In response to Republic TV’s claims that an email from BARC proves the channel is not involved in any alleged malpractice, the agency said it was “very disappointed” in the broadcaster’s actions.
The television audience rating agency BARC India has accused Republic TV of misrepresenting its private and confidential communication, saying it has not commented on the ongoing investigation into the alleged manipulation of the ratings.
In a statement, the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) said it was cooperating with law enforcement agencies in their ongoing investigation into the Television Rating Points (TRP) tampering case.
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Responding to Republic TV’s claims that an email from BARC provides proof that the channel is not involved in any alleged malpractice, the agency said it was “very disappointed” with the broadcaster’s actions.
“BARC India is very disappointed in the Republic Network’s actions in disclosing private and confidential communications and misrepresenting them.
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“BARC India reiterates that it has not commented on the ongoing investigation and, without prejudice to BARC India’s rights, expresses its dismay at the actions of the Republic Network,” it said.
Mumbai police, in a BARC complaint, are investigating allegations of tampering with TRP’s ratings. Republic TV is one of the four channels investigated.
BARC’s statement came after Republic TV disclosed what it said was an email conversation between the agency’s CEO Sunil Lulla and Republic Media Network CEO Vikas Khanchandani.
According to the television network’s website, Mr. Khanchandani wrote an email to BARC on October 16 to “confirm in the public domain” that the agency has not found any infringement by Republic.
“In response to Khanchandani’s email, BARC responded on October 17 thanking the network for its’ faith in the internal workings of BARC ‘and said that’ if any disciplinary action is taken against ARG Outlier Media (owner of Republic), then BARC India would have communicated the same to him along with the necessary documents for his response, “” the website said.
“Therefore, this email proves that BARC did not claim any negligence against Republic Media Network,” he added.
In reaction to BARC’s statement, Republic TV owner Arnab Goswami said PTI, that the BARC email confirms that the police commissioner lied. (Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh) should resign immediately, Goswami said.
BARC did not elaborate on the exact parts of the email, which makes it feel like the communication was “misrepresented.”
Six people have been arrested by police in the scam, which allegedly involves inducing households that make up the sample set whose television viewing is monitored to ensure certain channels get higher ratings. Ratings are a key influencing factor in advertisers’ preferences when placing ads. Police say this is a “multi-crore” scam.
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