(Broadcasting & Cable) _ The Nielsen-backed Council for Research Excellence will commission a study by Ball State University on media consumption in a digital world teeming with platforms.

The council, comprising research executives, was created last year to manage a $2.5 million fund for ratings research and development. The council got a second $2.5 million infusion from Nielsen earlier this year.

Ball State's Center for Media Design, in concert with consultant Sequent Partners, will scope out the media diets of a sample group, categorizing media exposures across a range of in-home and out-of-home media platforms.

The study could be expanded to a year-long project, said Nielsen.

The ratings company is looking to integrate video measurement across various platforms via its Anytime, Anywhere Media Measurement initiative.