CHICAGO, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson, in an open letter to his human rights group, endorses Nielsen Media Research's controversial local People Meter system for TV ratings.
Several organizations, including African-American and Hispanic groups backed by News Corp's Fox Television, vocally opposed Nielsen's switch from paper diaries to an all-electronic system to record what people are actually watching on TV. Minorities fear local People Meters will result in less minority-oriented and ethnic programming.
In a major win for Nielsen, Jackson wrote to members of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition calling People Meters in local markets "a step in the right direction."
"We all want to be counted, but the count must be as fair and accurate and inclusive, and as scientifically accurate as possible," Jackson said.
People Meters have been used for national television samples since 1987 and were rolled out in the top three markets, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, earlier this year.
