Nielsen Media Research is making the following changes to its rollout schedule for Local People Meter (LPM) services in Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco to allow clients more time to prepare for the conversion to LPM service in their respective markets.  During these extended periods, clients may use either the Meter/Diary or the LPM service for commercial purposes, since Nielsen will fully support both. 

Effective July 8, 2004, Nielsen Media Research will support the People Meter and Meter/Diary services in the Los Angeles DMA through the July measurement period.  The two services will run concurrently until August 4 (the end of the standard measurement period), at which time the Meter/Diary service will be discontinued. 

In Chicago, effective August 5, Nielsen will support both People Meter and Meter/Diary services through the September survey period ending September 22, 2004. 

In San Francisco, effective September 30, Nielsen will support both People Meter and Meter/Diary services for a three-month period ending December 29, 2004. 

As previously announced, in New York, Nielsen will continue to support both People Meter and Meter/Diary services until the end of the August survey period ending August 25, 2004. 

New York and Los Angeles have been up and running with a full sample of approximately 800 households each since the week of April 5; Chicago reached this level the week of June 21.  During the week of June 28, the San Francisco sample was over 640 homes and we expect that the full level of 800 homes will be reached by the launch date. 

Reports based on each service will be delivered concurrently for these markets, and clients will be able to utilize either service for commercial purposes. 

We believe that this additional time will enable clients and the marketplace to prepare for a more orderly transition to the new LPM currency.  Integration of data derived from Local People Meter samples into the National People Meter sample will occur once the Local People Meter service becomes the exclusive service supplied by Nielsen Media Research in a local market. 

People Meters are considered the standard for audience measurement in the U.S. and around the world, and Nielsen is committed to providing clients with the best possible television measurement service. 

A follow-up communication about revised plans for national integration will be forthcoming.