Nielsen De-Lists Two New Orleans Stations for Distortion

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, December 3, 2020 | 2:03pm CT

Nielsen

Nielsen is delisting Michael A. Costello-owned Classic Hits WTIX-FM (94.3) and Eighties KWMZ-FM (Z104.5) in New Orleans from the October, 2020 survey after it discovered that a household of a staff member from the stations "obtained and returned" ratings diaries. In a notification sent to clients on Wednesday, Nielsen said it caught the infraction and pulled the tainted diaries from its sample before releasing the October book. Estimates for other stations were not affected.

"The diaries did not meet Nielsen's quality standards, and had been removed from the diary sample prior to release of the October 2020 New Orleans Radio Market Report," said Nielsen.

The October survey period averages data from August, September and October. Nielsen will delist the two stations in the November, 2020 (September-October-November) and December, 2020 (October-November-December) market reports.

In November, Nielsen de-listed two stations in Toledo, OH after it found that a household of a staff member from Urban Radio Broadcasting's Urban AC WIMX-FM (Mix 95.7) and Urban WJZE-FM (Hot 97.3) "obtained and returned" ratings diaries for the September, 2020 survey period.