BARC needs two months to resume news channel ratings: Anurag Thakur

The Broadcasters Audience Research Council (BARC) of India informed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) that it was alerting constituents about the amended and expanded Data Reporting Standards. Furthermore, the audience measuring organisation informed the MIB that releasing viewing statistics for news and specialty genres would take eight weeks. In the Lok Sabha, I&B Minister Anurag Singh Thakur delivered this information.

Thakur said in the Lok Sabha,"BARC has apprised that it is reaching out to all the constituents to sufficiently inform and educate them about the details of the revised and augmented Data Reporting Standards of BARC and thus would need eight weeks’ time (from the date of Ministry’s permission) to resume the reporting of individual news channel ratings."

BARC India said earlier this week that it plans to start releasing news data on March 17, 2022. After more than a year of blackout following the TRP fraud, the government directed BARC on January 12 to divulge the news ratings. BARC agreed in October 2020 to stop reporting weekly individual ratings for all News and Niche category channels with immediate effect for an initial period of 8-12 weeks. Following that, on February 15, 2021, the MIB instructed BARC to maintain the status quo in the ratings dispute.

Thakur added, ""This was necessitated in view of the alleged reports of manipulation and review of the whole ecosystem of publishing of ratings. After review of the steps taken by BARC on corporate governance and on streamlining of processes and their transparency etc. BARC has been asked on 12.01.2022 to resume the release of the News ratings."

In answer to a follow-up question, the minister stated that BARC has taken aggressive action against individuals who tampered with the samples, filing 11 FIRs via its suppliers across many states. "The issue, thus, is a matter of investigation by the concerned police/judicial authorities of the respective jurisdictions," he added.

BARC has also eliminated the management engaged in the rating generating process, according to Thakur. Adding more he said, "Further, the Oversight and Technical Committees within BARC have been strengthened for data validation and methodology. The access protocols for data have also been revamped and tightened."

In accordance with the 'Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India' released by MIB on January 16, 2014, BARC was awarded registration as a TRP agency on July 28, 2015.

In answer to another query, Thakur said the government has yet to make a judgement on whether or not to notify private TV broadcasters of new uplinking and downlinking norms.

Thakur said, "No decision has been taken by this Ministry regarding notification of new uplinking and downlinking guidelines for private TV channels."

Thakur further told the Lok Sabha that the government has given Prasar Bharati Rs 2379.24 crore under the Central Sector Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) project from FY15 to December 31, 2021. 

The Minister said, "The details of Grants-in-Aid (non-salary) provided to Prasar Bharati under Central Sector BIND scheme from the financial year 2014-15 till 31.12.2021 is Rs. 2379.24 Crore."

Modernization, digitalization, augmentation and replacement of transmitters, broadcast equipment and studios, FM extension/replacement, DTH growth and reinforcement of coverage in vulnerable regions, and content creation are all part of the BIND programme. In addition, Prasar Bharati receives funding for the wages of its deemed on deputation staff.