KDKA challenges November ratings. (TV station)

Station claims WPXI, WTAE contests skewed Nielsens

DOWNTOWN - "Watch and win," or live and learn?

Venerable CBS affiliate and longtime ratings king KDKA-TV is protesting the November viewer ratings conducted by Nielsen Media Research.

KDKA general manager Gary Cozen believes rivals WPXI and WTAE spiked their numbers during local newscasts by giving away nearly $100,000 in heavily promoted contests.

"It's one thing to hype stories or special reports," huffed Mr. Cozen, "but to pay people to watch your contest?"

Mr. Cozen has complained to Nielsen in New York and wants the ratings company to abandon its traditional hands-off attitude toward contests and police them, possibly even throwing out some numbers.

Contests are not new to television, but the intense competition among network affiliates here is. For the first time in history, each station feels it has a shot at No. 1, the spot …