Now, NBF writes to CCI, wants it to probe BARC’s monopoly practice

After seeking the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s (MIB) intervention and action in resumption of TV ratings for the news genre by BARC India in February this year, the News Broadcasters Federation has now written to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), seeking investigation into, what it calls, the monopoly practice of BARC India.

It may be recalled that close on the heels of NBF’s letter to I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar, the MIB had written to BARC India to maintain “status quo” regarding News channels ratings. The MIB in its letter had stated that the 4-member committee headed by Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati, which it had formed in November 2020, was in the process of examining the current TRP system and identifying the lags in the system, along with how it can be strengthened, made more robust and transparent.

Also read:

BARC to pause audience estimates (ratings) of news channels

NBA welcomes 12 week suspension of TV ratings

NBF seeks MIB’s intervention in resumption of news channel ratings

TV News ratings will have to wait as MIB asks BARC to maintain status quo

On the other hand, NBF in its letter had implored the I&B Minister that mass livelihoods were at stake as the ratings dark period is impacting the smaller news channels the most and many are staring at an uncertain future.

In its letter to the CCI, too, the NBF stated that the lives and livelihood of journalists, media executives, investors and owners of news TV channels were adversely impacted due to the continued suspension of TV ratings for news channels by BARC. NBF also alleged that BARC was assuming an anti-competitive and abuse of dormant position against the FTA news channels.

While pointing out that BARC is the sole audience measurement company in the country, NBF urged the CCI to look into BARC’s monopoly practice and how it is impacting the functioning of the FTA news channels.