MAM
Nielsen files for dismissal of NDTV lawsuit
MUMBAI: Global ratings and research company Nielsen has filed a petition in the New York Supreme Court seeking dismissal of New Delhi Television’s (NDTV) lawsuit over corruption in television ratings system in India.
Nielsen’s contention is that India, not New York, is the appropriate venue for the lawsuit. According to Nielsen, NYSC is the wrong court of law for the legal fight as NDTV receives its TV ratings data from Tam Media Research, a company that works in India.
Earlier in August, WPP had filed a similar motion with the NYSC to dismiss NDTV’s lawsuit. NDTV had on 26 July filed its lawsuit accusing 31 entities, including TAM, Nielsen, Kantar and their officials, of knowingly allowing continuation of manipulation of television viewership data in favour of broadcasters willing to pay bribes to its officials or representatives.
WPP owns half of TAM in India through its subsidiaries – Kantar and Cavendish, and the other half of TAM is owned by The Nielsen Company.
In its petition, Nielsen has said that the dispute concerns the quality of a TV ratings data subscription service. “NDTV—a company headquartered in India—receives in India from TAM, another Indian company, pursuant to an agreement executed between the companies in India,” Nielsen said.
Nielsen further argued that NDTV had been subscribing to the TAM ratings service since 1998, which it used for promoting its TV shows to advertisers in India. It also pointed out that while the Indian broadcaster claimed it had evidence that the ratings data was flawed, it sued Nielsen and the uninvolved subsidiaries eight years after that.
“None of the four entities sued is a joint venturer in TAM or has ever executed an agreement with NDTV regarding TAM’s subscription service—in this Court, asserting a grab bag of irrational and defective claims apparently under New York state law. According to NDTV, these Nielsen companies should be held liable under contract and tort law based on meetings NDTV had with a few Nielsen representatives in 2012—in India—concerning NDTV’s allegations about TAM’s TV ratings data,” the petition said.
Nielsen also argued in the dismissal plea that NDTV failed to name
TAM, with whom it has a contract for the ratings services, as a party to the suit. “In the Amended Complaint, NDTV viciously attacks TAM’s reputation and seeks damages because TAM’s TV ratings data ‘are not reliable’ and ‘tainted by widespread fraud and corruption.’ TAM has a right to defend against such attacks, and NDTV should not be allowed to suppress that right by bringing a lawsuit in another country, where TAM has no contacts.”
Nielsen also stated that NDTV’s lawsuit “blatantly ignores” the company with whom it has a contract.
“Instead, NDTV attempts to transform a potential contract claim against TAM into tort and oral contract claims against the Nielsen defendants. Nothing in the law supports such a magic trick. Simply put, NDTV fails to allege a legal duty independent of a contract and fails to allege all of the elements needed to support each cause of action,” argued Nielsen.
Brands
Axis Bank named Official Banking Partner of DP World PGTI
Partnership supports all tournaments this season to grow professional golf in India.
MUMBAI: Axis Bank just teed up a hole-in-one partnership because when a bank sponsors golf’s biggest swing in India, even the fairways feel more financially secure. Axis Bank has been appointed Official Banking Partner of the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI), strengthening its commitment to sporting excellence and community engagement while backing the growth of professional golf across the country.
Under the partnership, Axis Bank will support all DP World PGTI tournaments this season, contributing to talent development, enhanced tournament experiences and wider fan engagement. The collaboration aligns the bank’s values of precision, discipline and trust with the Tour’s focus on performance and opportunity.
Axis Bank executive director Munish Sharda said, “We are pleased to partner with DP World PGTI as its Official Banking Partner. Golf embodies precision, discipline, and a pursuit of excellence qualities that strongly reflect who we are at Axis Bank. This association also strengthens our engagement with India’s growing premium customer segments, where the sport has a deep and enduring connect.”
Professional Golf Tour of India president Kapil Dev said, “We are extremely pleased to welcome Axis Bank as a Tour Partner of the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India. Partnerships of this stature play a vital role in strengthening the foundation of the Tour, enhancing opportunities for our players, and expanding the sport’s reach across the country.”
Professional Golf Tour of India CEO Amandeep Johl added, “Axis Bank’s strong legacy of excellence, innovation, and nationwide reach aligns perfectly with DP World PGTI’s goal to elevate professional golf in India and provide greater opportunities for our players.”
In a sport where every stroke counts and every partnership drives distance, Axis Bank isn’t just backing golfers, it’s investing in the fairway to future, turning India’s greens into a stage where precision meets passion and every drive has the power to inspire.
