the value of digital advertising overall.
Kate Sirkin, Executive Vice President of Global Research, Starcom MediaVest Group
As the market looks to a more efficient means of buying and selling we welcome initiatives such as this, which will further enhance the ability for the industry to achieve greater transparency and trust in the complex ecosystem that is programmatic media. The ability to create a safer and efficient marketplace can only lead to the strengthening of digital advertising overall.
Julian Zilberbrand, Executive Vice President, Zenith
The industry is in need of a third-party system that verifies the quality of the inventory that advertisers are purchasing. We're excited to see an industry leader like comScore introducing exactly that, which is a major step forward in stamping out fraud and delivering trust to advertisers.
Scott Hagedorn, CEO, Annalect Group
As dollars continue to shift to programmatic, it's important that the advertising industry has a mechanism for uncovering and understanding quality inventory. The comScore Industry Trust is poised to do just that, and we're excited about the benefits this initiative will bring to both buyers and sellers.
Randy Kilgore, President of National Sales, Gannett
Rubicon Project has been a leader in bringing quality inventory to the marketplace through our direct integrations with the world's leading publishers and applications. We are pleased to be adding the value of comScore Trust Profiles for our customers, whom will benefit from the additional independent validation of the premium quality inventory they've come to expect when transacting across Rubicon Project's platform.
Dr. Neal Richter, Chief Scientist, Rubicon Project
As programmatic marketing continues its explosive growth and gains adoption by both advertisers and publishers, the importance of having third-party systems that are able to verify the quality of an ad impression cannot be understated. We're excited to be integrating with comScore to bring its trusted metrics to the marketplace and highlight our shared commitment to delivering only the highest quality of inventory to our clients.
Chris Victory, Vice President, Global Business Development, MediaMath
We're looking forward to quickly integrating comScore Trust Profiles into Turn. This integration will give ad buyers greater confidence that they are purchasing quality impressions based on the same criteria they use to find quality in comScore MMX.
Maureen Little, Senior Vice President of Corporate and Business Development, Turn
AOL has worked hand-in-hand with the industry to bring the highest levels of transparency to all ad buys, in both direct and programmatic. We are excited that the comScore Industry Trust Initiative will shine a spotlight on the high-qual
