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TAM owner WPP responds to NDTV legal notice

NDTV sues ratings body, Nielsen
NDTV sues ratings body, Nielsen

WPP, the owner of India ratings agency, TAM India and the world’s largest communications services group has threatened to file defamation proceedings against New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) in response to their allegations.

The legal issues aside, TAM India, which is a joint venture between AC Nielsen Research Services Private Limited and Kantar Market Research Services Private Limited, is the service it has been delivering to the market for 14 years.

According to a statement from WPP, the hypothetical Law Suit by NDTV has not, as of today, been served on WPP, nor on any of WPP’s operating companies.

NDTV filed a lawsuit against the ratings agency body after it allegedly found it to manipulate television ratings. The broadcaster sought $810 million as compensation for the loss in revenues it has suffered over the years, plus a further $580 million in penalty for negligence by AC Nielsen and Kantar.

The statement from WPP continued, “Despite the lack of any valid service, the WPP Parties are in the process of issuing an immediate application to strike out the hypothetical Law Suit and will be seeking their costs in so doing. In the light of these circumstances, WPP is also giving active consideration to issuing proceedings against NDTV for defamation and has instructed its lawyers accordingly.”