New Jersey seeks settlement over PPM

US-- Arbitron is in talks with New Jersey attorney general Anne Milgram to settle a dispute over the publication of its portable people meter (PPM) radio ratings.

The firm moved to protect its PPM ratings in October, after Milgram announced her intention to sue over claims the system was producing inaccurate figures. Arbitron filed a suit to prevent any obstruction to publication on freedom of speech grounds, and brought forward the launch of the new ratings system in several markets by two days to pre-empt lawsuits in New Jersey and New York.

The court has now granted Milgram an extension until 26 January to respond to Arbitron's complaint. Milgram said the parties had spent “significant time” negotiating and that the extension would provide “ample time to complete a possible settlement”.

In a similar case in New York, talks between Arbitron and Milgram's counterpart Andrew Cuomo resulted in Cuomo saying he would not seek a restraining order on publication until the court had the chance to hear from both sides.

Four more markets switched from the old diary system to PPM in the latest monthly ratings release: Dallas-Forth Worth, Atlanta, Washington DC and Detroit. The new additions bring the total number of PPM markets to 14, representing more than half of estimated radio ad revenue in the country's top 50 markets.

• Arbitron's CEO Steve Morris is to step down by the end of this year. If a successor is found to take over before that time, Morris will remain with the company until the end of the year as a consultant and will continue to serve as chairman.

Author: Robert Bain

Related links:

PPM ratings ‘will not be blocked' in New York

Arbitron ratings row heats up in New York

Arbitron moves to prevent block of PPM data release

New Jersey joins New York in investigating Arbitron's PPM