Nielsen Removes Tampa-Based PPM Panelist Over Streaming Ratings Issue

Tampa Issues

NIELSEN has dropped a TAMPA-based PPM panelist from its FEBRUARY 2017 PPM results in the wake of Consultant RANDY KABRICH's finding that streaming ratings for BEASLEY Spanish Contemporary WYUU (92.5 MAXIMA)/TAMPA seemed too high. KABRICH told ALL ACCESS (NET NEWS 3/2), he had concerns, "For the first time ever, a stream was #1 in a key demo for MONDAY-SUNDAY 6a-Midnight for the MONTH. And WYUU's stream was #1 Persons 18-34 in TAMPA! They even beat the on-air WYUU." 

BEASLEY BROADCAST GROUP commented on NIELSEN's move, which they note, "adversely impacts ratings for the Company’s Spanish contemporary station, WYUU (92.5 MAXIMA)." 

COO BRIAN BEASLEY stated, “Our company and other broadcasters play no role in selecting panelists and households for inclusion in PPM data gathering. In the case of the TAMPA household that was removed from the PPM panel, it was NIELSEN that chose to have two different users in that household be PPM participants. Most notably, we do not and have never had any relationship or contact with the household or users removed from NIELSEN’s TAMPA panel of PPM holders.”

A NIELSEN spokesperson told ALL ACCESS, "In early FEBRUARY, we identified a household in TAMPA whose meter wearing compliance warranted additional coaching. Per our standard operating procedure, we conducted an on-site visit of the household and provided subsequent training to ensure proper usage of the PPM device. Following the training visit, the household’s meter wearing compliance behavior did not change and per our quality assurance procedures, we removed the home effective with the start of the MARCH survey."

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