NBA Board asks BARC to share details of inquiry report of TV9 tampering

The TV9 viewership numbers case seems to get murkier, with broadcasters’ unrelenting push and the TV9 Network’s strongly worded response. In the latest development, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has questioned BARC’s quick investigation into news reports and videos purportedly showing tampering of panel homes to favour TV9 and declaring the videos as fake.

In a press statement issued, NBA stated that the NBA President had written to the BARC Chairman, drawing his attention to several news reports about videos of a sting operation, as a purported proof of tampering of panel homes by TV9 Bharatvarsh. The statement further mentioned that BARC had responded to that letter by stating that it had carried out a detailed investigation into the compromised homes and the manipulation of data.

It its press statement, NBA expressed its surprise that “BARC has so quickly investigated into the sting operation and also passed a judgement that those who appeared in those videos were “paid to say what they did” and the videos are “fake”.”

Also Read: NBA writes to BARC raising concerns on TV9 Bharatvarsh’s unprecedented growth

The Association wanted to know who had conducted the investigation. It added, “Since the allegations were against BARC, NBA presumes that the investigation was conducted by a third party. NBA would like BARC to share this investigation report with NBA to help understand how the investigations were concluded so quickly that there was no tampering of data and the videos are fake. This is crucial in light of the fact that allegations are about an organisation which, by BARC’s own admission, has a dubious past.”

NBA’s statement goes on to allege that TV9 has a “history of indulging in such malpractices and for which the ratings of TV9 Telugu were suspended. Was this record made available to the investigators? President, NBA has sought an urgent response with the details of the investigation report.”