BARC email exonerates Republic Media Network in TRP case

Republic Media Network has stated that it has received an official email from rating agency BARC, clearly stating that there is not a single complaint or malpractice found against Republic TV, Republic Bharat or any other affiliate of the news network.

The BARC email to Republic Media Network’s Group CEO Vikas Khanchandani on October 17, 2020 specifically confirms that there is no malpractice by the network.

Quoting from the email by BARC, “If there was any disciplinary action initiated under the said Code against M/s ARG Outlier Media Private Ltd, then BARC India would have communicated the same to you along with necessary documents for your response.”

The Republic statement goes on to say that “with this documentary evidence by BARC out in the public domain, three things are proven:

Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh’s comments against Republic TV were blatantly false, lies and an extension of political vendetta. It is now incumbent on him to apologise for his lie-ridden campaign against India’s No. 1 news network.
That every word uttered across certain sections of the media is false, unsubstantiated and fake news. Now that the truth is out in the public domain, the onus is now on those portals to correct themselves, apologise for the fake news and put out the truth.
The Republic Media Network, which runs on the highest professional and journalistic standards has been vindicated after a 9-day slander campaign curated by vested interests and we have been duly informed that there was never a case against us.”

The Republic statement further adds, “Right from his news conference on October 8, 2020, where he claimed that he had received a complaint from BARC against Republic, to every news interview he gave consequently wherein he repeated that unsubstantiated and vicious crafted narrative – the Mumbai Police Commissioner went on a tirade against Republic based on a series of complete lies.”

With the disclosure of BARC, Republic Media Network called for “serious action” be taken against Param Bir Singh as well as “all the political masters, should they be involved”.

“We have full faith in the Honourable courts of law to take this matter and every other matter in the campaign against us to its logical conclusion. We are grateful to the Supreme Court and the High Court for its orders in other cases wherein Republic has been wrongfully targeted,” the statement added.