Nielsen investors just got a nice payday. Will the company’s biggest customers benefit financially as well?
The media measurement giant raised eyebrows last week when it agreed to be sold to a private-equity consortium led by Evergreen Coast Capital Corp., an affiliate of activist fund Elliott Management — which has been lobbying for a Nielsen sale — and Brookfield Business Partners. The all-cash deal for 28 per share, or 16 billion, represents a 60 premium over Nielsen’s closing stock price as of March 11.
Now, the nation’s TV networks, which depend on Nielsen’s TV ratings as the basis for billions of dollars in advertising deals, want to be sure they’re going to make more money with the company as well.
Such a prospect hasn’t been certain in recent months. TV networks and their owners have grown disenchanted with Nielsen’s ability to count viewers who may watch their favorite programs via digital means,...
The media measurement giant raised eyebrows last week when it agreed to be sold to a private-equity consortium led by Evergreen Coast Capital Corp., an affiliate of activist fund Elliott Management — which has been lobbying for a Nielsen sale — and Brookfield Business Partners. The all-cash deal for 28 per share, or 16 billion, represents a 60 premium over Nielsen’s closing stock price as of March 11.
Now, the nation’s TV networks, which depend on Nielsen’s TV ratings as the basis for billions of dollars in advertising deals, want to be sure they’re going to make more money with the company as well.
Such a prospect hasn’t been certain in recent months. TV networks and their owners have grown disenchanted with Nielsen’s ability to count viewers who may watch their favorite programs via digital means,...
- 4/5/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Media-measurement mainstay Nielsen said it had agreed to be acquired by a private-equity group for $16 billion after holding out for a higher price than a previous bid.
Nielsen said Tuesday that it would be purchased by a group led by Evergreen Coast Capital Corporation, an affiliate of activist fund Elliott Investment Management L.P., which has been lobbying for a Nielsen sale, and Brookfield Business Partners L.P., in a deal that calls for an all-cash deal of for $28 per share, or $16 billion, including the assumption of debt. Nielsen had previously blocked a sale, saying it did not value the company’s growth prospects properly.
The sale takes place with Nielsen under the media industry’s microscope. TV networks and their owners have grown disenchanted with Nielsen’s ability to count viewers who may watch their favorite programs via digital means, on mobile screens on through streaming video. Nielsen has...
Nielsen said Tuesday that it would be purchased by a group led by Evergreen Coast Capital Corporation, an affiliate of activist fund Elliott Investment Management L.P., which has been lobbying for a Nielsen sale, and Brookfield Business Partners L.P., in a deal that calls for an all-cash deal of for $28 per share, or $16 billion, including the assumption of debt. Nielsen had previously blocked a sale, saying it did not value the company’s growth prospects properly.
The sale takes place with Nielsen under the media industry’s microscope. TV networks and their owners have grown disenchanted with Nielsen’s ability to count viewers who may watch their favorite programs via digital means, on mobile screens on through streaming video. Nielsen has...
- 3/29/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
As Nielsen faces increasing competition to measure TV activity, it’s trying to make more of the data advertisers say they want more readily available.
The media measurement giant is expected as soon as Wednesday to announce it will issue streaming data from connected TV sets, according to two people familiar with the matter. The information, Nielsen is expected to tell clients, will give advertisers, media buyers and media companies more information in their efforts to understand how audiences are behaving across a range of different screens. The new release comes just days after Nielsen sent a letter to clients telling them it intends to make so-called “big data,” that includes more granular measurement of TV audiences, available alongside its traditional measures of total linear viewership by age and gender. And it also comes as Nielsen is wrangling with TV networks over which industry yardstick will be paramount in the coming upfront ad-sales marketplace.
The media measurement giant is expected as soon as Wednesday to announce it will issue streaming data from connected TV sets, according to two people familiar with the matter. The information, Nielsen is expected to tell clients, will give advertisers, media buyers and media companies more information in their efforts to understand how audiences are behaving across a range of different screens. The new release comes just days after Nielsen sent a letter to clients telling them it intends to make so-called “big data,” that includes more granular measurement of TV audiences, available alongside its traditional measures of total linear viewership by age and gender. And it also comes as Nielsen is wrangling with TV networks over which industry yardstick will be paramount in the coming upfront ad-sales marketplace.
- 2/22/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Nielsen will be shining a light on representation by elevating the visibility of diverse-owned media companies and their influence in local markets with advertisers and agencies via its newly launched Diverse Media Equity Program. In collaboration with Procter & Gamble (P&g), Nielsen has created a reimbursement fund with the National Minority Supplier Development Council that will help over 200 diverse-owned media groups receive Minority Business Enterprise certification, frequently requested documentation by larger companies to qualify for diverse investment. Totaling $130,000, the reimbursement program will help cover the certification fees of smaller companies.
