Nielsen Local TV Market Universe Loses 476,000 TV Households

Nielsen's Local Television Market Universe dropped from an estimated 114,649,310 TV homes in 2011-2012 to 114,173,690, a decrease of 475,620.

Nielsen reps were not available on short notice to explain the diminished U.S. TV universe. The top 38 TV markets held their position from last year's Local Television Market Universe Estimates. Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Oklahoma City and Anchorage were the biggest gainers, picking up three slots in market rank, while the most significant markets to drop in rank were Birmingham and Palm Springs (-3), and a bunch that slipped two spots, including Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York, Albuquerque-Santa Fe and Roanoke-Lynchburg.