NBC and Nielsen Media Research announced a hefty seven-year ratings deal
Thursday covering the broadcaster's national and local television and cable
businesses.
The companies called the multimillion-dollar agreement -- well into eight
figures -- "the largest, most comprehensive agreement of its kind in the history
of media research."
The deal is believed to have topped Nielsen's seven-year contract with Viacom
Inc. a few years ago.
NBC sought to cover its "expanded portfolio of broadcast and cable
properties," NBC president of research and media development Alan Wurzel said in
a prepared statement. Besides the "Peacock Network," the research arrangement
encompasses newly acquired Bravo, plus CNBC, MSNBC, the 13 Telemundo
Communications Group Inc. television stations and NBC's 14 owned stations.
As part of the deal, NBC has agreed to support the ratings giant's national
"People Meter" sample expansion. The sample will now add nearly 5,000 homes for
a total of almost 10,000, Nielsen CEO Susan D. Whiting said.
