Fix the existing Television Audience Measurement "TAM - TRP" system in the country

The Issue

It is difficult to imagine that the fate of Rs. 22,000 crore spending on TV advertising in India and the country’s only television audience measurement system agency “BARC India” is being controlled by select pay TV broadcasters & pay channel aggregators (IBF), advertising agencies (ISA & AAAI) and large FMCG companies - all having a direct stake in the outcomes and hence a very strong motive to manipulate the ratings to their advantage(s).

The fact that Star India sits on the Board of Directors at BARC India, while its’ channel, Star Plus, has been rated No. 1 in Hindi GEC for over more than a decade and now with this television ratings controversy of the recently launched Republic TV.”  These have put a big question mark on BARC India, methodology and credibility.“

Therefore this issue demands urgent attention in order to preserve its sanctity and restore the faith of the users and does merit investigation and inspection into the methodology and the working of BARC as envisaged in the guidelines for operating a Television Audience Measurement Agency in India. With such large money at stake, it becomes imperative that the television rating continue to be credible, independent, transparent and free from any manipulations and biases.

Link to RAAG representation dated 8.05.2017, sent to all the concerned authorities

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Regulatory Analysis and Advocacy GroupPetition Starteran independent think-tank aimed at bridging policy gap through insights based on extensive and in-depth research on current and emerging economic, social, environmental, and cultural issues; with the key purpose of making policies relevant.

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The Issue

It is difficult to imagine that the fate of Rs. 22,000 crore spending on TV advertising in India and the country’s only television audience measurement system agency “BARC India” is being controlled by select pay TV broadcasters & pay channel aggregators (IBF), advertising agencies (ISA & AAAI) and large FMCG companies - all having a direct stake in the outcomes and hence a very strong motive to manipulate the ratings to their advantage(s).

The fact that Star India sits on the Board of Directors at BARC India, while its’ channel, Star Plus, has been rated No. 1 in Hindi GEC for over more than a decade and now with this television ratings controversy of the recently launched Republic TV.”  These have put a big question mark on BARC India, methodology and credibility.“

Therefore this issue demands urgent attention in order to preserve its sanctity and restore the faith of the users and does merit investigation and inspection into the methodology and the working of BARC as envisaged in the guidelines for operating a Television Audience Measurement Agency in India. With such large money at stake, it becomes imperative that the television rating continue to be credible, independent, transparent and free from any manipulations and biases.

Link to RAAG representation dated 8.05.2017, sent to all the concerned authorities

avatar of the starter
Regulatory Analysis and Advocacy GroupPetition Starteran independent think-tank aimed at bridging policy gap through insights based on extensive and in-depth research on current and emerging economic, social, environmental, and cultural issues; with the key purpose of making policies relevant.
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Petition created on 21 May 2017