July 02, 2004
Univision's Injuction Denied!
And so the opening bell has rung, and the winner of the first round in the Local People Meter Battle Royale is: Nielsen Media Research. From today's Los Angeles Times:
- A judge Thursday denied Univision Communications Inc.'s request to halt next week's rollout of a controversial new TV ratings measurement system in Los Angeles.
Univision, the nation's leading Spanish-language broadcaster, wanted the judge to block Nielsen Media Research's use of its "local people meters" system in Los Angeles, contending that the proposed sample audience underrepresented Spanish-speaking Latinos in the nation's largest Latino market.
Los Angeles-based Univision argued that Nielsen was intent on releasing flawed and deceptive TV station ratings.
But Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge J. Stephen Czuleger was not convinced that the system would irreparably harm Univision or the region's Spanish-speaking Latinos.
Univision, the judge said, failed to provide sufficient evidence that use of the local people meters was "unfair, unlawful or a fraudulent business practice."
Czuleger also said he was troubled that Univision's request for an injunction appeared to tread on 1st Amendment protections.
Blocking Nielsen's planned conversion next Thursday to people meters could be considered a prior restraint on the release of ratings for all TV stations in Los Angeles.
The case is not over, however. The judge agreed to set a trial date next month.
Univision lawyers said they would push for a speedy trial.
Continue reading "Univision Loses Request To Halt Nielsen System" Round Two is coming up -- that small bit about Univision's claims of "defamation"! It ain't over til the fat lady sings...
Read more about yesterday's ruling here, here, and here.
Posted by thomas at July 2, 2004 10:09 AM | TrackBack