Kantar to Shut Down Philippines TV Ratings Service

Update: as of 5th October the closure has been halted and 'most' of the 50 jobs discussed below will be saved. The original article follows.

Kantar is shutting down its Philippines TV ratings service at the end of the year, following the closure of its biggest client, commercial television and new media network ABS-CBN.

The move will result in Kantar having to lay off around 50 employees.

The renewal of ABS-CBN's 25-year broadcasting franchise was rejected by the Philippine Congress after news coverage allegedly critical of Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte's administration. In response, Kantar MD Jay Bautista (pictured) explained to staff in a memo that the division, comprising 50 employees, would close in three phases - fourteen employees to be let go by October 2nd, ten by November 1st, and 26 by December 31st.

'We regret to inform you that due to the closure of the business of one of our most valued clients, wherein 90% of the revenue comes from said client, the company is constrained to close its Media Division effective December 31st, 2020,' Bautista said in the memo.

In a statement, a Kantar spokesperson added that all other Kantar offerings and services in the Philippines would continue as normal.

Web site: www.kantar.com .