Lok Sabha Question No. 2892 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: TRP Manipulation by Regional News Channel in Kerala
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Adv Dean Kuriakose, Shri K Sudhakaran

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2892 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025)

## TRP MANIPULATION BY REGIONAL NEWS CHANNEL IN KERALA. 2892. ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:

## SHRI K SUDHAKARAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the recent reports regarding a  prominent  television  news  channel  in  Kerala  allegedly  bribing  officials  of  the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to manipulate Television Rating Points (TRP) including the alleged routing of funds through cryptocurrency in order to evade detection to inflate viewership ratings and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  any forensic audit/high level inquiry/investigation  has  been initiated  by BARC  or  the  Central Agencies/Government  into  this  matter  and  if  so,  the  details thereof along with reports received from the State Police regarding these irregularities, if any;
- (c) whether the Government  is  aware  of the reported background  that the promoters/owners of the said channel have previously been involved in several cases of financial fraud or regulatory violations and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to take strict and exemplary action including prosecution against BARC officials implicated in the scam and suspend or revoke the uplinking/downlinking permission of the concerned channel immediately to restore the integrity of the rating ecosystem; and
- (e)  the  steps  taken  or  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  the transparency and integrity of the audience measurement system and to prevent such malpractices in regional markets?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a)  to  (e):  The  Ministry  has  taken  note  of  the  recent  media  reports  alleging  that  a television  channel  was  engaged in manipulation of television ratings by bribing an employee of the M/s Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India.

In view of the allegations, a preliminary report, including details of action taken on the FIR reportedly filed in the matter, has been sought from the DGP, Kerala Police.

## Television rating in India

Television ratings in India are governed by the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India, 2014. The guidelines mandate rating agencies to maintain secrecy and privacy of panel homes and ensure a transparent, fair and accountable audience measurement system.

With a view to further strength the integrity and transparency of the rating ecosystem, the Government issued draft amendments to the said Policy Guidelines on 2.07.2025 for public consultation.

The proposed amendments aim to promote fair competition, enhance accuracy and representativeness of ratings data, and reflect evolving media consumption patterns across regions.

After  examining  stakeholder  inputs,  a  revised  draft  amendment  was  published  on 06.11.2025 for further consultation.

The Government continues to closely monitor developments to ensure the credibility and integrity of the television audience measurement system.

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