Nielsen error slows USA Net ratings

By Paul J. Gough

Aug 4, 2007, ET

NEW YORK -- A glitch in Nielsen Media Research equipment led to lower-than-normal ratings for USA Network for five days last week.

Nielsen confirmed Friday that an "equipment issue" was to blame for the problems, which underreported USA Network ratings from July 28-Aug. 1. The nature of the equipment problems wasn't clear.

A Nielsen spokeswoman said that the underreporting only affected USA Network and that it had been corrected Thursday and was now providing accurate information. Nielsen also was working on providing new ratings for the affected five days.

"We are looking into a way to recover that information," a Nielsen spokeswoman said Friday.

Nielsen and WWE, whose program "Raw" is on the USA Network, said a new rating would come at some point. This past week's "Raw" episode showed a dramatic drop from a 3.4 household rating to a 2.5 rating, according to Nielsen Media Research.

USA Network couldn't be reached for comment late Friday.

Nielsen error slows USA Net ratings

By Paul J. Gough

Aug 4, 2007, ET