Lok Sabha Question No. 1972 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: Manipulation of TRPs
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Margani Bharat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1972

## (TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2023)

## MANIPULATION OF TRPs.

## 1972. SHRI MARGANI BHARAT

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  there  have  been  cases  of  manipulation  of Television  Rating  Points  (TRPs)  by  some  television  channels  through  rigging  of devices used by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC);
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  against  the television channels;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to create a more transparent system for measuring TRPs and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is also aware that the current TRP system is heavily biased towards urban areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has considered for changing the system of measurement to give equal weightage to rural and semi-urban areas through increment in the sample size;
- (f)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (g) whether the Government has made any attempts to study global practices adopted for TRPs and their  measurement  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  INFORMATION  AND  BROADCASTING;  AND  MINISTER  OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): Some news reports in October, 2020 expressed concerns on manipulation of Television Rating Points by few channels. In this regard, the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) filed 11 FIRs in different States.

Further, this Ministry had also constituted a Committee with Chief Executive Officer,

Prasar Bharati as Chairman and members from IIT, C-DOT and IIM to review the TV

rating  ecosystem.  Based  on  the  recommendations  of  the  Committee,  BARC  has taken  steps to  strengthen  its  corporate governance  and technical oversight of  its rating process. (d)  to  (f)  :      The  'Policy  Guidelines  for  Television  Rating  Agencies  in  India', 16.01.2014  issued  by  Ministry  of  Information  and  Broadcasting  prescribes  for  the selection  of  panel  homes  to  be  based  on  distribution  of  target  viewership representing  age  group,  socio-economic  class,  gender,  working  status,  multiple delivery platforms, all States and urban & rural markets. Reportedly, around 40% of panel  households  are  installed  in  Rural  India  and  60%  in  Urban  India.  The  final audience estimates are statistically adjusted to ensure that the TRPs are not biased towards Urban or Rural India. (g) : Telecom  Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in its separate set of recommendations  on  the  Television  Audience  Measurement  in  2013  and  again  in 2020 delved into the international scenario of TRPs. These recommendations have been part of the deliberations held by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as  well  as  the  above-said  TRP  Committee.  In  addition  to  above,  this  Ministry continuously  monitors  TRP  rating  ecosystem  and  prescribes  policy  interventions needed from time to time.

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