TRP reporting for TV news channels withheld for another 4 weeks | India News
NEW DELHI: The government has extended by four weeks the ban on television rating points (TRP) reporting for TV news channels to “prevent the display of sensational and speculative content” amid the West Asian conflict.The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on March 6, issued the first directive to television ratings agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to immediately report TRP for TV news channels for four weeks or until further orders, whichever is earlier.“The purpose of the said directive was to prevent the display of unwarranted sensational and speculative content by some news genre channels amid the conflict in West Asia, which could potentially cause panic among the general public, especially those who have friends and family in or are living in the affected areas,” the ministry’s new order said, adding that “the conflict situation is still at large”.In public interest, the ministry said, it directed M/s BARC to stop TRP reporting for news TV channels for another four weeks or until further orders, whichever is earlier.As per the ‘Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India’ issued by the Ministry on January 16, 2014 for Television Ratings, BARC is a registered television rating agency.Clause 24.2 of the Policy Guidelines states that: “The Company shall comply with any orders, regulations, guidelines, instructions etc. issued by the Ministry from time to time.”
