EXHIBIT 12.1
NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH. INC.
COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
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1998 1998 1997
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(PROFORMA)
Pre-tax income from continuing operations ........................................ $19.402 $24.502 $21.910
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Fixed charges: Interest expense and amortization of debt
discount and premium on all indebtedness ........................................ 5.100 0.000 0.000
Rentals:
Buildings ....................................................................... 0.791 0.791 0.738
Autos ........................................................................... 0.187 0.187 0.206
Office and other equipment ...................................................... 0.167 0.167 0.170
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Total fixed charges .............................................................. 6.245 1.145 1.114
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Earnings before income taxes and fixed charges ................................... $25.647 $25.647 $23.024
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (A) ........................................... 4.107 22.398 20.665
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
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1997 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
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(PROFORMA)
Pre-tax income from continuing
operations .................................. $69.861 $90.261 $81.961 $69.568 $51.922 $33.893
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Fixed charges: Interest expense and
amortization of debt discount
and premium on all indebtedness ............. 20.400 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Rentals:
Buildings ................................... 2.952 2.952 2.944 2.976 2.930 2.930
Autos ....................................... 0.826 0.826 0.596 0.527 0.477 0.420
Office and other equipment .................. 0.681 0.681 0.643 0.865 0.899 0.932
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Total fixed charges .......................... 24.859 4.459 4.183 4.368 4.306 4.282
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Earnings before income taxes
and fixed charges ........................... $94.720 $94.720 $86.144 $73.936 $56.228 $38.175
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (A) ....... 3.810 21.243 20.593 16.927 13.057 8.916
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(A) For the purpose of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
earnings include pre-tax income plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized
interest). Fixed charges consist of interest on all indebtedness (including
capitalized interest) plus that portion of operating lease rentals
representative of the interest factor (deemed to be one-third of operating
lease rentals). The Company's historical statements do not reflect the $300
million of indebtedness incurred in connection with the Distribution and,
accordingly, the historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges do not
reflect any interest for this indebtedness.