We have no issues with BARC except for Wk 19 Eng news ratings: M K Anand

Reacting to the Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) releasing the viewership data for Republic TV yesterday, May 18, 2017, all the English news channels - CNN-News 18, Times Now, India Today TV, NDTV 24*7 and NewsX with the exception of Republic TV decided to opt out of BARC and also remove the watermarking system with immediate effect for four weeks.  

Also read: English news channels opt out of BARC

Also read: BARC Wk 19: Republic TV opens its innings at top of English News genre

In a fresh twist in the ongoing row over channels transmitting on multiple frequency feeds, MK Anand, MD & CEO at TIMES NETWORK, stated to Adgully, “Only Times NOW, Times NOW HD and Mirror Now have stopped putting watermark. We have no issues or problem with BARC except for the English News ratings of Week 19, which is distorted and shows extraordinary reach. Anticipating this NBA had already started engaging with BARC in writing  about the veracity of the English News data which was questionable and was feared to be tainted. As such the question is only about English News data and that too in week19 and any other future week where ground level distortions could be affecting. All our other channels continue to be on BARC."

Also Read: BARC rejoinder: Channels use LCNs as mktg ploy

Also read:Multiple frequencies row: Now, India Today TV trains its guns at Times Now

In a statement shared on their website ndtv.com, NDTV Stated, "NDTV has consistently maintained that there is something terribly wrong with the way television ratings are measured, yet for lack of an alternative have been part of the current system. Unfortunately these flaws and malpractices have seen a spike recently. Consequently, today, we along with other major English news channels have decided to exit the current BARC ratings system till this issue is addressed. We hope this will be resolved soon."