NEW YORK, NY - November 29, 2010 - Women at NBCU, NBC Universal’s female-targeted ad sales, marketing and research initiative, unveiled the October results for its new monthly brand index, the most comprehensive marketplace measure of the brands most important to women. The data underscores that technology is a hot topic among women, with seven technology brands making the top 25, including Verizon, AT&T, iPhone, Microsoft, Sprint, Samsung and Droid.

For the month of September, the following consumer brands made the top 25:

1) Walmart 2) Target 3) Verizon 4) eBay 5) Coca-Cola 6) Ford 7) AT&T

8) iPhone 9) Pepsi 10) iPod 11) McDonald’s 12) Honda 13) Bank of America

14) Toyota 15) Comcast 16) Sprint 17) Netflix 18) Sears 19) Microsoft 20) Tylenol

21) Samsung 22) Amazon.com 23) Dodge 24) Kohl’s 25) Droid

This proprietary index analyzes 500 brands and is based on a compilation of online search data from Compete, social media buzz data from New Media Strategies, as well person-to-person conversations tracked by Keller Fay Group.

Just in time for the holiday season, Amazon’s Kindle was the biggest month-to-month mover on the index, catapulting 216 spots from #386 to #170. This jump coincided with Amazon’s October announcement of several new Kindle features—part of the “Buy Once, Read Everywhere” campaign—allowing consumers to transport content from the Kindle to other devices such as the iPad.  The Kindle also took the iPad head-on, with a commercial seemingly directed towards women, which debuted in September. The ad points out that the Kindle is less expensive and more readable than the iPad in direct sunlight. Click here to view the spot: http://bit.ly/fdmVdI.

Verizon moved up a spot to #3, coinciding with its marketing campaign for the iPad, which began selling in its company stores in October. Verizon also helped the Motorola Droid break into the top 25, with the announcement that it would begin selling the new Android-powered device in mid-November. Similarly, AT&T climbed up one spot to #7, after it started carrying the iPad in stores in October.

“Women can no longer be typecast as the simply ‘chief household officer,’” said Tony Cardinale, SVP of Strategic Insights for the Women & Lifestyle Entertainment Networks. “Today’s women are also the ‘big ticket purchasers.’ The fact that technology brands and car manufacturers represent nearly half of the top 25 brands on this month’s index is significant evidence of that.”

Cause marketing continues to be a major driver of brand buzz among women. Toys’R’Us, #67 on the index, claimed the #1 spot in the “kids retail” sub-category after announcing a $50,000 donation in gift cards to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help fund shopping sprees. Walgreens also secured the top spot in the “general retail” sub-category, moving up 19 spots to #27 overall -- as it announced the donation of  $1.1 million to pharmacy schools across the country.

Hershey’s benefitted from its cause campaign—in addition to Halloween. Back on the Index at #122 after a month hiatus, the confectioner kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with their Bliss Chocolates as the presenting sponsor of the seventh annual YSC Tour de Pink, a four-day, 220-mile bike ride benefitting Young Survival Coalition.

Other brands also benefitted from exposure in television commercials. Lincoln made the Index for the first time at #59, getting a big boost from their new car commercial with actor John Slattery from Mad Men, which launched October 1^st in the Ryder Cup broadcast. Dominos moved up 103 spots, after releasing its new “Focus Group” spot on October 21^st. The ad depicts a focus group of consumers who are shocked to learn that Domino’s uses real milk from a farm to make their cheese.

Interestingly, the “consistent climbers” on the index, moving up every month since July, are mainly comprised of food, beverage and supermarket brands – perhaps a reflection of the larger cultural focus on nutrition and family health.  Diet Pepsi, Dunkin’ Donuts, 7Up, Pillsbury, Olive Garden and Kroger are included in this group.

About Women At NBCU: Launched in May 2008, Women at NBCU is a powerful combination of media assets reaching women across multiple platforms. This ad sales, marketing and research initiative creates custom solutions for advertisers to connect with female consumers via NBC Universal's wide portfolio, including Oxygen, iVillage, Bravo, "Green is Universal," “TODAY,” as well as other female-skewing shows such as "The Biggest Loser." With its television, digital, and new media platforms, NBC Universal reaches 95% of U.S. women per month. Some recent Women at NBCU clients include Pepsi, Procter & Gamble, General Mills and Kodak.

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Press Contact: Hilary Smith, hilary.smith@nbcuni.com, 212/664-2617