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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

Commission file number: 000-27907

NETRATINGS, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 703-5900

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock
(Title of Class)

        Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý    No o

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý

        Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ý    No o

        The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based on the closing price of the Registrant's Common Stock as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market on June 30, 2003, was $96,194,383.

        The number of shares of the Registrant's Common Stock outstanding as of February 27, 2004 was 34,062,900.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

        Parts of the definitive proxy statement for the Registrant's 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Report, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.

        Some of the statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this "Report") are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those specifically identified as such, that involve risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this Report that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. All forward-looking statements included in this Report are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ from expectations include those discussed elsewhere in this Report on Form 10-K under the heading "Risk Factors That May Affect Our Performance."

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

OVERVIEW

        We are a leading provider of Internet audience measurement and analysis in the United States and around the world. All of our products and services are designed to assist companies in making critical business decisions regarding their Internet strategies and initiatives.

        Our primary products and services include NetView, AdRelevance/LemonAd, @Plan, MegaPanel and SiteCensus. We also offer Custom and Analytical Services to help clients better utilize and leverage our products and services to meet their specific media and market research goals and objectives. NetView, which is our original product, provides in-depth measurement of audience behavior for the World Wide Web and the digital media universe, including proprietary channels, instant messaging, media players and other online applications. AdRelevance and LemonAd offer comprehensive and accurate information on online advertising expenditures, including where, when, how and how much companies are advertising online. @Plan is a leading resource for demographic, lifestyle, and product preferences to guide advertisers, agencies, Web publishers and others in their online marketing and media planning strategies. MegaPanel provides increased breadth and depth of Internet behavior and activity for the market research industry, including detailed e-commerce transaction information. SiteCensus offers extensive Web analytical services based on a Web site's actual traffic flows and visitor behavior. Our Custom and Analytical Services offer customized research and advisory services from experienced industry experts.

        Our focus over the past two years has been to develop a comprehensive global product portfolio so that we could address all of the key Internet media and market research needs of our clients. During the second half of 2003, we announced the launch of two new services that will strengthen our Internet market research capabilities. The first service is WebIntercept, a behavioral-based online survey research tool that provides surveying capabilities based on real-time Internet behavior. The second service is Homescan Online, which is a joint initiative with ACNielsen that combines ACNielsen's offline consumer retail purchasing data with our in-depth Internet audience measurement data. These two services, together with MegaPanel which will be available in the United States during the first half of 2004, enable us to offer clients broad Internet market research capabilities. In addition, our acquisition of Red Sheriff allows us to significantly expand our ability to offer our SiteCensus service around the world.

        Our products and services are currently sold directly in the United States and in numerous countries throughout Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. In France, Japan and Brazil, we have

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partnered with leading local market research and information services companies to market and sell some of our products and services. We have a highly diversified and global client base, including large and small companies in the media, technology, advertising, financial services, consumer products, retail and travel industries. As of December 31, 2003, we had approximately 780 clients, excluding the clients acquired as a result of our acquisition of Red Sheriff.

        In 1998 and 1999, we formed strategic relationships with Nielsen Media Research, the leading source of television audience measurement and related services in the United States, and ACNielsen, a leading global provider of market research information and analysis. We believe that our strategic relationships with Nielsen Media Research and ACNielsen, both of which are subsidiaries of VNU N.V., provide us with a unique opportunity to leverage their brands, expertise and industry relationships to facilitate the rapid acceptance and deployment of our diverse portfolio of products and services. VNU N.V., through its subsidiaries, currently owns approximately 64% of our outstanding common stock.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

        Since our founding until the second quarter of 2002, we primarily focused on selling our NetView service. Commencing in the second quarter of 2002, as a result of acquisitions and internal product development, we began to offer additional products and services designed to meet specific Internet media and market research needs. These products and services allow us to offer companies much more detailed and complex solutions and information and to do so in a more timely manner. In addition, the increased amount of data that we collect enables us to expand the specialized consulting and analytical services that companies are increasingly seeking as Internet usage and commerce continue to grow around the world. We believe that our comprehensive portfolio of products and services, which are all sold under the Nielsen//NetRatings brand, leaves us well positioned to become the standard for measuring the size, profile, activity and behavior of Internet users around the world.

NetView

        Our NetView service, which includes syndicated and custom reports, provides detailed Internet audience information collected from our high-quality, representative panels of computer and Internet users. We currently operate NetView panels in thirteen locations around the world and track approximately 70% of the global online activity. In addition to "at-home" panels, which measure Internet activity from the home computer, we also operate "at-work" panels, which collect data on Internet usage at the workplace, and "combo-panels", which measure both home and work activity and allow us to calculate the audience duplication to accurately report the true combined audience.

        In order to obtain a representative sample of the total Internet user population, our NetView panels are constructed using a process called random digit dialing, or RDD, which involves recruiting panel members by calling randomly selected telephone numbers. RDD is the cornerstone of the Nielsen methodology, which has been successfully established as the currency for television audience measurement. Eligible households, namely those with a PC and Internet access, are recruited to participate in the panel. Those that agree to participate are mailed a membership packet that includes tracking software and installation instructions and are given a small incentive in the form of a savings bond for their participation. Once installed on a panelist's computer, our tracking software requires virtually no panelist intervention and software updates are automatic. All panelist data is automatically encrypted prior to transmission to help ensure the privacy of panelist data.

