GOVERNMENT DIRECTS BARC TO STOP REPORTING TRPs FOR TV NEWS CHANNELS
Why in News?
- The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to stop reporting Television Rating Points (TRPs) for TV news channels for four weeks or until further orders.
- The decision was taken amid the ongoing Israel–Iran conflict in West Asia.
- The government said some TV channels were broadcasting sensational and speculative content, which could create panic among the public.
REASON FOR GOVERNMENT’S DECISION
- The government observed that certain TV news channels were:
- Showing unwarranted sensationalism
- Broadcasting speculative reports
- Creating fear and confusion among viewers
- This could particularly affect people who have friends or family living in conflict areas in West Asia.
- Therefore, the government asked BARC to temporarily stop publishing TRP ratings for news channels.
LEGAL BASIS FOR THE DIRECTIVES
- The order was issued under Clause 24.2 of the Policy Guidelines governing BARC operations.
- This clause states that the organisation must follow directions issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting from time to time.
- The government used this provision in the public interest to control sensational coverage during an international conflict.
PREVIOUS TRP SUSPENSION
- This is not the first time TRP ratings were suspended.
- In 2020, the I&B Ministry temporarily suspended TRP ratings for news channels after allegations of TRP manipulation.
- The action followed a Mumbai Police investigation into certain broadcasters.
WHAT IS BROADCAST AUDIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL (BARC)?
- The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) is India’s official television audience measurement body.
- Key facts:
- Established in 2010
- Headquartered in Mumbai
- It is a joint industry body formed by:
- Broadcasters
- Advertisers
- Advertising Agencies
- BARC manages the TV audience measurement system in India.
- It is currently the only organisation authorised to publish TV viewership data.
WHAT IS TELEVISION RATING POINT?
- Television Rating Point (TRP) is a metric used to measure the popularity and viewership of TV programmes.
Important points:
- Higher TRP means more viewers watching the programme
- TRP helps determine which shows are popular
- Advertisers use TRP data to decide where to place advertisements
Thus, TRPs influence:
- Advertising revenue
- Channel popularity
- Investment decisions
HOW TRP IS CALCULATED IN INDIA?
- In India, BARC calculates TRPs using special devices called People Meters or BAR-O-Meters.
- These devices are installed in selected households across the country.
- Key features of the system:
- Uses audio watermark technology
- Tracks which channels and programmes are being watched
- Measures viewing duration
- The collected data is then analysed and extrapolated to estimate the viewership of the entire population.
OTHER METHODS USED
- Another method used is Picture Matching.
- In this method:
- The device captures a small portion of the picture displayed on TV
- The data is matched with broadcast content
- This helps identify the exact programme being watched Release of TRP Data
- BARC normally releases TRP ratings every Thursday.
- These ratings rank:
- TV channels
- Television programmes
- This ranking is important for advertisers and broadcasters.
CONCLUSION
The government’s decision to temporarily stop TRP reporting for TV news channels aims to reduce sensationalism and panic during the ongoing West Asia conflict. Since TRP ratings strongly influence media competition and advertising revenue, suspending them may encourage more responsible and balanced news coverage during sensitive international events.
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