mindline media

What mindline media does

mindline media is a Berlin-based, privately held German media research firm founded in 2007 by Dieter Storll and operating as the research brand within the mindline-Gruppe. It conducts media, brand, and communication research for German public broadcasters (ARD, ZDF, Deutschlandradio, SWR), media regulatory authorities (Die Medienanstalten, BLM, mabb), and select commercial clients, with a team of approximately 6–10 core researchers whose experience spans forsa, GfK, Viacom, and Goldmedia.

The firm's product portfolio combines traditional quantitative (CATI/CAWI) and qualitative research methods with AI- and computer-vision-enhanced analytical instruments. Proprietary tools include 'Talk to your Persona' (AI-driven persona simulation for concept testing), SODA (a cross-device SVoD streaming-measurement system), Facial Coding / Implicit Emotion Measurement (computer-vision analysis of micro-expressions for adults and children), and TIM© (Structural Equation Modeling applied to advertising effectiveness). It maintains dedicated panels such as the Kids Echo Panel (250+ children, grades 3–8) and executes flagship tracking studies including Video Trends (3,000+ respondents), Zusammenhaltsstudie (1,300+ respondents), Online-Audio-Monitor, Kinder Medien Monitor, and miniKIM.

Revenue is generated through commissioned custom research projects for media institutions and recurring tracking studies (such as SODA streaming charts published monthly in MEEDIA) on project-based pricing with multi-year contract cadences. The go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct relationships with research directors and communications managers at German media organizations, supplemented by conference presentations and trade-press thought leadership. The firm has not raised external institutional capital and remains under founder ownership, with Dr. Mathias Wierth joining as Managing Director in 2016.

Name

mindline media

Legal name

mindline media

Website

https://mindline-media.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

mindline media is a Berlin-based German media research firm providing custom research, AI-enhanced analytics, and longitudinal studies on audience behavior, brand effectiveness, and media consumption for public broadcasters, regulators, and select commercial clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Research Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Audience Measurement & Media Research (Ratings, Attribution, Media Mix Insights) (MPAAALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fieldwork & Data Collection (Online Panels, CATI/CAPI, Fieldwork) (MPAAALAD), Media Measurement, Attribution & Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM) Services (MPAAABAN)

Keywords

• Media research
• Audience research
• Advertising effectiveness
• Brand research
• Market research

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Research Studies: Tailored research projects for media companies, broadcasters, advertisers, and public institutions. Includes media brand research, format testing, audience analysis, campaign effectiveness measurement, and content optimization studies.
2. Tracking Studies: Ongoing tracking services including advertising pretesting, brand tracking, and streaming metrics (SODA streaming charts published monthly in MEEDIA).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

mindline media is a specialized media, brand, and communications research firm that delivers custom research projects and recurring tracking studies for public broadcasters, streaming platforms, advertisers, and media regulators. The company combines quantitative methods (CATI, CAWI surveys) with qualitative approaches (ethnographic studies, group discussions) and AI-supported analytics (Facial Coding, SODA streaming analytics, Talk to your Persona, TIM©) to provide evidence-based decision foundations for content, brand, and campaign strategy. Flagship offerings include the Kinder Medien Monitor, Video Trends, Online-Audio-Monitor, miniKIM, the Zusammenhaltsstudie, and the Kids Echo Panel for youth media research.

Product overview

mindline media is a specialized media research company offering a comprehensive portfolio of research methodologies and ongoing studies. The portfolio centers on AI-powered tools like 'Talk to your Persona' for interactive persona-based research, implicit emotion measurement via Facial Coding (for adults and children), and SODA for streaming analytics. Key research studies include Video Trends, Kinder Medien Monitor, Online-Audio-Monitor (OAM), and miniKIM. The company combines quantitative methods (CATI, CAWI surveys) with qualitative approaches (ethnographic studies, group discussions) and AI-supported analytics to provide decision-making foundations for communication, content, and brand management. Services range from advertising pretests (TV/radio spots, print) to campaign tracking and brand effectiveness measurement via TIM©.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SODA (STREAMING ON DEMAND ANALYTICS): Streaming measurement tool providing SVoD measurement based on actual usage across all devices, in-home and out-of-home, using a representative panel in Germany and other countries
• Kids Echo Panel
• Talk to your Persona
• TIM (Touchpoint Impact Measurement)