“Nielsen is investing in diverse-owned media by getting rid of historical barriers in traditional measurement,” said Nielsen CEO David Kenny in a statement. “Advertisers and the media industry recognize the need to be more inclusive and want to ensure they reach an audience that is increasingly diverse. We are leading the charge to develop a consistent framework and metrics...
“Nielsen is investing in diverse-owned media by getting rid of historical barriers in traditional measurement,” said Nielsen CEO David Kenny in a statement. “Advertisers and the media industry recognize the need to be more inclusive and want to ensure they reach an audience that is increasingly diverse. We are leading the charge to develop a consistent framework and metrics...
- 2/7/2022
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
NBCUniversal is on a quest to find something often believed elusive: a new system of measuring TV audiences who don’t always use traditional television to watch their favorite shows. Rather than go it alone, the company is bringing together a group of allies.
Target, Ford Motor, Citigroup, Pfizer, L’Oreal, Volkswagen and Wayfair are among the entities that have joined a new forum that NBCU expects to brief regularly as it explores new measurement technologies and concepts from more than 80 different companies. The probe is part of a bid to spur the broader media and advertising sector to consider new ways of counting audiences who are just as likely to stream “Law & Order: Svu” and “Saturday Night Live” as they are to watch it in linear fashion.
“Measurement is a team sport and has always been a team sport,” says Kelly Abcarian, executive vice president of measurement and impact...
Target, Ford Motor, Citigroup, Pfizer, L’Oreal, Volkswagen and Wayfair are among the entities that have joined a new forum that NBCU expects to brief regularly as it explores new measurement technologies and concepts from more than 80 different companies. The probe is part of a bid to spur the broader media and advertising sector to consider new ways of counting audiences who are just as likely to stream “Law & Order: Svu” and “Saturday Night Live” as they are to watch it in linear fashion.
“Measurement is a team sport and has always been a team sport,” says Kelly Abcarian, executive vice president of measurement and impact...
- 10/14/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
With Nielsen’s accreditation for measuring national TV ratings about to be suspended, a TV trade association is pushing forward to seek out new ways of measuring audiences. Nielsen itself, meanwhile, has admitted to some shortcomings and is pledging to speed up advancements in its product.
“We’re transforming and improving the services we provide, to ensure we’re better leveraging the best of science, tech, data and human insight,” Nielsen CEO David Kenny wrote in an open letter to the industry. “And we will work directly with the industry to ensure we’re delivering the most accurate measurement of the audience....
“We’re transforming and improving the services we provide, to ensure we’re better leveraging the best of science, tech, data and human insight,” Nielsen CEO David Kenny wrote in an open letter to the industry. “And we will work directly with the industry to ensure we’re delivering the most accurate measurement of the audience....
With Nielsen’s accreditation for measuring national TV ratings about to be suspended, a TV trade association is pushing forward to seek out new ways of measuring audiences. Nielsen itself, meanwhile, has admitted to some shortcomings and is pledging to speed up advancements in its product.
“We’re transforming and improving the services we provide, to ensure we’re better leveraging the best of science, tech, data and human insight,” Nielsen CEO David Kenny wrote in an open letter to the industry. “And we will work directly with the industry to ensure we’re delivering the most accurate measurement of the audience....
“We’re transforming and improving the services we provide, to ensure we’re better leveraging the best of science, tech, data and human insight,” Nielsen CEO David Kenny wrote in an open letter to the industry. “And we will work directly with the industry to ensure we’re delivering the most accurate measurement of the audience....
Updated on Friday, July 10, 2020 at 1:38 p.m. Pt:
Nielsen reversed its decision to postpone its implementation of out-of-home viewing into national ratings data, which is now again scheduled for the fall.
“While gratified by the speed with which Nielsen reversed their postponement plan, it was crystal clear that a quick reversal was Nielsen’s only viable option,” Vab President & CEO Sean Cunningham said in a statement. “Marketers are deep into planning and activation discussions with their multiscreen TV ad sales partners, the last thing advertisers need in 2020 is an unnecessary step backwards from a currency provider. The TV industry’s solidarity in always pushing for innovation made sure that potential delay was eliminated quickly.”
The ratings currency company’s Thursday announcement that it was delaying the implementation of viewership in bars, restaurants, airports and hotels, among other platforms, took networks by surprise. It was also not well-received. Cunningham blasted...
Nielsen reversed its decision to postpone its implementation of out-of-home viewing into national ratings data, which is now again scheduled for the fall.
