Nielsen ratings scandal widens; Univision executive implicated
Source: Los Angeles Times
Nielsen has widened its investigation into a ratings scandal in Los Angeles and uncovered evidence that a Univision Communications radio executive allegedly has been manipulating the ratings.
On Monday, the measurement giant confirmed that the Los Angeles ratings scandal was larger than the company first thought. Last week, Nielsen sought to downplay the incident by saying there was only one problematic household in Nielsen's audience pool in Los Angeles.
... Nielsen discovered that an executive with Spanish-language media giant Univision Communications had access to Nielsen measurement devices called portable people meters.
... The disclosures rocked Los Angeles' radio community because the ratings manipulation apparently dates back at least a year. That means that Nielsen ratings might have been compromised for some time, disadvantaging radio stations that competed against Univision. Stations use the Nielsen ratings to set their advertising rates. Radio executives previously expressed surprise with the ratings released for April because the Univision station leapfrogged over four other stations to become the top-rated station in the key morning drive-time hours.
Read more: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-nielsen-ratings-scandal-univision-executive-fired-20140616-story.html