JICIMS to restructure after ISBA and IPA withdraw support

The Joint Industry Committee for Internet Measurement Systems (JICIMS) is to restructure after ISBA and the IPA withdrew support.

ISBA and the IPA resigned as JICIMS stakeholders after being unable to commit to the three years of funding that a full JIC model would require, leaving the IAB and the AOP to lead the initiative.

A statement released by the IAB said that ISBA and the IPA “may, however, remain involved in advisory and governance roles as the media owner-led company evolves into a new legal structure”.

It added: “JICIMS Ltd will therefore be renamed ready to continue with the process of moving to a unified online planning currency in the New Year. Both the IAB and AOP have expressed a desire that this new company evolves into a full JIC in the future, when the economic climate can fully support this totally independent approach.”

The move comes after last month’s official summit, called to assess industry support for a unified online measurement system (see JICIMS Summit Gives Green Light To Pursue Online Research Currency).

Mark Cranmer, chairman of JICIMS said: “We’ve covered a lot of ground in the last few months. We now have alignment, agreement and unity from all stakeholder groups over an audience measurement planning system, especially one that expands display advertising from branded products.

“We have also reached agreement that funding this requirement within the conventional company structure of an industry ‘JIC’ will not be possible at this stage of the business cycle. Consequently, the company will now be restructured to continue in the pursuit of delivering to the industry a solution that all parties desire. This clarity and the speed with which we have achieved this is a positive development for the industry, and we intend to finally make things happen in 2009.”

Guy Phillipson, CEO of the IAB, said: “Following the landmark JICIMS stakeholders’ summit, we already know there is substantial support for an alternative to the traditional full JIC. We are now fully committed to delivering an innovative, cost effective solution in 2009.”

IAB: 020 8683 955 www.iabuk.net AOP: www.ukaop.org.uk ISBA: www.isba.org.uk IPA: www.ipa.co.uk