Nielsen Holdings N.V., and Arbitron Inc., In the Matter of

Media research company Nielsen Holdings N.V. settled charges that its acquisition of Arbitron Inc. may substantially lessen competition for national syndicated cross-platform audience measurement services.  Nielsen and Arbitron are the best-positioned firms to develop (or partner with others to develop) a national syndicated cross-platform audience measurement service because of their existing audience measurement panels and proven audience measurement technology assets. To settle the charges, the Commission required the divestiture of assets related to Arbitron’s cross-platform audience measurement business, including data from its representative panel, to a Commission-approved buyer.