        In connection with our panel recruitment process, each panelist is required to fill out a detailed questionnaire, providing background demographic information including age, gender, household income, geographic location, level of education, size of household and job classification. To assure the statistical quality of our NetView panels, enumeration studies are conducted to determine the total size

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and demographic makeup of the Internet user population and are used as the basis for ensuring that sample behaviors are representative of the total audience population. In order to accurately gauge the size and shape of the rapidly changing Internet user universe, we conduct our independent enumeration studies on a regular basis.

        Our proprietary activity tracking and data collection technology gathers comprehensive and detailed information regarding computer and Internet user behavior, including sites and pages visited, time spent on each site, advertising exposure and effectiveness, and bandwidth usage data. In addition, the NetView service is designed to offer clients the most complete view of World Wide Web and digital media usage, including tracking of Web traffic, AOL proprietary channels, instant messaging applications, media players, wireless content systems, Web phones, connected games, weather applications and shopping assistants. Our technology collects the same data in the same way, regardless of whether the user is accessing the Internet via a PC, a Macintosh platform or other Java-enabled Internet access device.

        NetView provides customers with a variety of comprehensive weekly and monthly reports on computer and Internet usage behavior. Our reports can be modified by clients, enabling them to manipulate data easily to meet their specific information requirements. Our easy-to-use interface provides immediate access to various levels of detailed information, allows users to create and save their own reports, and enables "on-the-fly" custom queries on selected information.

        In the fourth quarter of 2003, we launched our Hispanic Internet audience panel in the United States, the industry's first RDD Internet panel designed to better understand Hispanic consumer behavior online. The Hispanic panel provides clients with a rich set of panel-based demographic information on Hispanic Internet users, providing critical intelligence for media buyers, planners, marketers and publishers targeting the Hispanic online audience.

@Plan

        We offer Internet media planning products and services in the United States through our @Plan service, which we acquired in May 2002. The @Plan service offers advertisers, advertising agencies, Web publishers and e-commerce marketers detailed demographics, lifestyle, brand and product preferences, and media consumption information to help them plan and implement successful online marketing and media strategies. @Plan's tools include @Plan Advertising and @Plan eCommerce.

        @Plan Advertising is a comprehensive advertising decision support and planning system providing deep lifestyle, brand and product preferences, and demographic profile information across a large number of advertising-supported Web sites. Internet advertisers and advertising agencies can query the system on various targets, such as demographic and/or buying behavior groups to better understand the most efficient and effective ways to reach those groups through the Internet. The system also allows Web publishers to position their sites effectively against competitive sites and to efficiently drive advertising revenue by demonstrating the value of the site audience to advertisers or marketing partners.

        @Plan eCommerce builds on the capabilities of @Plan Advertising with features and data specifically designed for online retailers and consumer brand marketers. Online retailers and consumer brand marketers utilize the system to understand and track their competitive strengths and weaknesses overall and against key market segments. Online retailers can also use this information to develop more effective and cost-efficient customer acquisition and retention strategies by understanding which Web sites deliver the highest concentration of their target audience. By providing both online and off-line data, the @Plan eCommerce system also allows online retailers and consumer brand marketers to help maximize multi-channel sales efforts by profiling online, catalog and in-store audiences and understanding where they overlap, thereby informing their advertising strategy in both traditional and online markets.

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AdRelevance/LemonAd

        We offer advertising measurement products and services in the United States through our AdRelevance service, which we acquired in April 2002, and in several international markets through our LemonAd service, which we acquired in July 2003.

        AdRelevance tracks competitive online advertising and advertiser data for thirteen broadly defined categories including, but not limited to, automotive, computer hardware, computer software, telecommunications, financial services, travel, retailing and Web media. The AdRelevance technology systematically and continuously searches commercial Web sites and captures detailed data about advertising banners, promotions and rich media. AdRelevance's intelligent agent technology sends out approximately six million probes a week and continuously evaluates more than 600,000 unique Web pages to provide in-depth advertising tracking information. Once captured, the data are warehoused, classified and statistically analyzed.

        By using the AdRelevance technology, our customers can query the AdRelevance database and generate Web-based reports on demand. This enables customers to monitor competitors' marketing activities, plan more effective online advertising campaigns and evaluate campaigns in real-time. Customers can gain access to up-to-date intelligence about their competitors' online marketing communications programs, enabling them to quickly and easily compare and report information by a wide range of criteria including advertiser, product, message, type, industry, technology and creative content.

        LemonAd provides online advertising data and information for twelve European markets. The LemonAd technology searches more than 3,300 Web sites throughout each day, providing critical advertising information in real-time. All reports are available online through an easy-to-use interface, providing users access to information on a wide range of data, including ranking of top advertisers, the top advertising spenders and the largest number of ad impressions. Clients can also create customized reports to provide the most relevant information to their businesses, as well as subscribe to LemonAd's daily alert service to obtain information on the latest advertising campaigns as they break. We expect that the LemonAd service will be introduced into other global markets during 2004.

MegaPanel

        Our MegaPanel service is currently available in France, Germany and the United Kingdom and will be available for sale in the United States during the first half of 2004.

        Representing a broad cross-section of home, work and university online users, our MegaPanel service allows us to provide increased breadth and depth of data, integration of online and off-line datasets and more advanced custom reporting. We believe that our MegaPanel service complements our NetView service in assisting clients in integrating the Internet into their global marketing strategies.

