WPP mulls defamation case against NDTV

Global media and communications giant WPP is considering to file a defamation case against NDTV for the latter’s lawsuit against television ratings company TAM Media Research and its parent companies, including AC Nielsen, Kantar and WPP.

According to a statement issued by WPP today, the company was in “active consideration to issuing proceedings against NDTV for defamation and has instructed its lawyers accordingly.” It snubbed the lawsuit NDTV filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York as “hypothetical”.

Last month, NDTV had accused TAM and its promoter companies Nielsen and Kantar Media Research of “knowingly allowing manipulation of viewership data in favour of channels that are willing to provide bribes”. Its lawsuit listed 42 counts against Nielsen, Kantar, TAM and others. These ranged from breach of fiduciary duty and gross negligence to tortuous and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage.

WPP stated despite comments in the media, the “hypothetical lawsuit has not, as of today, been served on WPP, nor on any of WPP’s operating companies referred to in the lawsuit”. It added, “In any event, there is no merit, whatsoever, in any of the claims made in the hypothetical lawsuit relating to WPP parties, nor do the courts of New York have any jurisdiction to hear any such claims.”

Following the lawsuit, TAM had faced criticism from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, broadcasters, advertisers and media agencies. It was demanded an independent body, Broadcast Audience Research Council, be constituted.

Though TAM has been silent on the issue, it brought out a six-step action plan to remove doubts on the quality and reliability of its data. These included the appointment of a security officer and a security agency and addition of more meters in the six top metros.