Products and services

• Talk to your Persona AI-based tool that creates evidence-based personas from segmented and validated typologies, enabling interactive chat-based exchanges with AI persona representatives to gather feedback on content, advertising concepts, themes, and stimuli, with servers located in Germany under strict data protection guidelines.
• Kids Echo Panel Proprietary research panel of over 250 children from grades 3-8, nationally personally recruited in Germany, providing rapid feedback on content concepts, storyboards, pilots, and dummies via overnight reporting or during development processes.
• Facial Coding / Implizite Emotionsmessung (Implicit Emotion Measurement) Exact, passive, and implicit measurement of facial micro-expressions to capture, evaluate, and analyze short, unconscious emotional reactions to stimuli, providing detailed emotional reception profiles for adult audiences.
• Facial Coding / Implizite Emotionsmessung bei Kindern Implicit emotion measurement via Facial Coding adapted for children who cannot capture or verbalize their emotions, evaluating moving image content in natural contexts.
• SODA (Streaming On Demand Analytics) SVoD measurement platform based on actual usage across all devices, in-home and out-of-home, using a representative panel in Germany and other countries, with TV-research-style metrics. Monthly streaming charts are published in MEEDIA.
• Touchpoint Impact Measurement (TIM©) Structural Equation Modeling methodology that measures direct and indirect effects of various influence factors on target variables (sympathy, image, purchase intent, usage), quantifying advertising efficiency through causal influence analysis.
• Video Trends Annual study conducted for German media authorities tracking video usage developments and TV/video distribution pathways, using a mixed-method approach combining quantitative surveys (3,000+ respondents) with qualitative research (autographic documentation and group discussions).
• Kinder Medien Monitor Comprehensive study of children's media usage (ages 4-13) examining hearing, viewing, gaming, and reading across all areas, with reach measurements for over 20 print magazines; described as the only countable market-media study of its kind in Germany.
• Online-Audio-Monitor (OAM) Population-representative study using mixed-method approach (CATI & CAWI) on usage of webradio, music streaming, audiobooks, and podcasts in Germany, with joint project partners including BLM, mabb, LFK, Landesanstalt für Medien NRW, BVDW, VAUNET, and RMS.
• miniKIM Study on media usage by toddlers (ages 2-5) conducted for Medienpädagogischer Forschungsverbund Südwest (mpfs), examining how the youngest children interact with books, radio, television, internet, and streaming.
• Zusammenhaltsstudie (Cohesion Study) Study on societal cohesion and the contribution of public broadcasting, surveying 1,300+ representative persons aged 14+ on indicators for and against social cohesion, attitudes toward democracy, and expectations of public media.
• Online-Pilot-/Formattests (Online Pilot/Format Tests) Online pretesting service for pilot content and formats to evaluate effectiveness and audience response for media companies and advertisers.
• Radiospot-Pretests (Radio Spot Pretests) Pre-testing methodology for radio advertising spots to measure and optimize advertising effectiveness before full campaign launch.
• Twitch-Meinungsbildungsstudie (Twitch Opinion Formation Study) Study conducted for SWR examining Twitch's role in political opinion formation and societal participation, surveying 1,200+ users aged 14-40 on gaming platform's potential for political discourse.

