Report: Nielsen Negotiating Concessions With FTC Over Arbitron Deal

FTC Deal In The Works?

NIELSEN's acquisition of ARBITRON continues to be under the microscope, and now BLOOMBERG reports the company is "negotiating concessions with the U.S. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION that would permit its $1.26 billion acquisition of ARBITRON INC."

The report says the "discussion centers on a requirement for the combined company to license measurement technology to COMSCORE INC., in addition to researchers, television networks and other parties," said the people, who asked not to be identified because the conversations weren’t public. A consent order could become public within the month after NIELSEN said AUG. 30th it agreed to extend the review period into SEPTEMBER, without setting a specific date.

Earlier this week (NET NEWS 9/3), ALL ACCESS reported with the FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION's 30-day review period of the deal over but the agency needing more time, NIELSEN HOLDINGS, N.V. had agreed to extend the FTC's review period of its acquisition of ARBITRON.

In AUGUST (NET NEWS 8/27), ESPN spoke to the FTC about the deal, voicing its concerns that it be able to continue to license ARBITRON's software for its cross-platform research project after the sale.

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