Nielsen: Keep Politics Out of Ratings

In the latest exchange of the long-running controversy surrounding PPMs, LPMs and their supposed under-representation of certain groups, Nielsen have issued a statement responding to Fox Television's appeal for government regulation of television ratings.

The statement reads as follows:

'Fox's desire for government intervention is a strange and self-serving plea from an organization that constantly uses its media outlets to rail against regulation. Nielsen and the overwhelming majority of its clients see no need for additional government involvement in this business. For more than 50 years, Nielsen has been an independent ratings service with no ties to the programming it measures, and it would be a mistake to introduce politics into what must remain a scientific, unbiased process.

'We were pleased today that representatives of both the Senate and the House acknowledged that local people meters are an improvement over handwritten paper diaries in measuring TV ratings. We were particularly heartened that Congresswoman Maxine Waters said she is 'delighted' that Nielsen has proceeded with the LPM roll-out, that Senator Barbara Boxer said she is 'very reluctant to throw Big Brother into the mix', and that Senator Conrad Burns said there was no need for legislation.

'Clearly it is the view of the Committee that the private sector should work out any issues related to TV ratings and we are fully committed to working within the media industry to resolve any outstanding issues, just as we have in the past'.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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