Quantifiable outcome

• SODA streaming charts published monthly in MEEDIA
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ARDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-commissioned Zusammenhaltsstudie 2025 - A nationally representative study on societal cohesion and the contribution of public broadcasting. Over 1,300 respondents surveyed.
• ZDFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-commissioned Zusammenhaltsstudie 2025 - Partnership in public broadcasting cohesion research study.
• DeutschlandradiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-commissioned Zusammenhaltsstudie 2025 - Partnership in public broadcasting cohesion research study.
• Die MedienanstaltencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Video Trends 2025 conducted for the second consecutive year - Study on moving image usage and TV/video transmission pathways in Germany. Quantitative survey of 3,000+ respondents plus qualitative research.
• SWRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Commissioned study on societal participation and political opinion formation on Twitch. 1,200+ users aged 14-40 surveyed on gaming platform's potential for political discourse.
• Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (BLM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint project partner in Online-Audio-Monitor 2025 - population-representative study on web radio, music streaming, audiobooks, and podcasts usage.
• Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg (mabb)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint project partner in Online-Audio-Monitor 2025 study on online audio consumption patterns.
• Landesanstalt für Medien NRWcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint project partner in Online-Audio-Monitor 2025 study on online audio consumption.
• BVDW (Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Industry partner in Online-Audio-Monitor 2025, providing industry perspective on digital audio market.
• VAUNET (Verband Privater Medien)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Industry partner in Online-Audio-Monitor 2025 representing private media sector interests.
• RMScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Industry partner in Online-Audio-Monitor 2025, contributing to radio media research.
• AD AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Study on children's advertising creation and spot design presented at Kinderwelten 2025. Research with 32 children on effective advertising for youth audiences.
• MEEDIAminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025SODA streaming charts published monthly in MEEDIA, providing industry visibility and media coverage for mindline media streaming analytics.
• Medienpädagogischer Forschungsverbund Südwest (mpfs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024miniKIM 2023 study on media usage of children aged 2-5. mindline media conducted the study after 2020, providing research expertise and consulting.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Norstat: European data collection and research firm with strong panel-based media and audience research capabilities across the Nordics and DACH region. Comparable as a European mid-sized research specialist that competes with mindline media for panel-driven, multi-country media research briefs.
• Toluna: Global online panel and consumer intelligence firm offering agile survey research, qualitative research, and AI-enabled insight tools. Comparable because it provides panel-based custom media and brand research for advertisers and platforms, with a tech-enabled approach similar to mindline media's AI-augmented tools.
• Verian: Research and evidence-based advisory firm (formerly Kantar Public) with strong public-sector and communications research practices. Comparable because it serves public institutions with social and media research, and competes for the same kind of public-broadcaster effectiveness briefs mindline media addresses.
• Goldmedia: Berlin-based media research and consulting firm focused on digital media markets, streaming, and audience trends. Directly comparable because it provides media-market analysis and consulting to German broadcasters, platforms, and regulators — and is the firm where Managing Director Dr. Mathias Wierth previously worked.
• forsa: German market and social research firm with strong media and political research practices. Directly comparable because it serves broadcasters, regulators, and public-sector clients with CATI/CAWI panels and bespoke research — and is the firm where founder Dieter Storll previously led media research.

Broad incumbents

• Ipsos: Global market and media research firm with a significant German media-research practice. Comparable because it offers syndicated audience measurement, brand and advertising effectiveness, and custom media studies — directly competing with mindline media on large tenders while also offering broader portfolio capabilities.
• GfK: Historic German consumer and media research firm (now part of the Ipsos group) with deep panel-based audience measurement and consumer intelligence offerings. Comparable as a long-standing German incumbent whose media panels and effectiveness tools compete head-to-head with mindline media's bespoke methodology.
• Nielsen: Global audience measurement and media analytics firm, best known for TV ratings and increasingly streaming measurement. Comparable as the dominant cross-platform audience measurement incumbent whose SVoD and advertising intelligence offerings compete most directly with SODA.
• Kantar: Global research firm with established media and audience measurement practices (including Kantar Media). Comparable as a broad incumbent whose brand tracking, advertising effectiveness, and audience panels overlap directly with TIM©, SODA, and bespoke effectiveness work.

Emerging players

• quantilope: Tech-enabled consumer and brand insights platform offering automated, AI-augmented survey and concept-testing research. Comparable as an emerging player applying AI to market research workflows — a competitive vector that mirrors mindline media's 'Talk to your Persona' positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mindline-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about mindline media