No reason for BARC to further delay data release: Prasar Bharati CEO

BARC has been under pressure from various stakeholders to release the TV news ratings without delay. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry the other day asked the rating agency to release the ratings with immediate effect. After stakeholders in the industry mounted pressure on the BARC to release the ratings, Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati has sought the same.

Industry insiders are of the opinion that it will take some time for the BARC to release the data. First of all, the BARC has to educate all the stakeholders with regard to the revamped system. This is one of the prime reasons cited for the delay in releasing the data.
Vempathi, who was the head of the TRP Committee and the chairman of Joint Working Group on the RPD, tweeted: “I am hopeful that Ratings for the News genre are resumed at the earliest. I see no reason for BARCIndia to further delay the matter.”
The initial jubilation over the MIB announcement has now given rise to apprehensions that the data rollout may be delayed indefinitely, especially with BARC tightlipped on this.

The Arnab Goswami-led News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) has sought an immediate release of the ratings. On the other, the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) is of the opinion that it stands vindicated as the MIB “recognises the need for improvement, acknowledges the deficiencies, the need to urgently increase sample size and systemic corrections.”