TV & VIDEO - July 29, 1987

NBC renewed its contract with A.C. Nielsen Co.’s audience research service--the first of the three major networks to do so--despite being less than satisfied with Nielsen’s new “people meter” ratings technology. Nielsen has agreed to some adjustments in its new system, which relies on push-button devices, said Bill Rubens, NBC vice president for research. “I’m still not happy with it,” Rubens added. “But it’s the best we could get under the circumstances.” He said that NBC believes the new system is inevitable. All three networks have expressed concern that people meters will distort ratings, and have balked at signing up for the new season.