MediaPost: Nielsen's Parent On The Prowl, Arbitron, MRI, Likely Targets

MediaPost reports that agency folk are fretting that Nielsen's deals with DVR companies, securing its measurement monopoly further into the future, will hurt the long-term competitiveness of the media metrics business. Worse, Nielsen's parent, VNU appears to be stalking the market, looking to buy up one-time competitors with the $2.5 billion it freed up with its directory business sale. Arbitron has been named as a potential target, with yesterday's Nielsen-Arbitron deal lending it some credibility.