TV Viewership Fraud

Media experts point out various flaws in the BARC television rating system. But what they don't point out is that BARC ratings (or the earlier TAM ratings) are not used by advertisers in isolation

First suspension was in April 2015 when those subscribing to television viewership data were asked to switch from TAM, the erstwhile television measurement agency, to BARC

Khanchandani is the 13th person to be arrested in the case so far

The move follows the Mumbai Police announcement that it has busted a television rating points racket

The cacophony on TV would have us believe that the character of India has changed, but this narrative too is distorted

At stake is the Rs 78,800-crore TV industry revenue (subscription and advertising put together), as estimated by EY as of 2019

A weakened media at war with itself is an ideal situation for the establishment to step in

Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day

For want of a substitute, many willing to give BARC time to come clean

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, has decided to take up the issue, sources said

Shiva Subramaniyam Sundaram, CFO of Republic TV, was asked to join the investigation on Saturday morning, he said

TV ratings agency BARC's vigilance team found instances of panel home manipulation and took action with state police in Telangana to apprehend the culprits