Yes. I remember people calling the papers around my area as the Akron Reekin' Urinal, The Pain Dealer/the Plain Squealer and the Cleveland Pest and in Florida waaaaaaaay back in the 60s the Saint Petersburg Whines. And the little local area newspapers where residents said "If you blow your nose on a remote street corner, there'll be a story about it in the next week's edition." Turns out they weren't that far off. The shit hit the fan when the town started up it's own ambulance service because the funeral home was getting upset about having to transport LIVE patients to the hospital. [Regardless of the fact that the hospital they took them to didn't have a sterling reputation and more than likely they'd be hauling the previously live body back to the funeral home the next day] The paper started printing names/addresses and why the ambulance was sent there, i.e. "Ambulance was sent to 123 Bugaboo Lane, residence of Bambi Whatshername for a call of several small farm animals lodged in their teenage son's backside". Their excuse was "It's a taxpayer funded service so we have the right to ask where/how/why they were sent there". Disabused of that notion rather quickly with threats of lawsuits. Long before HIPPA laws were on the books. Paper is now kaput.
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Cumulus Sues Nielsen over Ratings Monopoly
- Thread starter RadioGuy1864
- Start date
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
There, I understand and sympathize completely.
(TBH, I had forgotten the exact timeline myself and had to go look it up.)
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
Back to the original topic: Inside Radio reports that Cumulus has made a request to "fast track" discovery in the case and wants a preliminary injunction before new advertising and content contracts are signed in the next couple of months.
Needless to say, Nielsen doesn't object to the injunction but wants limits on discovery before same.
www.insideradio.com
(Apologies to Lance for having to link to a competitor for this.)
Needless to say, Nielsen doesn't object to the injunction but wants limits on discovery before same.
Cumulus Seeks Fast-Track Discovery In Antitrust Case Against Nielsen.
Cumulus Media is asking a federal judge to fast-track discovery in its antitrust lawsuit against Nielsen, saying it needs evidence before year’s end to prevent “irreparable harm” to its national
(Apologies to Lance for having to link to a competitor for this.)
Nielsen is claiming that Cumulus is waging "lawfare:"
www.insideradio.com
So that's their defense? It seems like they're helping the Cumulus case by admitting they're a monopoly.
Nielsen Accuses Cumulus Of Waging ‘Lawfare’ In Ratings Dispute.
Nielsen is accusing Cumulus Media of waging “lawfare,” using antitrust claims to pressure better pricing in what it calls a routine contract dispute. In a filing opposing fast-track discovery, Nielsen
So that's their defense? It seems like they're helping the Cumulus case by admitting they're a monopoly.
Here's an article previewing the upcoming monopoly case:
radioink.com
I wonder how this affects independent networks, such as Compass, United Stations, SkyView, and Local Radio Networks.
The first hearing is set for December 8.
Cumulus and Nielsen Set the Stage for Antitrust Court Battle - Radio Ink
Cumulus and Nielsen trade arguments ahead of a December 8 hearing over the legality and impact of Nielsen’s radio ratings policy.
radioink.com
I wonder how this affects independent networks, such as Compass, United Stations, SkyView, and Local Radio Networks.
The first hearing is set for December 8.
Nielsen will cave and settle with Cumulus before it gets to a trial. They won't dare risk actually losing an antitrust case.
i wonder how many TV Networks have consider joining in this lawsuit over Nielsen's new ratings system that went into effect earlier this fall.
Here is some of what Nielsen is saying in the Cumulus lawsuit.
www.insideradio.com
In other words, Nielsen is playing the deflection defense. It's not about us, it's about them.
Seems to me, just as an observer, that Nielsen is saying they don't do national ratings. But then what is this "tying policy?"
And how do they handle national ratings for TV? Is it different for radio?
Nielsen Tells Judge Cumulus Is Weaponizing The Courts For Half-Off Ratings Deal.
Nielsen urged a New York federal judge to deny Cumulus Media’s bid for emergency contract relief, writing Cumulus wants renewal at 50% lower pricing Nielsen “never offered” and “cannot” sustain.
In other words, Nielsen is playing the deflection defense. It's not about us, it's about them.
Seems to me, just as an observer, that Nielsen is saying they don't do national ratings. But then what is this "tying policy?"
And how do they handle national ratings for TV? Is it different for radio?
I can't remember whether I asked this here, but the site I was told to go to for ratings now has Eastlan, whatever that is. I selected that by mistake and was surprised by how many more stations had listeners, including stations outside the markets.
