News Broadcasting
Nielsen ‘People Meters’ under fire
MUMBAI: TV ratings giant Nielsen Media Research faces strong opposition from the Latino and black groups on its decision to electronically measure viewership in Los Angeles.
The agitators allege that the so-called people meters discriminate against minorities.
But Nielsen’s version is that, they have corrected early problems with local sampling and now it is Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp Ltd who is stirring up minority opposition because its Fox stations in Los Angeles and New York stand to lose ratings under the new system. But News Corp. has denied Nielsen’s claim.
Nielsen introduced local people meters in Boston in 2002 and now plans to expand the system to Los Angeles in July. According to the company, it has commissioned a leading Hispanic research group to review a recent study by the National Latino Media Council that found serious flaws in people meters.
Opponents urged Nielsen to put off its launch of people meters in Los Angeles until an independent review of the system can verify its accuracy, say reports.
National Hispanic Media Coalition president Alex Nogales denied being a tool of Fox but acknowledged a shared interest in fighting local electronic ratings. “This is not just about television. This is about civil rights. The undercounting of minorities has got to stop,” he said.
News Broadcasting
News18 India to air Sabse Bada Dangal on 4 May counting day
Channel promises fastest results, live trends and analysis across five states.
MUMBAI: Ballots will do the talking and screens will do the shouting. As counting day approaches for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, News18 India is gearing up for an all-day broadcast of its flagship election show, Sabse Bada Dangal, on 4 May from 6 am onwards. The Hindi news channel plans to deliver continuous, real-time updates as votes are tallied, combining live counting data with on-ground reporting and studio analysis. With political fortunes set to shift through the day, the coverage will track every swing, surge and surprise as trends turn into results.
The broadcast will feature a mix of senior political leaders, analysts and experts, offering instant reactions and decoding the evolving electoral picture. Expect heated debates, quick takes and detailed breakdowns as the numbers settle across all five states.
For News18 India, counting day has long been a high-visibility moment. The network is banking on its reporting reach, editorial bandwidth and technology-driven coverage to stay ahead in what is often a fiercely competitive news cycle.
With multiple battlegrounds and shifting narratives, the day promises both drama and data in equal measure. And if all goes to plan, Sabse Bada Dangal will once again turn the counting of votes into prime-time spectacle.
