Boston - Compete Inc., a provider of online market survey services, has been acquired by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), a U.K.-based provider of market information and analysis, for $75 million in cash.

New York - The ongoing strike being waged by the Writers Guild of America, over DVD and Internet payments for their works from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), has not yet had an impact on the viewing habits of 74% of Americans, according to a new survey from market research firm TNS. The survey found that only 22% of Americans are watching significantly less TV than they were before the strike commenced in November.

New York - Nearly 16% of U.S. Internet households watch TV broadcasts online, double the number that did a year ago, according to a report issued on Monday by market research firms The Conference Board and TNS.

Los Angeles - More than 70% of Americans ages 15-34 are actively using online social networks, spending on average more than seven hours per week on such websites and driving the growth of overall time spent online, according to a report commissioned by MySpace, Isobar and Carat USA and conducted by market research firms TRU, TNS and Marketing Evolution.