Russia to Ban Foreign-Controlled Ratings Firms?

The Russian state duma is to consider amendments to the country's media law which would prohibit all forms of foreign control of audience measurement, according to online reports.

According to 'Broadband TV News', Russian news site Kommersant says the amendments were tabled by LDPR deputy Andrei Lugovoi, and if adopted would come into effect at the beginning of next year. The rules would prohibit companies which are more than twenty percent owned by overseas organisations from carrying out audience measurement projects, unless approved by an international treaty of the Russian Federation.

Irina Shpuntova, TNS Russia Head of Corporate Communications, told DRNO the firm is waiting for more clarity on the report before commenting.