Republic-TV under scanner for TRP manipulation: Mumbai Police

Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh in a press conference said the city police are probing an alleged TRP scam. They have identified three channels Fakt Marathi, Box Cinema, AND Republic-TV. The police action was initiated on a complaint from Hansa, the firm contracted by BARC, to install audience measurement meters.

The Commissioner further revealed that two persons have been arrested. One accused has been arrested with Rs 20 lakhs. One of them is a former employee of Hansa agency.

Commissioner Param Bir Singh said: “There are 2,000 barometers installed in Mumbai to monitor TRPs. BARC has given confidential contracts to an agency called ‘Hansa’ for monitoring these barometers. Accused would ask some households to keep some channels on even if they were not at home. The households were offered monthly payments of Rs 4-500 in return.”

The Commissioner further added, “The owners of Marathi channels Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema have been arrested. Arrests were made under sections 409 and 420 of IPC. BARC has submitted that Republic TV is a suspect in TRP manipulation. ACP Shashank of Crime Branch’s CIU is leading the investigation and DCP and JCP are supervising the investigation.”

The Mumbai Police have shared the probe findings with the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry. The Promoters and directors of Republic TV will be summoned and asked to appear before the investigating team.

Republic TV’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami soon replied to the charges. He tweeted that it was an attempt to get back at the channel for its coverage of the Maharashtra government.

Republic Media Network’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami’s statement pic.twitter.com/axhbJZ47eA

— Republic (@republic) October 8, 2020

Goswami said, “We will file criminal defamation against the police commissioner. He should issue an official apology and get ready to face us in court.”

The TRP is calculated on the basis of TV channel viewership in a set of households.

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