- While Nielsen (NLSN +1%) touted its deal with CBS All Access as part of its total-measurement push, newly hot competitor Rentrak (RENT +7.1%) is announcing a group-wide local ratings expansion with CBS stations.
- The 27 CBS-owned stations will all access Rentrak's traditional household and age/sex ratings as well as its Advanced Demographics.
- "CBS has successfully used our Rentrak in a number of markets in the last year," says CEO Bill Livek. "We welcome CBS to join other groups that have gone all-in with Rentrak."
- Rentrak and comScore (SCOR +1.5%) agreed Tuesday to a stock-for-stock merger to build a cross-platform measurement competitor to Nielsen.
- After gaining heavily today, Rentrak is selling off after hours, -6.6%. Nielsen is down 1% in late trading.