Nielsen Accused of Monopolizing Radio Ratings Data Market (1)

Nielsen Holdings Plc was sued in federal court by an owner of hundreds of radio stations, which accuses the company of using monopoly power to force it into subscribing to overpriced local radio ratings.

Plaintiff Cumulus Media New Holdings Inc. alleges that Nielsen has created a policy that conditions access to its “indispensable” national radio ratings data on the purchase of separate local radio ratings data, according to a complaint filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

“This tying scheme is a textbook abuse of monopoly power,” the complaint says. The claims are under ...