RealNetworks recently announced new, independent* third party test results in which consumers preferred RealVideo 9 over Windows Media 9 by a ratio of 4:1. Note that in the press release, RealNetworks marketing people meant to say Windows Media Video 9, and not some other video codec supported by Windows Media 9.
(*Yes, RealNetworks paid the testing facility. Yes, the graphs are sooo in RealNetworks favor to the point that it’s difficult to take them seriously.) Link