TV Ratings Bill Threatens Nielsen Again

The Television Viewer Protection Bill, introduced in the US last week, is calling for increased regulation of TV ratings methods. The Bill is the latest step in the controversy surrounding Nielsen's local people meter (LPM) ratings system and its coverage of 'people of color'.

The Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives, states that 'inaccurate ratings systems that undercount minority, young, family, and rural television viewers will adversely affect these populations if television operators air fewer telecasts that are intended to serve such viewers'. It appears to ignore a report in April by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which said that 'self-regulation via the Media Rating Council appears to be working' (www.mrweb.com/drno/news3972.htm ) and returns to the kind of language used by Fox Television and the 'Don't Count Us Out' group earlier in the controversy.

Similar to the FAIR Act recently introduced in the Senate (reported at www.mrweb.com/drno/news4257.htm ), the new Bill requires all ratings services to be accredited by the Media Ratings Council (MRC) before data can be sold commercially. Nielsen Media Research has yet to achieve full accreditation from the MRC for its LPM system.

The homepage for Nielsen Media Research is at www.nielsenmedia.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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