Advertisers' Top-Ranked Media Company Is ... Google

Google earned higher marks from marketers and ad agencies than any other media company last year, according to the latest annual Advertiser Perceptions research, offering traditional media a discouraging note as they wade into 2013.

ABC was the highest-rated overall media company in 2011, preceded by Meredith Corp., the publisher of Ladies' Home Journal, in 2010. "This is the first time that a digital-media company has made it to the top," said Ken Pearl, CEO of Advertiser Perceptions. Advertiser Perceptions surveys thousands of agencies and marketers every spring and fall to come up with insights for media sellers. The good news for traditional publishers is that one of their own, the Meredith Women's Network, ranked highest among digital ad networks for sales knowledge. Several of the top-ranked websites for digital content were also rooted in traditional media: ESPN.com for brand strength, Economist.com for customer service and People.com for advertiser satisfaction, according to the research.