Measurement Giant Nielsen Sold to Private-Equity Group for $16 Billion

Kacey Musgraves has an apt tribute to Willie Nelson in her home. The 33-year-old singer gave Architectural Digest a tour of her home in Nashville, Tennessee, and proudly showed off her prized gift from the country legend.In her light-filled art room off of her open entryway, Musgraves displays a framed joint from Nelson.

World’s Best Mom! Gwyneth Paltrow just shared the sweetest birthday tribute to her son Moses, who just turned 16. “@mosesmartin you are 16 today. I’m not sure how I’m writing that number,” Gwyneth began in an Instagram photo of her son smiling in the midst of several colorful balloons. “Since you came into the world on that perfectly New York spring morning, you have made the world a better place. With every thought, action and intuition you have, you make people feel seen, heard and valued. You are deeply special to all who know you.”

When you think of Mother’s Day gifts, do you think of flowers? A spa day? A comfy sweater? Or do you just think about which stimulating device would be the best fit for HER VAGINA?!

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorBefore the TV industry can claim to have a new yardstick in place for measuring audiences, it will need to test many different ones.WarnerMedia, slated to be acquired by Discovery within days, has struck an alliance with Interpublic Group’s Mediabrands that will allow advertisers to test how three different measurement services gauge the performance of ad campaigns. The results from the test could influence the sorts of measurement deals Warner offers in the industry’s next “upfront” ad-sales market and will aid Mediabrands’ review of measurement providers.

Talk about star power. Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been close friends with Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin for decades — and their bond has only strengthened over the years, despite the Goop founder and Coldplay frontman’s 2016 divorce.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorNielsen investors just got a nice payday. Will the company’s biggest customers benefit financially as well?The media measurement giant raised eyebrows last week when it agreed to be sold to a private-­equity consortium led by Evergreen Coast Capital Corp., an affiliate of activist fund Elliott Management — which has been lobbying for a Nielsen sale — and Brookfield Business Partners.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorWhy go to the mall when you can shop via NBC’s “Today” program?NBCUniveral News Group, the parent of NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC,  has for several years worked to weave e-commerce into the digital counterpart to its venerable “Today” show as well as other areas, and now it hopes to facilitate more purchases by providing users with product reviews from Consumer Reports.The venerable consumer advocacy organization will contribute product reviews that are normally placed behind a paywall to a new digital destination on two NBCU e-commerce sites, Shop Today and Select. The “Best Product Reviews” area will provide Consumer Reports findings around different product categories, including cooking, bed and bath, and tools and appliances.

NEW YORK -- Nielsen is being acquired for $16 billion, including debt, about a week after the media measurement company rejected a $9 billion offer.Viewing data collected by Nielsen plays a big role in determining where billions in advertising dollars are spent each year. The company itself has annual global revenue of about $3.5 billion.A group of private equity investors led by Evergreen Coast Capital Corp., an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management L.P., and Brookfield Business Partners L.P.

Nielsen, the company best known for providing TV ratings, is being bought by a consortium in a deal worth $16 billion, including debt.The consortium is led by Evergreen Coast Capital Corporation, an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management L.P., and Brookfield Business Partners L.P. together with institutional partners.

TV ratings giant Nielsen is to be acquired by private equity consortium Evergreen Coast Capital Corporation and Brookfield Business Partners in a deal valued at around $16BN.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThe TV industry is getting ready for its annual “upfront” market, when billions of dollars in advertising trade hands. And almost everything is in place — except a firm backing of the economics that guide all the deals.Both Nielsen and its rival, Comscore, are unlikely to win accreditation of their national TV ratings services in time for the upfront, which typically kicks off in May and lasts through much of the summer.

Making some changes. Elise Loehnen, former chief content officer at Gwyneth Paltrow‘s Goop, spoke out about the “toxic” cleanse culture promoted by her ex-employer.

Uh oh! One of Goop’s former employees is calling out the wellness company for negatively impacting the way she viewed her body!

Oscars has been eagerly watched by devoted cinephiles but, over the years, it has also become one of the most-anticipated events for fashion aficionados. Among Hollywood’s brightest stars walking the red carpet in front of millions of viewers, the strongest candidates set themselves up to be sartorially scrutinised and battle it out for the evening’s most hotly contested accolade; that of the best dressed. From Audrey Hepburn’s timeless take on formal dressing in the 50s to the fully-fledged glamour of the likes of Nicole Kidman in the 90s and today’s dazzling ensembles from Lupita Nyong’o and Emma Stone, the Academy Awards provides the perfect platform for A-listers and designer brands alike to celebrate the symbiotic relationship between film and fashion.