        Our MegaPanel service is designed to offer a number of key benefits for market researchers seeking in-depth information on online consumer behavior. For example, MegaPanel delivers detailed information regarding e-commerce transactions, including what people are buying online, what sites people are using for online shopping and the amount shoppers are spending online. The MegaPanel also is able to provide clients with important analyses relating to smaller Web sites which may not be available in NetView or our other products and services. In addition, given the size of the panel, MegaPanel also offers survey capabilities to help clients better understand consumer attitudes and behavior. By administering real-time customized surveys, focusing, for example, on areas such as brand awareness, online-offline consumption and customer satisfaction, we can provide a robust understanding of the relationship between the online and offline consumer.

        Panelists for our MegaPanel service are recruited through a variety of methods, including online survey and sweepstakes offers as well as through partnerships with leading market research providers.

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As with our NetView panels, our tracking software requires virtually no panelist intervention and software updates are automatic. The information we collect, which is linked to demographic profiles of Internet households, is used to produce comprehensive syndicated and custom reports regarding Internet behavior and activity across the Internet. To enhance the statistical quality of our panels and the information we collect, our MegaPanel service is weighted to our NetView panels, which are recruited through RDD procedures.

SiteCensus

        In April 2003, we launched our SiteCensus service, a census-based site measurement service designed to address the emerging business needs of media companies, Web publishers and other online companies by providing them with comprehensive data and research metrics about their own Web sites or network of Web sites. In December 2003, we acquired Red Sheriff, a global provider of various Web site measurement services. This acquisition significantly expands our SiteCensus business and our ability to offer SiteCensus in new global regions.

        Panel-based research, such as our NetView service, has historically been the standard by which demographics, frequency and other measurements are used for the buying and selling of online media. SiteCensus was designed to complement panel-based research by measuring every visitor and providing a complete census count. For Web sites with smaller audience sizes, SiteCensus provides focused and detailed research analysis previously unavailable with panel-based research. For larger Web sites, SiteCensus supplements panel-based reporting with different levels of site-centric analysis, offering clients further insight into their Web audience.

        The service's census-based measurements are provided through a page-tagging system. When encoded in any Web site page, the tag provides an accurate and direct count of every page view and visitor in real-time. Page-tagging allows a client to track their entire online audience, including traffic from wireless and hand-held devices, Internet appliances, shared home and office computers and university PCs, as well as public terminals including libraries and Internet cafes. Data captured from the tags are warehoused, classified and statistically analyzed. A variety of comprehensive reports and metrics are available to clients through a Web-based interface, which can be customized to meet a client's specific online objectives.

        In order to provide a more in-depth view of the visitors to a Web site, SiteCensus allows for the integration of detailed demographic data through online surveys. The SiteCensus survey engine allows us to randomly survey a visitor to a Web site, and incorporate their survey responses into demographic composition reports of a Web site's audience. Site panels are built by randomly selecting a sample of visitors to the client Web site, or groups of Web sites, for the purpose of delivering surveys. The survey engine enforces a strict, random recruitment process to help ensure that the site panel is representative of the site's audience.

WebRF

        WebRF offers advertisers, advertising agencies and Web publishers a comprehensive reach and frequency tool for planning and evaluating the impact of advertising on the Internet, using terminology and analysis capabilities comparable to those in traditional media advertising. Through the WebRF software, which was designed in partnership with Interactive Market Systems (IMS), a provider of media planning and analysis software to the advertising industry, advertisers, advertising agencies and Web publishers can develop the analyses necessary to compare online advertising reach with delivery of other media, map advertising campaigns for specified target markets and track how effectively advertising budgets are being managed. WebRF is currently available in the United States and ten countries across Europe and Asia Pacific.

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WebIntercept

        WebIntercept, which we launched in November 2003, offers clients the ability to survey Internet users based on their real-time behavior as they navigate the Internet. Linking surveys to real-time Internet usage and behavior allows clients to reach consumers at a specific moment of interest, as WebIntercept enables surveys to be triggered when a panelist visits a predetermined Web site or exhibits a predetermined behavior. By allowing clients to connect directly with visitors to their own Web site as well as those of their competitors, WebIntercept provides a unique and efficient way for clients to benchmark performance, measure customer satisfaction across an industry and gain access to critical competitive analysis. In addition, WebIntercept's global panel of approximately three million potential respondents enables clients to collect the number of completed surveys necessary to ascertain localized behavior statistics not readily available with smaller panels.

Homescan Online

        In November 2003, we jointly announced with ACNielsen the launch of Homescan Online, a product designed to improve the effectiveness of online marketing for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry and Web publishers. ACNielsen's Homescan consumer panel records the offline purchasing behavior of thousands of panelists using ACNielsen's proprietary in-home UPC code scanners. Homescan Online combines the offline and online data from over 14,000 members of ACNielsen's Homescan consumer panel who have also agreed to allow us to track their Internet activity and behavior. As a result, Homescan Online integrates consumer retail purchasing of up to 12,000 CPG brands and online visitors to more than 1,000 Web sites, enabling CPG marketers to better understand where their consumers are going online and what effect their online marketing is having on offline retail sales. The service also enables Web publishers to more effectively market themselves to the CPG industry by helping CPG marketers better target Web site audiences by their specific brand consumption. Custom analysis of Homescan Online is currently available, with full syndicated reporting of Internet behavioral data and offline purchasing data expected to be available in the middle of 2004.

