Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh (R) told media on Wednesday that news anchor Arnab Goswami, the promoter of Republic TV, will soon be questioned in a case of TRP fraud (Illustration: Rahul Gupta/India Today Group Digital)
The Mumbai Police on Thursday claimed that its Crime Branch has busted a Television Rating Points (TRP) manipulation racket. Owners of two TV channels, Fast Marathi and Box Cinema, were arrested for TRP fraud and the owner of the third channel, Republic TV, was yet to be summoned. Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh told reporters at a press conference that news anchor Arnab Goswami, the promoter of Republic TV, will soon be questioned in the case of TRP fraud. The ratings of Republic Media’s Republic Bharat had shot up exponentially raising suspicions of a foul play.
Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the body that gives rating points to TV channels in India, had earlier suspected Republic TV of manipulating the system. Hansa Research, the company that installed these rating boxes called barometers on behalf of BARC, had filed a case with the Mumbai Police saying some of Hansa Research’s former employees had leaked or sold the data of the households where these barometers were installed. The data about these households are closely guarded and supposed to be top secret.
MODUS OPERANDI
Once the data about the households with barometers were obtained by the fraudsters, they would pay these households money to keep the channel on even when they were not watching it. In some cases, a household that did not understand English would switch on Republic TV at all hours. This nexus kept Republic TV’s TRP high (read our detailed guide on what TRP and how it is measured), the Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh said. The same tactic was used by Fast Marathi and Box Cinema channels. Republic channel is helmed and owned by Arnab Goswami, known for his loud debates and wild conspiracy theories in the Sushant Singh death case.
FOR WHAT?
The manipulation of viewership data helped Republic and the other two channels notch the top spot for undue time and these channels could charge the advertisers more than they deserved. TV advertising market in India is worth more than Rs 30,000 crore and all channels compete for their share based on their viewership numbers. By inflating their viewership, Republic TV and the other two accused channels were earning more from advertisements than their due share.
PROPAGANDA MACHINE
Republic TV has also been running a campaign to malign the image of the Mumbai Police, the Mumbai Police commissioner said. Param Bir Singh said Republic TV was running false propaganda to gain TRPs and even the police believed the propaganda was getting Republic TV good rating points but now that the TRP fraud has come to light, the police suspects the ‘fake news’ and propaganda did not have as many takers as earlier believed.
WHAT NOW?
The Criminal Intelligence Unit of the Crime Branch has arrested two TV channel owners and seized 28.5 lakh rupees from them. Arnab Goswami is the big fish and a known name countrywide. The Mumbai Police has informed the Information and Broadcasting ministry in Delhi about the fraud. Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh said the police will question and act against whoever runs the channel, Arnab Goswami, being not just an owner but also a journalist, will use his rights as a media person to block any attempts to arrest him.
Household data were used by the channels for ratings manipulation and they received illegal advertising funds. This will be considered proceeds of cheating
– Param Bir Singh
Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh said the bank accounts of the channels were being looked into, including the revenue they earned from advertisers to know “whether they are from proceeds of crimes”.
“Anyone involved in the channel, no matter how top management, how senior, will be questioned, and if involved they will be investigated,” Param Bir Singh said, “There was false TRP spreading. TRP ratings were being bought. The manipulation was mainly for advertising revenues.”
“Household data were used by the channels for ratings manipulation and they received illegal advertising funds. This will be considered proceeds of cheating,” Mumbai Police commissioner param bir singh said.
WHAT HAS REPUBLIC SAID?
In a statement released shortly after the Mumbai Police’s press conference, Arnab Goswami’s Republic TV said the allegations against it were “false” and that Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh was making the claims since the channel had “questioned” him on the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Calling the allegations part of a “desperate measure”, Republic TV said it will file a criminal defamation case against Param Bir Singh and asked him to be ready to face the channel in court.
WHAT IS THE RATINGS AGENCY SAYING?
Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) is the body that gives rating points to India’s TV channels. A BARC spokesperson commented on the controversy and said, “As in all our previous cases of suspected panel homes intrusions, BARC India continues to follow its established vigilance and disciplinary guidelines. BARC remains steadfastly true to its purpose to accurately and faithfully report ‘ What India Watches’. BARC India appreciates the efforts of the Mumbai Police and will provide the support asked of it.”
WHO OWNS REPUBLIC TV?
Arnab Goswami, who is the editor-in-chief of Republic Media Network, is the sole promoter and is also the chairman of the board of the Republic Media Network (RMN).
Republic TV’s parent ARG Outlier Media Private Limited has two directors — Samyabrata Ray Goswami and Arnab Ranjan Goswami. Samyabrata Goswami is Arnab Goswami’s wife.
Arnab and his entities control 80.8 per cent of ARG. ARG’s authorised share capital is INR 50 lakh and the total paid-up capital is INR 29.93 lakh.