Eastlan CEO Attends Hearing for Cumulus vs Nielsen Lawsuit

Eastlan Ratings, a smaller independent radio audience measurement firm, played a key role in a December 11, 2025, court hearing in Manhattan federal court, where its CEO Michael Gould provided testimony in Cumulus Media's antitrust lawsuit against dominant ratings provider Nielsen.

The evidentiary hearing before U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas focused on Cumulus's motion for a preliminary injunction to block Nielsen's controversial "tying" policy, which conditions access to its monopoly national radio ratings data on purchasing its local market services—effectively forcing broadcasters to buy from Nielsen even in markets where cheaper alternatives like Eastlan exist.

Cumulus argues the policy stifles competition, particularly harming Eastlan's growth, while Nielsen maintains it affects only a handful of large clients and points to Eastlan's recent expansions as evidence of a competitive market. Cumulus also claimed fear of Nielsen retaliation is deterring other industry witnesses from testifying.Eastlan, based in Washington State and founded in 2009, uses telephone surveys for cost-effective local ratings in small- and mid-sized markets, positioning itself as a lower-priced rival to Nielsen's diary- and meter-based methods. 

Cumulus already subscribes to Eastlan in some markets, like Memphis, and says Nielsen's policy coerces stations away from such alternatives.

The lawsuit, filed October 16, 2025, in the Southern District of New York, accuses Nielsen of Sherman Antitrust Act violations through monopolistic practices, seeking to halt the policy amid claims of irreparable harm to Cumulus's Westwood One network and broader radio industry competition. \

As of Thursdayy, no ruling has been reported from the closed hearing, with outcomes potentially emerging via future filings.