Custom and Analytical Services

        As we have expanded our product offerings to more completely address the market research needs of our customers, clients have increasingly relied on us to provide custom research and analytical services. These custom research and analytics services are designed to help clients better utilize and leverage our services with their specific media research and market research goals and objectives. Our dedicated analytics team provides in-depth specialized advice to clients of our NetView, AdRelevance, @Plan, MegaPanel, WebRF and WebIntercept products and services. Examples of the types of custom research and analytics projects that we have conducted in recent months include the following:

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Cross-Media Analysis: Through the integration of NetView, AdRelevance and WebRF, we helped a leading media company create a sales presentation demonstrating why the online portion of their advertisers' marketing plans should increase.



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Commerce Analysis: We initiated survey-based research for a leading financial services company to more fully understand consumer opinions about inter-bank transfers.



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Internet Application Adoption Trends: Our analytics team worked with a leading media company that was analyzing the growth in adoption of Internet applications, and assessed for them the opportunity for Internet application-based advertising.



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Online Political Behavior: By extending the @Plan questionnaire to include details on political affiliation and behavior, we analyzed the 2004 Democratic presidential primaries to more fully understand what sites candidates might target to successfully reach specific consumers.

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STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP WITH VNU

        VNU N.V. is a global leader in market research, providing measurement and analysis of marketplace dynamics, consumer behavior and audience measurement. We believe that our strategic relationship with VNU and its subsidiaries, particularly Nielsen Media Research and ACNielsen, provides us with a unique opportunity to leverage their brand, industry relationships and overall expertise in order to expand our products and services around the globe. Since 1999, we have marketed our services under the Nielsen//NetRatings brand. In addition to our strategic relationships, VNU, through its subsidiaries, also controls a majority of our outstanding voting stock and our Board of Directors.

        For over fifty years, Nielsen Media Research's core business has been to provide high-quality comprehensive audience viewing information on the television industry. The Nielsen ratings are vital to television program production, distribution and scheduling decision-making, and the currency for transactions between buyers and sellers of television advertising time. In October 1998, we formed a strategic relationship with Nielsen Media Research to develop and market Internet audience measurement products and services in the United States and Canada using our technology with Nielsen Media Research's proprietary panel methodology. In March 1999, we launched our NetView service, which constituted an Internet audience panel product based on the Nielsen Media Research audience sampling methodology.

        Under our agreements with Nielsen Media Research, Nielsen Media Research provides for the development and maintenance of panels in the United States that generate the data for our NetView service. We are responsible for the management, support and ongoing development of the data collection and reporting system. We pay Nielsen Media Research ongoing fees for the costs of maintaining the NetView panels and costs associated with the expansion of such panels. These fees are charged at the same rates that Nielsen Media Research charges its own internal divisions, which are based on Nielsen Media Research's actual costs plus an allocated portion of its overhead costs. During the second half of 2003, we reached an agreement with Nielsen Media Research to provide us with certain research services in connection with our @Plan service, including telephone recruitment of survey respondents and the administration of online surveys. In addition, we also agreed to re-locate our main data center facilities in San Jose, California to Nielsen Media Research's world-class technology center in Oldsmar, Florida, where Nielsen Media Research will be responsible for providing technology-hosting services to support our mission critical computing platforms, including server, network, storage and security management.

        ACNielsen, which was founded over 75 years ago, is a leading provider of media research services outside North America. It is also a global leader in providing business information, analysis and insights to consumer-packaged goods companies, their brokers and retail organizations. ACNielsen also provides television audience measurement services outside of the United States, to customers in over 100 countries. In September 1999, we established ACNielsen eRatings.com, a joint venture with ACNielsen, to develop and maintain audience measurement panels and to market our products and services in international markets. From the formation of the joint venture until May 2002, we had a 19.9% voting interest in the venture and ACNielsen had an 80.1% voting interest in the venture. In May 2002, we acquired all of ACNielsen eRatings.com and entered into a services agreement with ACNielsen pursuant to which ACNielsen will provide us with certain back-office services for a period of five years.

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INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

        We believe that offering our customers the Nielsen//NetRatings products and services with data from around the world is a critical component in establishing ourselves as the global standard for Internet audience measurement and analysis. Over the past year, primarily as a result of our acquisitions, we have expanded the geographic scope of our products and services. We currently offer our NetView service in thirteen locations around the world, our WebRF product is available in eleven countries worldwide and our LemonAd service is available in twelve European countries. Our MegaPanel service is currently available in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. As a result of the Red Sheriff acquisition, we are able to offer SiteCensus in over 13 countries around the world.

        In France, Japan and Latin America, we have historically offered our NetView service through joint ventures with leading local market research and information services companies. As of December 31, 2003, we held a 66% ownership interest in Mediametrie NetRatings, our French subsidiary, and the remaining ownership interest was held by Mediametrie. As of December 31, 2003, we held approximately 58% of NetRatings Japan, our Japanese subsidiary, and the remaining ownership interest was held by TransCosmos and other investors. As of December 31, 2003, we held a 49% ownership interest in Ibope eRatings.com, our Latin American joint venture, and the remaining ownership interest was held by Ibope. In each of these places, we have licensed our proprietary data collection and reporting technology to these subsidiary or joint venture companies, and each of these companies is responsible for building and maintaining audience measurement panels and selling select products and services in the specified territory. Revenue is allocated between NetRatings and the subsidiary or joint venture company depending on the location of the customer and the location of the panel whose data is used in the service.

