NDTV hits back at WPP over defamation suit "threats"

"NDTV is baffled and amused by the PR effort by WPP. PR is clearly the main aim, as the WPP statement contains a number of legal flaws," the TV channel said in a statement here.

"We suggest WPP refrain from using their massive PR machine to make baseless threats against NDTV. Instead we request that WPP should focus on honestly fixing (for want of a better word!) their badly damaged and dishonest ratings system in India - which in their statement they acknowledge they have control over and is their responsibility," it added.

NDTV's reaction came after WPP, which is among several marketing firms sued by it over alleged manipulation of viewership data, termed the lawsuit as "hypothetical" and said it was considering initiating defamation proceedings against the Indian news channel.

"It is indeed strange that they term the suit as hypothetical as it is available for everyone to read in full on the website of the Supreme Court of New York," the statement said.

NDTV had last month filed a 194-page lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court accusing WPP, ratings company Nielsen, TAM Media and Kantar among others of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by manipulating viewership data in favour of channels that are willing to provide bribes to its officials.