“While gratified by the speed with which Nielsen reversed their postponement plan, it was crystal clear that a quick reversal was Nielsen’s only viable option,” Vab President & CEO Sean Cunningham said in a statement. “Marketers are deep into planning and activation discussions with their multiscreen TV ad sales partners, the last thing advertisers need in 2020 is an unnecessary step backwards from a currency provider. The TV industry’s solidarity in always pushing for innovation made sure that potential delay was eliminated quickly.”
The ratings currency company’s Thursday announcement that it was delaying the implementation of viewership in bars, restaurants, airports and hotels, among other platforms, took networks by surprise. It was also not well-received. Cunningham blasted...
- 7/10/2020
- by Tony Maglio and Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Despite a pandemic that has forced many Americans to shelter at home, Nielsen will, after all, follow through on its plans to chase TV viewers in bars, hotels and offices.
After meeting with a storm of criticism from TV networks, Nielsen is expected to reverse its recent decision to delay the inclusion of so-called “out of home” viewers in its tabulation of national TV ratings, a sign of just how important counting that audience is to some of the nation’s biggest traditional media companies.
Nielsen held conversations Friday with several senior ad-sales executives at top TV outlets, according to six people familiar with the matter. The media-measurement giant has informed those networks and others it now intends to count out-of-home viewers during the fall season as it had originally planned, these people said. An apology from Nielsen to its clients is expected as part of the discussions, according to three of these people.
After meeting with a storm of criticism from TV networks, Nielsen is expected to reverse its recent decision to delay the inclusion of so-called “out of home” viewers in its tabulation of national TV ratings, a sign of just how important counting that audience is to some of the nation’s biggest traditional media companies.
Nielsen held conversations Friday with several senior ad-sales executives at top TV outlets, according to six people familiar with the matter. The media-measurement giant has informed those networks and others it now intends to count out-of-home viewers during the fall season as it had originally planned, these people said. An apology from Nielsen to its clients is expected as part of the discussions, according to three of these people.
- 7/10/2020
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
ViacomCBS, Walt Disney, Fox and other big TV companies say Nielsen, a company with an audience-measurement technology that usually helps the TV business, is going to hurt it come autumn.
The big U.S. media companies that pay the TV-ratings kingpin millions of dollars in fees every year believe Nielsen’s decision to delay adding so-called “out of home” viewers to its counting of national TV audiences could have a serious effect on the next TV season – at a time when the industry is facing some of its greatest challenge.
“‘Blindsiding’ is perhaps the politest way of characterizing how under-communicated and contradictory this morning’s announced decision from Nielsen was,” said Sean Cunningham, CEO of the Vab, an industry trade group that represents the ad-sales departments of 14 different media companies, in In a letter sent Thursdaay to Nielsen CEO David Kenny. Nielsen’s decision “was received as an extremely Bad Surprise by my industry leaders,...
The big U.S. media companies that pay the TV-ratings kingpin millions of dollars in fees every year believe Nielsen’s decision to delay adding so-called “out of home” viewers to its counting of national TV audiences could have a serious effect on the next TV season – at a time when the industry is facing some of its greatest challenge.
“‘Blindsiding’ is perhaps the politest way of characterizing how under-communicated and contradictory this morning’s announced decision from Nielsen was,” said Sean Cunningham, CEO of the Vab, an industry trade group that represents the ad-sales departments of 14 different media companies, in In a letter sent Thursdaay to Nielsen CEO David Kenny. Nielsen’s decision “was received as an extremely Bad Surprise by my industry leaders,...
- 7/10/2020
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s roundup, Paramount greenlights “68 Whiskey” from Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, and PBS announces the dates for the documentary series celebrating the 50th anniversary of the summer of 1969.
Greenlights
Paramount Network ordered 10 one-hour episodes of “68 Whiskey,” a new scripted comedic drama series from Imagine Television Studios and CBS Television Studios. The dark comedy follows a multicultural mix of men and women deployed as Army medics to a forward operating base in Afghanistan nicknamed “The Orphanage.” Together, they endure a dangerous and Kafkaesque world that leads to self-destructive appetites, outrageous behavior, intense camaraderie and occasionally, a profound sense of purpose. Brian Grazer will serve as an executive producer along with Ron Howard, Imagine Television Group Chairman Francie Calfo, Imagine Television President Samie Kim Falvey, and Roberto Benabib (“Weeds”), who is also set to write. Zion Rubin, the creator of the Israeli television series “Charlie Golf One,” from...