SALES AND MARKETING

        As of December 31, 2003, we had approximately 780 clients, excluding the clients obtained through the acquisition of Red Sheriff. Our global client base is a diverse group of large and small companies in the media, technology, advertising, financial services, consumer products, retail and travel industries. The users of our products and services at our client companies hold diverse positions, demonstrating the importance of online media and market research to a company's overall strategy and development. In addition to marketing and business development executives, our users include chief executive officers and presidents, and operations, strategic planning and information technology executives. No client accounted for more than 10% of our revenues in 2003.

        We sell our products and services in the United States through a direct sales force. Our direct sales force includes sales representatives employed by Nielsen Media Research who are dedicated to selling our products and services to specific media clients. Our domestic sales representatives are located at our offices in Milpitas, California and New York, New York, and we also maintain local representatives in various locations throughout the United States. Internationally, we sell our products and services through a direct sales force as well as through our subsidiary and joint venture companies in their respective markets. Our sales representatives receive a base salary and are eligible for commissions based on revenue and sales goals.

        Our primary marketing objectives are to cross-market new products and services to our global clients and to leverage and build upon Nielsen//NetRatings' brand awareness throughout our target audiences. To achieve these goals, we engage in a number of marketing activities, including direct e-mail campaigns, conference presentations, industry tradeshow participation, involvement with industry organizations such as the Interactive Advertising Bureau, Online Publishers Association, Direct Marketing Association and Advertising Research Foundation and aggressive public relations. We maintain standing arrangements for the use of our data with key business and trade press including Reuters, The New York Times, USA Today, San Jose Mercury News, Hollywood Reporter, Boston

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Globe, Chicago Tribune, Sports Business Journal, American Banker, Media Life, Internet Retailer, Women's Wear Daily and numerous other media outlets. We provide the media with timely insights regarding current events and identify emerging Internet trends, generating valuable press coverage. Our analysts are regularly featured on television and radio broadcasts, including segments on CNBC, CNN, CNNfn and NPR.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

        We regard the protection of our proprietary technology and information as important to our future success and ability to compete effectively in our markets. We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, as well as confidentiality agreements and licensing arrangements, to establish and protect our proprietary rights. The steps we have taken or will take in the future may not, however, be sufficient to protect our technology and information from infringement or misappropriation, or to deter independent development of similar or superior technologies by others. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries may not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights, and any such litigation could result in substantial expenses as well as the diversion of resources from the operation of our business.

        We seek to obtain the issuance of patents and the registration of our trademarks and service marks in the United States and in selected other countries. In May 2002, NetRatings and Jupiter Media Metrix, Inc. entered into a settlement agreement pursuant to which Jupiter Media Metrix agreed to dismiss with prejudice the patent infringement action it had filed against NetRatings in March 2001. In connection with the settlement, we also acquired patents and patent applications relating to computer use tracking. As a result, we currently have two issued patents in the United States with regard to our computer use tracking technology (U.S. Patent No. 5,675,510 and U.S. Patent No. 6,115,680). In addition, patents for the technology covered by U.S. Patent No. 5,675,510 have also been issued in Japan, Canada, Australia and Mexico, and we have patent applications pending in other jurisdictions.

        In addition to the computer use tracking patents and patent applications described above, we also have other pending patent applications which relate to other aspects of our proprietary technology, including pending patent applications for our AdRelevance technology. Furthermore, through the Red Sheriff acquisition, we acquired patents and patent applications in the United States and abroad relating to Red Sheriff's proprietary site-centric Internet audience measurement technology.

        Despite the efforts we have taken, others may claim that we have misappropriated a trade secret or infringed a patent, copyright, trademark or other proprietary right belonging to them with respect to past, current or future technologies. Any of those claims, whether meritorious or not, could be time-consuming, result in costly litigation, may distract management from other tasks of operating the business and may result in the loss of significant rights or require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements. Royalty or licensing agreements might not be available on terms we find acceptable or at all. As a result, any such claim could have a material adverse effect upon our business, results of operations and financial condition.

TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONS

        Clients can access all of our primary products and services via the Internet by using passwords specifically assigned to each client. Our services are available 24 hours a day and our proprietary data is updated regularly to provide clients with access to the most recent data.

        In connection with our NetView and MegaPanel services, our panel-based data collection, retrieval and processing systems and software have been designed utilizing well-known industry standards for hardware and software data architecture and infrastructure. The architecture adheres to numerous standard-programming languages, including hypertext machine language, or HTML, Java and C++,

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and network protocols, including hypertext transfer protocol or HTTP. In addition, we believe that our system architecture is flexible and powerful enough to allow for continued growth in our portfolio of products and services.

        Red Sheriff operates an around-the-clock global infrastructure to update and operate the SiteCensus product. Red Sheriff's Web site measurement tags measure a Web site visitor's experience and deliver the information back to Red Sheriff's high capacity measurement collection network consisting of nine fully redundant global data centers. Red Sheriff's measurement network currently captures in excess of 90 gigabytes worth of new measurement information from over 300 million transactions on a daily basis. In addition, the Red Sheriff technology supports a variety of different software implementations of its measurement techniques, including pure Java, Java with CGI and CGI only.

        Our hardware systems are hosted at three professionally managed, off-site computer centers in San Jose, California, Oldsmar, Florida and Paris, France. Red Sheriff operates a primary research data center in Melbourne, Australia, as well as eight other data centers worldwide. Backup procedures are built into the processing environment in order to reduce downtime in the event of outages or catastrophic occurrences. Additionally, our data centers provide physical security, climate control, 24 hour a day monitoring services and fire suppression systems to help ensure the security and continued operation of our technology.