A federal judge has granted Cumulus an injunction against Nielsen:
radioink.com
www.insideradio.com
barrettmedia.com
Federal Court Freezes Nielsen Network Policy in Antitrust Battle - Radio Ink
A federal judge has granted Cumulus Media a preliminary injunction blocking Nielsen from enforcing its contested Network Policy and limiting how the ratings provider can price its national radio ratings product.
radioink.com
Judge Sides With Cumulus, Blocking Ratings Bundling Policy And Setting 2026 Rate Cap.
A federal judge has granted Cumulus Media a preliminary injunction against Nielsen, blocking its Network Policy in contract talks and setting a 2026 Nationwide rate benchmark tied to what Nielsen
Cumulus Media Scores Landmark Victory Over Nielsen
“The ruling signals a potential shift in the power dynamics of audience measurement.”
barrettmedia.com
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It really only pertains to national radio ratings, not local.
More information on the judge's decision to grant Cumulus an injunction:
radioink.com
Judge Cites Nielsen 'Coercion' in Granting Cumulus Injunction - Radio Ink
In a 47-page ruling, Judge Vargas found “coercion” at the heart of Nielsen’s Network Policy, granting Cumulus Media a preliminary injunction.
radioink.com
Some analysis on the court ruling in the Nielsen suit from Dr. Cohen:
barrettmedia.com
What he's saying could really pose a problem for companies looking to do "national" radio.
My question is why can't we get a situation similar to Mediabase and Luminate? In that case, Luminate uses Mediabase data but presents it using its own metrics. Thus, if Nielsen can't make money doing national radio ratings, maybe another company, using Nielsen data, can.
Is Nielsen Willing to Burn Nationwide Ratings to Save Its Margins?
"We’ve seen the first crack in a 60-year reign of radio audience measurement."
barrettmedia.com
What he's saying could really pose a problem for companies looking to do "national" radio.
My question is why can't we get a situation similar to Mediabase and Luminate? In that case, Luminate uses Mediabase data but presents it using its own metrics. Thus, if Nielsen can't make money doing national radio ratings, maybe another company, using Nielsen data, can.
Things are getting even uglier in the Nielsen-Cumulus lawsuit:
www.insideradio.com
Nielsen Claims Cumulus Gave ‘Crown Jewel’ Ratings Data To Eastlan.
Nielsen has escalated its legal fight with Cumulus Media, accusing the broadcaster of secretly sharing Nielsen’s confidential radio ratings “crown jewels” with rival Eastlan while still under contract. In a
Related to this is that Cumulus has been looking for an alternative to Nielsen. They seem to have found one via AI:
radioink.com
Earlier this week, it was reported that some stations are using DTS AutoStage as another source.
dts.com
However, this form of audience tracking is private, and won't be publicly released like the Nielsen 6+ numbers. It's all internal.
Cumulus Expands Local Market Research for Sales Teams - Radio Ink
Cumulus Media is building out an alternative intelligence layer for its sales teams, announcing partnerships with The Media Audit and TOMA.Solutions.
radioink.com
Earlier this week, it was reported that some stations are using DTS AutoStage as another source.
AutoStage - DTS
The only global in-vehicle infotainment platform designed for an immersive and unified media experience.
However, this form of audience tracking is private, and won't be publicly released like the Nielsen 6+ numbers. It's all internal.
That's one way of putting an end to all those posts insisting that 6+ numbers mean something, and all those follow-up posts explaining that they don't.Related to this is that Cumulus has been looking for an alternative to Nielsen. They seem to have found one via AI:
Cumulus Expands Local Market Research for Sales Teams - Radio Ink
Cumulus Media is building out an alternative intelligence layer for its sales teams, announcing partnerships with The Media Audit and TOMA.Solutions.
Earlier this week, it was reported that some stations are using DTS AutoStage as another source.
AutoStage - DTS
The only global in-vehicle infotainment platform designed for an immersive and unified media experience.
However, this form of audience tracking is private, and won't be publicly released like the Nielsen 6+ numbers. It's all internal.
What it also does is answer the question of how do stations who aren't Nielsen subscribers get data for their salesmen to present to advertisers. The answer is there are many ways to do it, but they're typically not public. This is how Good Karma Brands has built a business model using AM radio and digital platforms. I think moving forward, this entire conversation will become more difficult as the data will only be available if the station itself releases it.
Eastlan is now doing ratings in 3 Cumulus markets
www.countryaircheck.com
Eastlan Major Market Ratings
www.countryaircheck.com