Paramount Has 'No Deal on Nielsen Ratings from Tomorrow'

Media group Paramount Global has indicated to staff that it may fail to reach a TV ratings agreement with Nielsen, according to reports which say existing arrangements come to an end tonight.

Sources quoted in media news source Variety said Paramount has told ad sales staff and execs at media buying agency partners that the current ratings deal - ending tonight September 30th - has no successor in place and the parties 'remain far apart on pricing'. Paramount operates channels such as CBS, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon, and is in the process of being acquired by Skydance Media - one reason why execs are looking at costs and balking at apparent price hikes, according to the sources.

According to Variety, in a recent letter to media agencies John Halley, President of Paramount ad sales stated: 'Nielsen is insisting on substantial price increases across all their products, including linear measurement, despite the changing economic landscape of our industry. Nielsen's costs as a percentage of Paramount ad revenue have quintupled over significant parts of our business over the last years; in certain instances, Nielsen's fees already exceed the total advertising revenue of the network being measured. This has led us to conclude that the model, as proposed, is not workable, and that the cost structure requires re-engineering'. However Halley also says that 'Disengaging from Nielsen is not our first choice, and we remain hopeful for a resolution'. During any break in Nielsen ratings, the company will reportedly rely on data from VideoAmp.

Paramount Global and Nielsen have (naturally) declined to comment on the reports thus far. Web sites are at www.nielsen.com and www.paramount.com .