COMPETITION

        We believe that the primary competitive factors determining success in our markets include:

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the ability to provide high-quality, accurate and reliable data regarding Internet audience behavior and activity in a timely manner;



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the breadth and depth of the product and services offered and their flexibility and ease of use;



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the availability of data across various geographic areas;



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the ability to offer high-quality analytical services based on the Internet audience measurement information;



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the ability to offer products and services that meet the changing needs of our customers; and



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the prices that are charged for the products and services, as well as the general economic conditions.

        We believe that we compete favorably with respect to each of these factors.

        We face competition in the United States and abroad for each of our products and services. We face direct competition from companies, such as comScore Networks, that provide panel-based Internet measurement services. We also directly compete with numerous providers of site-centric Web analytics solutions, including CoreMetrics, Omniture, NetIQ and WebSideStory. In addition, we face competition from companies that offer survey research capabilities relating to online behavior and activity, such as Harris Interactive, Greenfield Online and NFO. We compete less directly with the providers of syndicated and custom research on Internet behavior and commerce. Finally, we may face increased competition from individual Web sites that develop an independent method of measuring their own audience and from other companies that develop new or alternative audience measurement technologies.

        We expect competition to intensify because of the business opportunities presented by the growth of Internet usage and Internet commerce around the world. Competition may also intensify as a result of industry consolidation, because of technological advancements in the way to measure Internet behavior and activity or because some of our competitors may be able to provide additional or

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complementary services. In addition, some of our current or future competitors may have longer operating histories, larger customer bases and/or greater marketing resources than we have. Increased competition may result in reduced operating margins, loss of market share and diminished value in our services, as well as different pricing, service or marketing decisions.

EMPLOYEES

        As of December 31, 2003, we had 367 full-time employees, including the employees of Red Sheriff. Our employees in the United States are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Outside of the United States, we are subject to extensive regulation with respect to our employees in various jurisdictions. We have never experienced an employment-related work stoppage and consider our employee relations to be good.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

        We make available on our website (http://www.nielsen-netratings.com) under "About Us"—"Investor Relations"—"SEC Filings", free of charge, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such material with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

        Our primary executive offices in the United States are located in New York, New York, where we lease approximately 12,000 square feet, and Milpitas, California, where we lease approximately 30,000 square feet. We also lease office space in Seattle, Washington.

        Outside of the United States, our office space is leased primarily through ACNielsen. Our subsidiary and joint venture companies in France, Japan and Brazil also lease office space in their respective international markets. Red Sheriff also leases office space in the various international markets in which it operates, including Sydney, Melbourne and London.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        Information regarding legal proceedings is set forth in Note 10 of the Notes to Financial Statements under the heading "Litigation" and such information is hereby incorporated by reference.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

        No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2003.

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PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Price Range of Common Stock

        Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "NTRT". The following table sets forth the range of high and low closing sales prices for each period indicated. The prices appearing in the tables below reflect over the counter market quotations, which reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. During the periods indicated, we have not affected any stock split.

Dividend Policy

        We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock and presently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to fund the development and growth of our business and, therefore, do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

Holders of Common Stock

        As of February 27, 2004, there were approximately 81 stockholders of record of our common stock. Because many of our shares are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these record holders.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

        Information for our equity compensation plans in effect as of December 31, 2003, is as follows:

*

Assumed in connection with our acquisition of eRatings in May 2002.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere herein:

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

        We are a leading provider of Internet audience measurement and analysis in the United States and around the world. All of our products and services are designed to assist companies in making critical business decisions regarding their Internet strategies and initiatives. We have a highly diversified and global client base, including large and small companies in the media, technology, advertising, financial services, consumer products, retail and travel industries. As of December 31, 2003, we had approximately 780 clients, excluding the clients acquired as a result of our acquisition of Red Sheriff in December 2003.

        Prior to 2002, we were solely focused on selling our NetView product. Beginning in the first half of 2002, we began to focus on ways to expand our portfolio of products and services in the United States and abroad. At that time, we believed that with the (i) increase in advertiser support for the Internet, (ii) continued proliferation of Internet broadband connections and (iii) expanding impact of online commerce, companies would require a wide variety of media and market research data. In order to provide the most comprehensive product portfolio to address the marketplace needs, we focused on investing in new products and exploring strategic acquisitions in the United States and abroad.

        During 2002 and 2003, as a result of internal product development, we introduced a number of significant new products and services that address specific marketplace needs. These new products and

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services include MegaPanel, WebIntercept, Homescan Online and SiteCensus. These products and services greatly expand our market research capabilities, and these products and services will be important to our performance in 2004 and beyond. In addition to the internal product development, we also began in early 2002 to focus on strategic acquisitions to enhance our product portfolio and to accelerate our growth in international markets. These acquisitions included the following:

•

On April 9, 2002, we acquired substantially all the assets of the AdRelevance online advertising expenditure measurement division of Jupiter Media Metrix Inc. for $8.3 million in cash. The assets acquired include the AdRelevance suite of services and related patent applications, trademarks and copyrights, associated contracts, accounts receivable balances, and related deferred revenue balances.



•

On May 6, 2002, we acquired substantially all the assets related to DoubleClick's @Plan unit for $18.1 million in cash and stock. The assets acquired include the @Plan suite of services and related trademarks and copyrights, associated contracts, accounts receivable balances, and related deferred revenue balances.



