NDTV's lawsuit against TAM Media Research and its two owners, The Nielsen Company and global communications agency WPP, has been dismissed by a New York court on March 4 on the grounds that it had no jurisdiction to try the case.

NDTV had alleged that TAM - which tracks television viewership and ranks the most popular channels and programmes in India - data was being manipulated to its detriment and had claimed $1.3 billion (about R7,000 crore) in compensation and damages.

It now plans to appeal against this decision, which, it said, is based on several misconceptions, legal and factual errors. "The New York lower court did not go into the merits of the case… The court merely looked at where the case should be heard," NDTV said in the official statement.

Both WPP and The Nielsen Company welcomed the verdict.

"WPP is confident if NDTV elects to appeal this decision in New York, the judge's well-reasoned decision will be affirmed," WPP said in a statement.

"We believe that this claim should never have been brought against Nielsen in New York," Nielsen's email response to Hindustan Times stated.