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A.C. Nielsen Jr., leader of TV ratings firm, dies

Arthur C. Nielsen Jr., who led the company that grew into an international market research firm known for producing the TV ratings known as "the Nielsens," has died at the age of 92.Nielsen died Monday in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka. His family says he'd suffered from Parkinson's disease.Nielsen joined his father's company, A.C. Nielsen Co., in 1945 after serving in World War II.He became the c
/ Source: The Associated Press

Arthur C. Nielsen Jr., who led the company that grew into an international market research firm known for producing the TV ratings known as "the Nielsens," has died at the age of 92.

Nielsen died Monday in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka. His family says he'd suffered from Parkinson's disease.

Nielsen joined his father's company, A.C. Nielsen Co., in 1945 after serving in World War II.

He became the company's president in 1957 and took over as chairman in 1975 before stepping down in 1983 to become chairman emeritus. In that role, he engineered the company's sale to Dun & Bradstreet Corp. for $1.3 billion in stock in 1984.

The company later was acquired by VNU, a Dutch publishing company.