•

On May 7, 2002, we acquired, from ACNielsen Corporation, the remaining 80.1% interest in ACNielsen eRatings.com that we did not already own for $9.1 million in stock.



•

Separately on May 7, 2002, we acquired selected assets from Jupiter Media Metrix related to their European Internet audience measurement services for $2 million in cash, allowing us to further expand our global customer base. We also entered into a settlement agreement with Jupiter Media Metrix under which Jupiter Media Metrix agreed to dismiss with prejudice the patent infringement action it filed against us in March 2001. As part of the settlement agreement, we paid Jupiter Media Metrix $15 million in cash and acquired from Jupiter Media Metrix its patents for computer use tracking (United States Patent Nos. 6,115,680 and 5,675,510), related patent applications and all patents issuing from such applications, and related materials.



•

In August 2002, we acquired a 52% interest in NetValue S.A., an international provider of Internet audience services, through direct stock purchases from certain NetValue shareholders. In October 2002, we acquired additional shares of NetValue in a simplified all-cash take-over bid. In the fourth quarter of 2003, NetRatings acquired the remaining assets of NetValue and the company was legally dissolved. The total amount paid for NetValue was approximately $18.1 million in cash and stock.



•

In January 2003, we acquired beneficial ownership of approximately 80% of MMXI Switzerland, a Swiss Internet media and market research company. In April 2003, we acquired beneficial ownership of the remaining 20% of MMXI Switzerland. The total cash paid for MMXI Switzerland was approximately $0.9 million.



•

In July 2003, we acquired the assets and customer contracts of NetCrawling S.A., the developer and marketer of LemonAd, Europe's leading online advertising monitoring service. The total cash paid for NetCrawling S.A. was approximately $0.8 million.



•

In December 2003, we acquired a 58% ownership interest in Red Sheriff Ltd., a global leader in site-centric-based Internet audience measurement for approximately $13.5 million in cash. Subsequently, NetRatings has purchased additional shares of Red Sheriff and, as of March 10, 2004, we owned approximately 97% of the shares of Red Sheriff. The total cash paid for the additional shares was approximately $10.1 million.

        As a result of our internal efforts and our strategic acquisitions, we believe that we currently offer the most comprehensive global portfolio of media research and market research products and services. We also believe that our comprehensive portfolio and breadth of coverage will enable us to continue to

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increase our client base, as well as increase our renewal rates, increase our ability to sell multiple products to clients and increase the total sales to individual clients.

        We currently offer our products and services in the United States and in many countries throughout Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. In France, Japan and Latin America, we have historically offered our NetView service through joint ventures with leading local market research and information services companies. In April 2003, we increased our ownership interest in NetRatings Japan, our Japanese joint venture, from approximately 49% to approximately 58%. The total amount paid for the additional equity in NetRatings Japan was approximately $1.1 million. The remaining ownership interest is held by TransCosmos and other investors. In November 2003, we increased our ownership interest in Mediametrie NetRatings, our French joint venture, from approximately 50% to approximately 66% in exchange for the fair value of customer contracts assigned to Mediametrie NetRatings in 2003 and 2002. The remaining ownership interest is held by Mediametrie. We used the equity method to account for these joint ventures until we obtained majority ownership of them in 2003, after which time we began to consolidate the financial results of both Mediametrie NetRatings and NetRatings Japan. As of December 31, 2003, we held a 49% ownership interest in Ibope eRatings.com, our Latin American joint venture, and the remaining ownership interest was held by Ibope. NetRatings uses the equity method to account for its investment in Ibope eRatings.com. In each of these locations, revenue is allocated between NetRatings and the subsidiary or joint venture company depending on the location of the customer and the location of the panel whose data is used in the service.

        We generate revenues primarily from the sale of our Internet media research and market research products and services. Our products and services include both syndicated products and customized products. We sell a significant majority of our syndicated products and services on an annual subscription basis and bill these clients in advance, typically on an annual or quarterly basis. We recognize revenue from the sale of our syndicated products and services ratably over the term of the subscription agreement. Prepaid subscription fees are recorded as deferred revenue until earned. Revenue from customized products and services is recognized in the period in which the product or service is provided. Therefore, a significant portion of revenue recognized in any period results from the amortization of deferred revenue balances. We also derive a portion of our revenue from royalty payments from our joint venture partners.

        We have a limited operating history upon which investors may evaluate our business prospects. We have incurred net losses since our inception, and as of December 31, 2003, our accumulated deficit was $119.5 million. We expect to continue to invest in enhancing our products and service offerings, including investment in our MegaPanel service. As a result, while our 2003 net loss decreased significantly from 2002, we expect to continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

        Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, our management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to bad debts, investments, income taxes, financing operations, contingencies and litigation. Our management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the result of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

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        Our management believes the following critical accounting policies, among others, affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its financial statements:

Revenue Recognition

        We recognize revenue in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements (SAB 101), as amended by SAB 101A and 101B. SAB 101 requires that four basic criteria must be met before revenue can be recognized: (1) persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services rendered; (3) the fee is fixed and determinable; and (4) collectibility is reasonably assured. Determination of criteria (4) is based on management's judgment regarding the collectibility of those fees. We sell a significant majority of our products and services pursuant to one-year subscription agreements and bill our customers in advance, typically on a quarterly or annual basis. We recognize revenue from the sale of these subscription products and services ratably over the term of the subscription agreement. Prepaid subscription fees are recorded as deferred revenue until earned. If a contract's collectibility comes into question, revenue recognition is discontinued until collectibility is reasonably assured. This determination is based on management's judgment and could adversely affect both revenue and deferred revenue.

