Los Angeles – Nielsen Media Research has filed legal papers opposing the preliminary injunction sought by Univision Communications Inc., which would bar the July 8 rollout of Local People Meters here.
In its filing in state Superior Court in Los Angeles, Nielsen charges Univision “seeks to prevent the L.A. market’s use of a modernized, improved and more accurate system … because it results in lower ratings for some of Univision’s programs.”
The beleaguered rating service charges that “Univision seeks to influence what should be an impartial system of measuring viewers, in order to maintain inflated, less accurate ratings for certain of its programs over those of its competitors whose ratings are rising.”
Univision early this month filed suit against Nielsen, seeking an injunction to stop the ratings company from launching LPMs in Los Angeles in July. Univision charges that Nielsen’s LPM sample does not accurately reflect the Hispanic population.
Nielsen — under criticism from broadcasters such as News Corp., as well as black and Hispanic groups — went ahead and rolled out the controversial LPMs in New York City on June 3.
Nielsen’s countersuit filed Monday includes a declaration by its chief research officer, Paul Donato, who alleges Univision has “made false and misleading contentions about our LPM sample composition.”
