Nielsen Signs Landmark NBC Contract

Nielsen Media Research and NBC Universal have announced the signing of a seven-year contract for audience measurement services covering all of NBC Universal's national and local television businesses, the largest ever of its kind.

The deal includes the NBC Television Network, NBC Enterprises / NBC Universal Domestic Television, Telemundo, the cable networks Bravo, CNBC and MSNBC, USA Network, and SCI FI Channel, the 13 NBC-owned-and-operated television stations, and the 11 Telemundo television stations.

A letter of intent to enter into discussions for such a contract was announced as long ago as February 20, 2003: it was finally signed on Wednesday November 17th in New York by Alan Wurtzel, President, Research and Media Development for NBC Universal, and by Susan D. Whiting, President and CEO of Nielsen Media Research.

NBC Universal has simultaneously agreed to support the expansion of Nielsen's National People Meter Sample from just over 6,000 households at present to an effective size of nearly 10,000 when all elements of the expansion plan are complete.

According to Wurzel, the contract gives NBC 'value, continuity and quality assurance... With NBC's expanded portfolio of broadcast and cable properties, we wanted to ensure a consistent standard of research throughout all of our business units'.

Whiting says the agreement reflects NMR's commitment to everyone at NBC, both to deliver the highest quality estimates every day, and to ensure investment in 'the right technology, the right methodology, the right partnerships, and the right people'. She adds 'We are delighted that Nielsen was able to respond to NBC's need for a more holistic approach to their businesses. Highly diversified media companies require comprehensive access to a broad spectrum of audience research information. Limitations on how individual business units may use vital information can impede growth'.

NBC and Nielsen will also continue and enhance their collaboration on the engineering front, as new digital distribution systems come to the market. NBC has agreed to implement the digital encoding system for Nielsen's new Active/Passive metering system, to be introduced in 2005. In sample homes, the A/P Meter will identify programs, stations and networks from electronic codes embedded in programs at the distribution source.

Nielsen Media Research is part of the VNU Media Measurement & Information Group and is online at www.nielsenmedia.com . NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal, with a web site at www.nbc.com

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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