New Delhi: The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) Sunday accused Republic TV of “misrepresentation”, after the Arnab Goswami-led channel quoted a communication from the viewership-tracking agency to claim it was innocent of malpractice in the Television Rating Points (TRP) scam.
Republic TV is one of three channels — the other two are Marathi-language Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema — that are being investigated by the Mumbai Police for allegedly manipulating viewership ratings to boost their advertising revenue. The Mumbai Police has arrested six persons in the case, including the owners of Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema.
However, Republic TV claims the Mumbai Police is levelling allegations against it as a “desperate measure”, because of its reportage on certain cases, such as the Palghar lynching and actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.
In a statement issued on Twitter Sunday afternoon, Republic TV cited an “official email” from BARC and claimed that “there is not a single complaint or malpractice found against Republic TV, Republic Bharat or any other affiliate of the News Network”.
It claimed that a BARC email to Republic Media Network Group CEO Vikas Khanchandani “specifically confirms that there is no malpractice by the network”.
#RepublicExposesParamBir | News Release: With the BARC email in public, the fake news-based campaign against Republic Media Network led by Mumbai Police Commissioner comes to an end pic.twitter.com/UEgGuIxeeC
— Republic (@republic) October 18, 2020
“With the disclosure of BARC, the fake news-based campaign against Republic led by Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh comes to an end,” the statement added.
Hours later, BARC issued a statement saying it is “dismayed at misrepresentation of its communication by Republic Network”. The council added that it has not commented on the ongoing investigation and that it is providing necessary assistance to the law enforcement agency.
“BARC India is highly disappointed with the actions of the Republic Network by disclosing private and confidential communications and misrepresenting the same,” it said.
“BARC India reiterates that it has not commented on the ongoing investigation and without prejudice to BARC India’s rights, it expresses its dismay at the actions of the Republic Network,” it added.
With the emergence of the TRP scam raising questions over the viewership ratings released by BARC every week, the council decided earlier this week to suspend the release of individual ratings for channels in the news genre pending a review of the process.
Also Read: Arnab Goswami vs rest: How TRPs can be fixed, and why TV news is caught in a vicious fight
Republic moves Bombay High Court
Apart from posting the tweet, Republic also published on its website an article titled “BARC Email Shreds Param Bir Singh’s TRP Case Lies Against Republic; False Campaign Exposed”.
According to the report, BARC’s email dated 17 October said that “if there was any disciplinary action initiated against ARG Outlier Media Private Ltd (which owns Republic TV), then BARC India would have communicated the same to you along with necessary documents for your response”.
Relying on this purported sentence, the article concluded, “Thus, this email proves that BARC did not allege any malpractice against the Republic Media Network, and yet, the Mumbai Police commissioner floated a factually-bereft campaign against it, which has been comprehensively exposed at every turn.”
Meanwhile, ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd and Republic Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami moved the Bombay High Court Friday, seeking to quash the FIR lodged against the channel in the case. The plea also demands transfer of the investigation from the Mumbai Police Crime Branch to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
This was after the Supreme Court Thursday refused to entertain a similar petition and directed the Republic Media Group to approach the high court instead.
Also Read: ‘Vendetta or witch hunt’ — Republic TV ‘fake TRP’ probe opens another front in BJP-MVA fight
Bankruptcy in journalism, Republic is already a winner. Let BARC starts it’s meters again, eventually will find the TRP of Republic is even soaring high. Harakiri by media houses and so called journalists. The public is going to write off them. All scared of one channel adding to popularity of The Republic.
THE PRINT is indirectly connected to the Chinese mouth piece Global Times. You people should leave the country and support chinese PLA and Xi Jing Ping.
The lowest level of journalism.
The arrivals is trying to subdue the most important fact that the complaint was not on republic but on India Today and never dared to even slightly mention India Today.
Also print was silent when Mumbai Police tried to arrest Republic journalist even though he had anticipatory bail and confiscated his phone. They would have cried river had it been left propagandist reporter.
Also who are you to preach what Indians should watch or what kind or reportage is good or bad. Atleast republic doesn’t spread fake news.
You will never get support if you show such biasness
Shekar Gupta is jobless
Barkha is Jobless
Nikhil Wagle is Jobless
Many r in Queue
Arnab is starring, TRP is booming. Nothing can stop him. Whoever trying to stop will prove self destruction.
Now Republic Marathi is coming with a Grand Marathi face ! Just wait.
New India is in Making.
Arnab goswami is an asslicker and bootlicker of bjp
Everyone isn’t just like you buddy….
The Print is totally biased.
It is as clear as daylight, you have an agenda to protect those manipulators like India Today etc by obfuscating well known facts. In the entire episode, however, Arnab Goswami has emerged a true hero, a true nationalist and a bold uncompromising journalist. You, Shekhar Gupta! portrayed yourself as a court jester.
My dear friend whatever you say Republic gonna be the no 1 channel for sure. Every true Indians(-) knows who has done TRP Fraud. It’s fun to see all the bad boys getting together against one. But it’s not gonna stay for a long time.
Print is control by congress its being proved by this article
Arnab goswami will bring out the truth. You Fools dont understand.
Arnab Goswami will bring out the truth!
Most biased evident from the comment. Shame on you print .Atleast stand by the truth. Everybody knows the truth. You are a PR .How much did you get to spread this fake news
At the end GOO Swami sat on shit !!! He is in haste to make money & will go to any extent even Falkland Road !!! He wriggled his best to circumvent Mumbai Police suggesting many skelatons hidden in his cup board !!!
“India needs free, fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism even more as it faces multiple crises.” – The Print
Exactly why people don’t donate or support you!
Print should be so much ashamed of themselves now, after reading the comments slapping their efforts in running their propaganda