Nielsen has delisted three Union Broadcasting stations from the June 2026 ratings survey for Louisville after discovering that the household of a staff member of the stations obtained and returned diaries that would have been included in the June market report. In a Product Notification to clients, Nielsen says the diaries did not meet its quality standards and were not included in the June 2026 Louisville Radio Market Report that was released Thursday (July 23) and covers the April-June period.

The client stations removed from the ratings are Union Broadcasting’s “ESPN Louisville” WHBE-AM & FM (680, 105.7) and sports “The Ville” WLCL (93.9), along with their online simulcasts.

“Nielsen expressly prohibits participation in its panels and surveys by any household associated with a radio station,” the measurement company said.

Estimates for other stations were not affected.

While delisting is among the actions Nielsen can take when a station violates its rating distortion policy, it has in the past held back on the nuclear option when station management gave its “full and prompt cooperation” when confronted about the infraction. That was the case when Nielsen found a staff member from KKPK Colorado Springs “obtained and returned” diaries for the January 2025 Market Report. The Cumulus Media AC got a slap on the wrist in the form of a Special Notice about the activity in the Colorado Springs eBook.

However, Wilson Broadcasting’s three radio stations were delisted from the Nielsen Fall 2024 Dothan, AL survey after it was discovered that the household of an employee obtained and sent in a diary. It also delisted regional Mexican “Que Buena 105.7” KQMX-FM from the April 2024 Bakersfield (CA) Radio Market Report after discovering that the household of a staff member obtained and returned survey diaries.

In its latest delisting notice, Nielsen doesn’t say whether Union Broadcasting station management cooperated or not with its inquiry.

But the ratings company does include its boilerplate reminder to stations to make themselves familiar with Nielsen’s Rating Distortion Handbook. “If an employee of your station is contacted by Nielsen to participate in any audience measurement survey, you should inform your Nielsen Client Service Representative right away,” the company says. “We also ask that you retain any printed materials Nielsen has sent. We will provide instructions as to how to dispose of those materials.”