RAJYA SABHA
GUIDELINES ON THE TELEVISION RATING AGENCIES.
712. SHRI VAIKO:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state :
(a) whether the Committee headed by Prasar Bharati CEO to review the guidelines on the television rating agencies in India submitted its report to the Ministry;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) what future course of action is being taken to ensure greater transparency in the Television Rating Points (TRP) system and ensure that it is not manipulated; and
(d) whether any monitoring is being done by high level Committee to ensure fairness, if so, the details thereof?
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 Committee headed by Chief Executive Officer, Prasar Bharati has submitted its report. 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 addresses various issues referred to them including the recommendations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on the subject.
(c) & (d): Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) was granted registration as a Television Rating Agency by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 28.7.2015 for a period of 10 years and it operates through various bodies as the Technical Committee, Oversight Committee, Disciplinary Committee and Board of Directors.
No monitoring is being done by high level Committee in this regard. The existing Television Rating Points (TRP) guidelines has provisions like methodology for audience measurement, panel selection, viewing platform secrecy and privacy, data analysis, transparency and complaint redressal mechanism etc. which are essentially required for a robust, transparent and accountable rating system in India. Notwithstanding, the existing provisions in the guidelines and processes put in place by BARC, based on the Report of the Committee headed by CEO, Prasar Bharati along with recommendations of TRAI, the matter could be appropriately considered for further interventions, if required.