NDTV sues Nielsen, TAM for ‘twisting data for bribes’

NDTV has sued global television rating agency Nielsen and its Indian arm TAM India for over $1.3 billion in a New York court, alleging manipulation of viewership data in exchange for bribes.

NDTV has claimed $810 million for fraud and $580 million for negligence, as well as hundreds of millions more for a range of causes, including tortuous interference and breach of fiduciary duty.

In a 194-page lawsuit filed last week, NDTV has accused Nielsen of deliberately publishing corrupt and tainted data favouring rival channels in return for bribes.

NDTV is India's oldest private TV channel. It owns an English, a Hindi, and a business news channel.

In its lawsuit, it says rampant manipulation of viewership data has been going on for eight years, and when presented with evidence earlier this year, top executives at Nielsen promised to make changes by 1 July but reneged on their commitments.

NDTV is also looking to punish Nielsen's top corporate officers. In the complaint, NDTV has said TAM (Television Audience Measurement), a joint venture between Nielsen and Kantar Media Research, used "consultants" to manipulate TV channel ratings.