Bad Debt

        We manage credit risk on accounts receivable by performing ongoing credit evaluations of our customers, reviewing our accounts and contracts and by providing appropriate allowances for uncollectible amounts. We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to make contractually required payments. If the financial conditions of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. Allowances are based on management's judgment which considers historical experience and specific knowledge of accounts that may not be collectible.

Legal Contingencies

        We are currently involved in certain legal proceedings as discussed in Note 10 of our financial statements. We are required to assess the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes to these matters as well as potential ranges of probable losses, in accordance with FAS 5. A determination of the amount of reserves required, if any, for these contingencies are made after careful analysis of each individual case. Losses are recognized for legal contingencies when they are determined to be both probable of occurrence and the loss can be reasonably estimated. We do not believe the outcomes to these matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position. Nonetheless, it is possible that future results of operations for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected by changes in our assumptions or the effectiveness of our strategy related to these proceedings.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

        We recorded goodwill and intangible assets during 2003 and 2002 in connection with our acquisitions. Valuation of those assets was determined through the use of independent appraisals. Those intangible assets not deemed to have an indefinite life are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which range from 1 to 13 years. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles are not amortized, but are reviewed at least annually for impairment. We performed our annual evaluation of goodwill and intangibles as of October 1, 2003 and no impairment was indicated. We will reassess the carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets each year as of October 1, unless indicators of impairment become apparent earlier.

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Investments

        We hold minority interests in companies having operations or technology in areas within or adjacent to our strategic focus. These entities are non-publicly traded companies whose value is difficult to determine. For those investments accounted for based on the cost method, we record an investment impairment charge when we believe an investment has experienced a decline in value that is other than temporary. We have written off all cost method investments. For those investments accounted for based on the equity method, we reduce our investment in accordance with our equity in each joint venture's loss and record a corresponding loss on joint ventures in our statement of operations. The equity basis is adjusted for any additional capital contributions or commitments. Future adverse changes in market conditions or poor operating results of underlying investments could result in losses or an inability to recover the carrying value of the investments and such amounts that may not be reflected in an investment's current carrying value, thereby possibly requiring an impairment charge in the future.

Results of Operations

        The following table sets forth for the years indicated certain financial data as a percentage of revenue:

        The following table sets forth operating results for each of the four quarters ended December 31, 2003 and 2002:

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Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2002

        Revenue.    We generate revenue primarily from the sale of our Internet audience measurement products and services. We typically sell these services pursuant to one-year subscription agreements and bill our customers in advance, usually on an annual or quarterly basis. We also derive a portion of our revenue from our joint venture partners.

        Revenue increased 39% to $41.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2003 from $29.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. The increase in revenue was primarily due to (i) the acquisitions completed in 2002 for which we recorded revenue in 2002 from their respective acquisition dates and a full year of revenue in 2003; (ii) acquisitions in 2003 for which we have recorded revenue from their acquisition dates; (iii) the full consolidation of the operating results of NetRatings Japan beginning in the second quarter of 2003; (iv) the impact of foreign exchange rates relating to our international revenues; (v) improved renewal rates and increased contract renewal amounts during 2003; and (vi) improved average selling prices and overall client counts during 2003. For the year ended December 31, 2003:

•

our global Internet audience measurement products and services increased to 92% of our revenue as compared to 85% for the year ended December 31, 2002, primarily due to improved contract renewal rates, increased contract renewal amounts, favorable average selling prices and increased client counts;



•

our suite of custom and analytical services comprised 6% of our revenue as compared to 11% for the year ended December 31, 2002; and



•

our international royalties decreased to 2% of our revenue as compared to 4% for the year ended December 31, 2002, primarily due to our increased ownership of NetRatings Japan in April 2003 which eliminated royalty revenue related to NetRatings Japan in our consolidated financial results.

        As of December 31, 2003, approximately 780 customers worldwide subscribed to our products and services, excluding the clients acquired as a result of our acquisition of Red Sheriff, as compared to approximately 750 customers worldwide as of December 31, 2002. Our global contract renewal rate was 74% for the fourth quarter of 2003 compared with a 64% renewal rate for the fourth quarter of 2002. Our global average sales price was $61,000 for the fourth quarter of 2003 compared with $60,000 for the fourth quarter of 2002. During the year ended December 31, 2003, no customer accounted for more than 10% of our revenue.

        Cost of Revenue.    Cost of revenue consists primarily of expenses related to the recruitment, maintenance and support of our Internet audience measurement panels, which are expensed as they are incurred. Cost of revenue also includes data collection costs for our products and services and operational costs related to our data center. Accordingly, such expenses are not matched with any revenue or subscriptions generated in a given period and are higher in periods in which we are involved in significant panel development activities. Also included in cost of revenue are the data acquisition costs related to our joint ventures, which are recognized ratably over the term of the

18

customer's subscription agreement, as the data is provided, as well as the royalty fees associated with certain data partnering agreements.

        Cost of revenue increased 24% to $20.5 million, or 49% of revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2003, from $16.5 million, or 55% of revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2002. The increased cost of revenue was primarily due to (i) recruitment and panel costs related to the expansion of our international MegaPanel and the building of our MegaPanel in the United States; (ii) the impact of foreign exchange rates relating to our international operation