NPD denies 'media freeze' rumors

The NPD Group has asked an analyst to stop sharing data with the media, but the company says it isn't attempting to keep the information out of the press' hands.

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The NPD Group has asked one analyst to stop sharing data with the media, but the company says it isn't attempting to keep the information away from the press. The case of 'he-said, company-said' began this morning when MCV reported that Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter received a request to stop providing data to the press:

"NPD would appreciate it, if you and your teams refrain from providing any of our Games data directly to the media," the note reportedly read. "This includes live discussions, e-mails, and/or notes. In some cases, you may have to remove the media from your distribution lists. Should the media take issue with this, you can feel free to send them my contact information, so I can connect them with the appropriate NPD representative."

Pachter, for his part, complied with the request, saying he "will not [distribute results] going forward."

This exchange led to reports around the internet of a media freeze, and speculation that the NPD Group is attempting to block press access to the (already trimmed) monthly sales reports. The NPD Group's Anita Frazier issued a statement to Shacknews claiming the move is to assure that the numbers are accurate and presented contextually, not to keep journalists in the dark:

We have heard from our clients and retail partners that NPD information is increasingly out in the public domain without proper attribution, incorrect context and in other ways that is not in the best interest of our clients or the industry. It is our responsibility and right to manage the usage of that information, and our Financial Services clients have agreed to help us and the industry in this regard. There was no "warning" issued at all. We are not freezing out the media as it has been portrayed. Instead, we are looking to work even more directly with the media than we already do to ensure our information and insights are used responsibly.

Editor-In-Chief
From The Chatty
  • reply
    March 28, 2011 12:00 PM

    Comment on NPD denies 'media freeze' rumors, by Steve Watts.

    • reply
      March 28, 2011 12:01 PM

      They would deny it, wouldn't they.

    • reply
      March 28, 2011 12:02 PM

      Summary: The NPD Group has asked an analyst to stop sharing data with the media, but the company says it isn't attempting to keep the information out of the press' hands.

    • reply
      March 28, 2011 12:02 PM

      I have no idea why I could care about NPD or MVC. Maybe you can add who/what they are to the article?

      • reply
        March 28, 2011 12:06 PM

        MVC is a link in the article...

    • reply
      March 28, 2011 12:34 PM

      This is a good thing. It should keep Pachter's false statements and way-off analysis out of the press.

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        March 28, 2011 1:34 PM

        How? Can't he just make even crazier claims now that there won't be a shred of data available to contest his claims?

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          March 28, 2011 5:34 PM

          But that's just it; this prevents him from making those claims directly to the media. Now they have go through some process to be authorized.

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        March 28, 2011 1:47 PM

        Yeah, I'd bet the move is aimed at silencing this moron more than anything else.

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        March 28, 2011 1:49 PM

        Won't stop Pachter from rolling d100s to come up with industry impacts.

    • reply
      March 28, 2011 1:41 PM

      Allow me to place this test post right about here.

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      March 28, 2011 3:08 PM

      "NPD information is increasingly out in the public domain without proper attribution, incorrect context and in other ways that is not in the best interest of our clients or the industry."

      i.e.: without paying NPD for the information.

      I'd love to see Gabe Newell return the favor by refusing to provide Steam sales data to NPD.

      • reply
        March 28, 2011 3:11 PM

        Why would he care? It's not like they're releasing that information now.

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          March 28, 2011 4:40 PM

          http://www.shacknews.com/article/67829/npd-to-increase-digital-sales

          "We are expanding the number of digital retailers we have relationships with in order to develop a digital POS (point of sale) service," the NPD's Anita Frazier told GamesIndustry. "The goal is to provide our clients with a total POS games tracking service that incorporates the growing digital channel as well as the currently predominant physical sales format, and to deliver this at the same frequency as we currently do for new physical retail sales (monthly)."

          With Steam being the dominant digital distribution channel, a refusal from Valve would make NPD's numbers far less relevant.

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            March 28, 2011 4:46 PM

            I'm not asking why NPD would care, I'm asking why Gabe would care what NPD does with the numbers. For all we know, perhaps keeping NPD statistics out of of the media was a stipulation digital retailers wanted before giving stats to NPD.

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              March 28, 2011 5:35 PM

              Because so much of business, especially raising capital, is about perceptions and expectations. Having those numbers out for analysts to observe is a good thing for the digital community. Eventually. . . :)

      • reply
        March 28, 2011 5:54 PM

        How would that be "returning the favor?" Valve probably pays for the reports and so they have the data.

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