Nielsen Holdings, CBS Radio Renew Audio Ratings Agreement

 | May 12, 2017 03:28AM ET

Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE:NLSN) renewed its Nielsen Audio agreement with CBS Corporation’s (NYSE:CBS) CBS Radio.

Per the renewal program, Nielsen will continue to deliver its local market insights and currency ratings to the broadcast media operator across all the Portable People Meter (PPM) metros. Additionally, the duo will continue to leverage Nielsen's radio diary measurement service in a few local markets.

Nielsen Data Management Platform (DMP), the company’s marketing cloud application, will also be offered to CBS Radio to help the latter connect with listeners via digital channels. DMP, for the first time, encompasses Nielsen Audio data from Nielsen's PPM.

Rob Hill, EVP, Retail Services at Nielsen stated, "Nielsen Audio provides CBS Radio with trusted and industry-leading solutions that allow them to measure the total audience and reach of their content."

How Is Nielsen Poised to Benefit?

We believe that the move will help Nielsen expand its client base and boost its Watch segment revenues. This segment provides viewership and listening data and analytics across radio, television, online and mobile screens, primarily to media and advertising industries. The performance of the segment was particularly strong in the last quarter.

In the last quarter, Watch business revenues were $769 million (50.4% of total first quarter revenue), up 10.8% year over year and 11.1% on a constant currency basis. The increase came on the back of continued strength in Audience Measurement and Marketing Effectiveness, which improved 13.3% and 14%, respectively, on a constant currency basis.

Excluding the acquisition of Gracenote, Watch revenues increased 5.9% or 6.2% on a constant currency basis.

Nielsen N.V. Revenue (TTM)

Business - Information Services industry’s gain of 4%.