Measurement revenues of $644m increased 2.4% on a reported basis, 3.4% on a constant currency basis, and 4.2% on an organic constant currency basis compared to the prior year period. Overall, solid growth was driven by strength in national and digital measurement products in the US and in international markets.

Impact/content revenues of $238m increased 2.6% on a reported basis, 5.8% on a constant currency basis, and 5.4% on an organic constant currency basis compared to the prior year period, largely driven by solid growth in content.

Free cash flow was $192m compared with $190m in the prior year. Free cash flow in the second quarter of 2021 has been adjusted to exclude certain interest costs and to exclude separation-related costs.

Nielsen is being acquired for $16bn by a private equity consortium led by Evergreen Coast Capital Corporation and Brookfield Business Partners. Nielsen’s board of directors voted unanimously to support the acquisition, which equates to a 10% rise on the consortium’s previous proposal and a 60% premium over the firm’s unaffected stock price, as of 11 March this year. 

Commenting on the results, chief executive officer David Kenny said: “Our teams executed well and delivered strong second quarter results despite an increasingly uncertain macroeconomic backdrop.

“As the global media landscape continues to evolve, we are innovating in our client solutions and this includes the tremendous progress we’ve made on Nielsen One, our transformative cross-media solution. As planned, we will bring cross-media ad measurement to market by December 2022 and we’re adding in new features, such as advanced audiences and outcomes measurement, in alignment with the needs of advertisers and agencies.

“We also completed the vast majority of success criteria required for re-accreditation of our US TV ratings services and expect to be ready for a vote by Media Rating Council members later this year. With an unmatched position delivering value to clients worldwide across our three essential solutions, we are executing on our mission to power a better media future for all people.”