Nielsen Audio has re-iterated its station client guidelines to avoid ratings distortion.
The action comes in light of the audience research firm’s lawsuit alleging Bubba the Love Sponge paid at least one PPM panelist to influence his show ratings estimates.
In a memo from EVP & Managing Director for Local Media Matt O’Grady reminds clients that Nielsen developed Media Affiliation and Rating Distortion guidelines in cooperation with radio broadcasters, advertisers, and other industry groups.
Specifically, the company reiterates that owners should remind their personnel that efforts to gain control over a meter, diary or a Nielsen research participant may result in that station being removed from the ratings estimates for that market.
Should someone from a station learn the identity of a panelist or diarykeeper, the individual must tell Nielsen immediately.
Stations are reminded not to contact Nielsen PPM panelists or diary keepers at all, including via social media.
