Lok Sabha Question No. 729 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: TV Programme Rating System
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Bhagirath Chaudhary, Sunil Kumar Singh, Bhagwant Mann, Sougata Ray, Pratima Bhoumik, Manish Tewari, Adoor Prakash, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Nisith Pramanik, Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy, Prathap Simha, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Sukanta Majumdar, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi, Ravneet Singh, S. Gnanathiraviam, Bhola Singh, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 729 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021)

TV PROGRAMME RATING SYSTEM.

729. SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY : SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH : SHRI BHAGWANT MANN : PROF. SAUGATA RAY : MS. PRATIMA BHOUMIK : SHRI MANISH TEWARI : ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH : SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK : SHRI NISITH PRAMANIK : SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY : SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA : SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH : SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA: DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY: SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH : DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR : SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL : SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE : SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR : SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI : SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU : SHRI GNANATHIRVIAM S. : SHRI BHOLA SINGH :

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO :

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

(a) whether concerns have been raised relating to neutrality and reliability of the existing audience TV Rating Programme System and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

- (b) whether the Government  has received any complaints about the manipulation  of  TRP  from  2015  onwards  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and action taken thereon;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  constituted  a  committee  to  review  the guidelines  for  Televesion  Rating  Agencies  including  Broadcast  Audience Research Council (BARC) in India and if so, the details thereof including the

findings of the Committee; (d)  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  putting  in  a  robust,

- transparent and accountable rating system in India;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  received  complaints  against  the  OTT platforms  with  regard  to  their  programms  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof alongwith the action taken thereon; and
- (f) further measures being taken by the Government to review the guidelines for OTT platforms?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) & (b): The news  reports published since October, 2020 expressed some concerns relating to Television Rating Points.   The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) had responded stating that apart from the Disciplinary Council's action to maintain panel  sanctity,  BARC  has  actively  pursued  action  against  those involved in tampering the samples and has filed 11 FIRs through its vendor across many States. BARC stated that in its commitment to produce  robust  and  credible  data  of  TV  viewership  in  India  its system was able to detect anomalous viewership behaviour and the cases filed are also due to the strong data security and vigilance system that BARC has set up. The data base on complaints is not centrally  maintained. However, the  issues pertaining to BARC are normally forwarded to BARC for appropriate action. In addition  to the  filing  of  FIRs,  with  a  view  to  prevent  instances  of  panel tempering  and  manipulation  of  audience  measurement  system, BARC  regularly  undertakes  structural,  regulatory  and  procedural changes  as  necessary  to  ensure  that  the  viewership  data  so captured by BARC and its consequent reporting is as accurate and transparent as possible. Besides, a dedicated complaint redressal mechanism  of  the  rating  agency  is  also  provided  for in the 'Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India' notified by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 16th January, 2014.

Further,  in  order  to  address  the  issues  in  the  light  of  fresh recommendations  of  the  Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India (TRAI)  and  the  technological  advancements  /  interventions  to address  the  system,  a  Committee  was  constituted  under  the Chairmanship  of Chief Executive Officer, Prasar Bharati with independent  members  from  IIT,  C-DOT  and  IIM.      The  Committee was tasked, inter alia, to study any issues related or incidental to the  subject  and  make  recommendations  on  way  forward  for  a robust, transparent and accountable rating system in India.

(c):  The  above-said  committee  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Chief Executive  Officer,  Prasar  Bharati  has  been  constituted  to  review the  guidelines  for  Television  Rating  Agencies  including  Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) in India and to make recommendations  on  way  forward  for  a  robust,  transparent  and accountable  rating  system  in  India.  The  Committee  has  made recommendations  on  measurement  methodology,  the  structural changes in the composition of the rating agencies and audits, etc. The  recommendations  of  the  Committee  address  various  issues referred to them including TRAI recommendations.

(d):  The  existing  guidelines  have  provisions  like  methodology  for audience measurement, panel selection, viewing platform secrecy and  privacy,  data  analysis,  transparency  and  complaint  redressal mechanism etc. which are essential for a robust, transparent and accountable rating system in India.  Notwithstanding, based on the Report of the Committee headed by CEO, Prasar Bharati along with recommendations of TRAI, the present guidelines are being analysed / evaluated vis-à-vis shortcomings, if any. Any modifications may involve a thorough and elaborate review of the paradigm.

(e)  &  (f):  The  Central  Government  vide  its  notification  dated 09.11.2020  has  amended  the  Allocation  of  Business  Rules,  1961, relating to Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the following items have been inserted in the work allocation of this Ministry: -

'VA. DIGITAL/ONLINE MEDIA

22A. Films and Audio- Visual Programme made available by online content providers.

22B. News and Current Affairs content on online platforms.'

The  Government  is  receiving  complaints  regarding  objectionable objects on programmes streamed on Over the Top (OTT) platforms.

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