Greenlights
Paramount Network ordered 10 one-hour episodes of “68 Whiskey,” a new scripted comedic drama series from Imagine Television Studios and CBS Television Studios. The dark comedy follows a multicultural mix of men and women deployed as Army medics to a forward operating base in Afghanistan nicknamed “The Orphanage.” Together, they endure a dangerous and Kafkaesque world that leads to self-destructive appetites, outrageous behavior, intense camaraderie and occasionally, a profound sense of purpose. Brian Grazer will serve as an executive producer along with Ron Howard, Imagine Television Group Chairman Francie Calfo, Imagine Television President Samie Kim Falvey, and Roberto Benabib (“Weeds”), who is also set to write. Zion Rubin, the creator of the Israeli television series “Charlie Golf One,” from...
- 4/30/2019
- by Daniel Nissen
- Variety Film + TV
CBS and Nielsen have come to terms on a new contract to use the media-measurement company’s services to count CBS audiences, ending a pricing showdown that had been in effect since the start of the year.
The companies declined to offer financial terms of the new arrangement, but it was widely understood the two clashed over using Nielsen’s services for local-station measurement and the price of a package that did not include such products.
The two companies said Friday that their renewal encompasses a range of services. CBS Television Network, CBS Television Distribution, Showtime Networks, Smithsonian, Pop, CBS Sports Network and CBS’ 27 owned-and-operated local television stations will continue to use Nielsen’s Total Audience measurement services as part of the deal.
“CBS is a longstanding leader in world-class video content. We are thrilled to continue our long partnership with them as we innovate for the future,” said David Kenny,...
The companies declined to offer financial terms of the new arrangement, but it was widely understood the two clashed over using Nielsen’s services for local-station measurement and the price of a package that did not include such products.
The two companies said Friday that their renewal encompasses a range of services. CBS Television Network, CBS Television Distribution, Showtime Networks, Smithsonian, Pop, CBS Sports Network and CBS’ 27 owned-and-operated local television stations will continue to use Nielsen’s Total Audience measurement services as part of the deal.
“CBS is a longstanding leader in world-class video content. We are thrilled to continue our long partnership with them as we innovate for the future,” said David Kenny,...
- 1/12/2019
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
CBS and Nielsen have agreed to terms for a new agreement just under two weeks after the previous deal lapsed at the end of last year, the two companies announced on Friday.
“CBS is a longstanding leader in world-class video content. We are thrilled to continue our long partnership with them as we innovate for the future,” said Nielsen CEO David Kenny.
“We are very pleased with this new agreement we were able to achieve with Nielsen,” said Joe Ianniello, president and acting CEO of CBS Corporation. “It meets our strategic goals, and will allow us to benefit from important advances in measurement as they are rolled out. CBS programming is perennially the most-watched content rated by Nielsen, and there is significant upside ahead as next-generation advertising continues to flourish.”
Also Read: The CBS-Nielsen Deadline Has Come and Gone: What Happens Now?
Terms of the deal were not disclosed but...
“CBS is a longstanding leader in world-class video content. We are thrilled to continue our long partnership with them as we innovate for the future,” said Nielsen CEO David Kenny.
“We are very pleased with this new agreement we were able to achieve with Nielsen,” said Joe Ianniello, president and acting CEO of CBS Corporation. “It meets our strategic goals, and will allow us to benefit from important advances in measurement as they are rolled out. CBS programming is perennially the most-watched content rated by Nielsen, and there is significant upside ahead as next-generation advertising continues to flourish.”
Also Read: The CBS-Nielsen Deadline Has Come and Gone: What Happens Now?
Terms of the deal were not disclosed but...
- 1/12/2019
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
CBS Corp. and Nielsen said late Friday they have reached an agreement for Nielsen to continue providing the company’s networks and stations with national, digital and local audience measurement. The deal resolves an impasse between the two companies that has been ongoing since their previous contract expired December 31.
No terms were disclosed, but the agreement means CBS Television Network, CBS Television Distribution, Showtime Networks, Smithsonian, Pop, CBS Sports Network and CBS’ 27 owned-and-operated local television stations will continue to use Nielsen’s Total Audience measurement services. The previous deal had been pegged at about $120 million a year.
CBS acknowledged last week it had reached an impasse in negotiations, saying the TV ratings service was using market clout to raise prices even as it has been slow to accurately measure different forms of viewing. The company said it would consider turning to alternative measurement services, such as comScore.
Radha Subramanyam, who became Evp,...
No terms were disclosed, but the agreement means CBS Television Network, CBS Television Distribution, Showtime Networks, Smithsonian, Pop, CBS Sports Network and CBS’ 27 owned-and-operated local television stations will continue to use Nielsen’s Total Audience measurement services. The previous deal had been pegged at about $120 million a year.
CBS acknowledged last week it had reached an impasse in negotiations, saying the TV ratings service was using market clout to raise prices even as it has been slow to accurately measure different forms of viewing. The company said it would consider turning to alternative measurement services, such as comScore.
Radha Subramanyam, who became Evp,...
- 1/12/2019
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
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