News Broadcasting

Side effects of high decibel quotient on news channels

Published

11 years ago

June 20, 2015

MUMBAI: Surprisingly the largest read English newspaper in the world hails from India. More surprisingly, India, which is often perceived as a country suffering from poverty with low literacy rate has a whopping 99,660 publications registered with the Registrar of Newspaper in India (RNI). The story of pride and honor doesn’t end there; the country has in excess of 90 24×7 news channels operating in more than 10 languages. Such is India’s journalistic story.

Take a walk down memory lane and you’ll see that Indian media received global recognition on many occasions. Young aspirants were inspired by the words of P Sainath, Shekhar Gupta and Aroun Shourie. While Indian Express’ blank editorial page to protest emergency enthralled journalism of courage in young minds, R Jagannathan business analysis informed readers about numbers in the most exquisite manner. Indians were not only reading but were also watching headlines in World This Week with Dr Prannoy Roy in the broadcast medium.

While the past makes us nostalgic, the ecstasy in present poses a threat to the future. Senior journalists are taking on each other on public forums. More than news, anchors are speaking about ratings, whereas hashtags like #presstitutes, #whoownsNDTV #traitortimesnow are trending on social media. Competition has transformed to jingoism and campaigns are launched to take on each other. While one is calling the other’s show hysteria, the other is claiming to be the best in the business. Not only that jingoism is going to such an extent that reputed journalists are tagging and bantering with each other on Twitter.

And all this to garner high ratings, which in turn will bring 12 money-making minutes per hour to the channel! But what about the millions who are following these veteran journalists on social media platforms? Why has minting money become the foremost target of news channels? And more importantly, how will it stop?

Almost every news channel now has a campaign, which indirectly depicts loopholes in the ratings of Times Now’s prime time show News Hour hosted by the effervescent Arnab Goswami. What’s more, Times Now has now launched a campaign hitting out at the other four English news channels namely India Today Television, NDTV 24×7, CNN-IBN and NewsX.

Not long back Goswami directly targeted Rajdeep Sardesai after Sunanda Pushkar’s coverage on erstwhile Headlines Today (now India Today Television). Goswami went to such an extent that Sardesai went on to offer an indirect apology when he wrote, “Yes, we are driven by a TRP culture and see a murder case involving the rich and famous as ideal fodder. Yes, this case must be thoroughly investigated. But are we conducting a media trial based on sensationalizing facts?”

Sardesai’s blog further added, “Last night, I carried a video of the dead body with marks on it. We saw it as evidentiary value and, therefore, relevant to the case. On hindsight, in showing close ups of the body, we erred: could we not have just blurred the body pictures? I plead guilty. Sunanda deserves justice. She also deserves dignity, in death as in life.”

Goswami also publicly opposed NDTV’s decision to premiere India’s Daughter – a documentary directed and produced by Leslee Udwin on the Delhi rape case. The Government of India intervened and a decision was passed to forbid the premiere. It must be noted that Times Now also aired a controversial documentary on Purulia Arms Drop featuring interviews of accused Kim Davy and Peter Bleach. The documentary exposed many holes in the Indian judicial system and Times Now’s investigative journalism witnessed mass acknowledgement. So when Times Now airs a controversial documentary, it’s investigative journalism and if NDTV does so it’s an insult? Nirbhaya’s parents had no problem with the documentary, so what was the real issue? Was insecurity of others getting higher viewership the problem? What happened to freedom of expression?

A senior media planning executive is of the opinion that at the end of the day, ratings is what planners look at and that’s the reason why all this is happening. The more the eyeballs… the more the brand interest. “Negative publicity does not result in brands rejection until and unless viewers reject the show and stop watching it,” the planner adds.

The most recent development in this entire scenario is Times Now’s new campaign hitting on the other four channels, which earlier took the campaign route to criticize News Hour.

Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, journalism professor of Calcutta University Tapati Basu says, “There are a huge number of young minds who want to be journalists. A majority of them look at Arnab, Barkha and Rajdeep for inspiration. Them bantering with each other for whatever reason impacts those igniting minds. They should set an example, a path, which young ones will follow and grow. And not only students, this public bantering affects the mass too. As of now there is no downward trend in enrollment.”

Former Symbiosis media dean and current Amity University dean Ujjwal K Chowdhury opines, “The campaign of picking on each other is not healthy. The attempt of any news-initiative campaign should be on the strengths of the initiative and not on others’ weaknesses. And when you resort to such a campaign, you are actually giving importance to your rivals perhaps more than they deserve. Or, at least more than what YOU think they deserve. Having said this, sensationalism and commodification of news have been on the rise, more so in television and the thought that only talking loud, creating quarrels on screen, taking moral high positions, and playing to the emotions, almost playing to the gallery are sure shots of success. So, there is bound to be a backlash.”

On the issue of negative impact on students, Chowdhury feels, “There will not be any perceived impact of this campaign on media education in general, or journalism in particular. However, the buzz is out that newer ways to tackle Times Now type of journalism are needed. The exclusive interview of Lalit Modi by India Today Television is one such way. Original, incisive and investigative journalism will be respected and become more popular ahead.”

Sardesai is the largest followed Indian journalist on Twitter with 2.42 millions. Barkha Dutt, whose footage from the warfront still gives goose bumps to many, holds the second position with 2.34 million followers. On the other hand, Goswami has so far failed to take the Twitter bait and is unlikely to hop on to the social networking site anytime soon. However, Times Now, which is almost synonymous with Goswami, has 2.48 million followers. No matter the permutation combination, at least 20 per cent of those followers will be aspiring journalists, who look up to the stalwarts for inspiration. These veteran journalists also have a moral responsibility towards the younger lot. In the end, it’s not just about the 12 money-making minutes per hour.

Three Parting Thoughts:

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“The true function of journalism is to educate the public mind, not to stock it with wanted and unwanted impressions.” MK Gandhi

Final thought:when will journalists learn to gracefully accept if their colleague gets a big interview? Or is grace lost in mad competition?
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) June 19, 2015

Amusing to hear that a channel in love with its own bombast constantly needs to reference anchors on other networks! Still so insecure yaar
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 18, 2015
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News Broadcasting

Barc forensic audit in TRP row awaits as Twenty-Four probe gathers pace

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

KERALA: A forensic audit commissioned by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has emerged as the centrepiece of the government’s response to fresh allegations of television rating point manipulation involving a regional news channel in Kerala, with both the audit findings and a parallel police investigation still awaited.

Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan, said Barc had appointed an independent agency to conduct a forensic probe into the conduct of senior personnel allegedly linked to the case.

The move followed media reports claiming that a Barc employee had accepted bribes to manipulate viewership data in favour of a regional television news channel.

“The report from BARC is still awaited,” Murugan told Parliament, signalling that the forensic exercise remains ongoing.

Industry specialists say forensic audits are crucial in alleged TRP fraud cases, as they examine internal controls, data access trails, panel household integrity, staff communications and financial transactions. The outcome could determine whether the alleged manipulation was an isolated breach or a deeper systemic weakness in India’s television measurement framework.

Running alongside the audit, the Kerala Police has formed a special investigation team to probe the allegations. The ministry has sought a preliminary report from the state’s director general of police, including details of action taken on the first information report. That report, too, is yet to be submitted.

The episode has revived long-standing concerns over the vulnerability of India’s TRP system, particularly in regional news markets where competition for ratings is fierce and advertising revenues hinge on weekly viewership rankings.

India’s sole television audience measurement body Barc, has faced scrutiny before, most notably during the nationwide TRP controversy involving news channels in 2020. While tighter compliance norms were introduced in the aftermath, the latest allegations suggest enforcement challenges may persist.

On regulatory consequences, the government said any punitive action against television channels, including suspension or cancellation of uplinking and downlinking permissions, would be governed by the Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels issued in November 2022, and would depend on investigation outcomes and due process.

The ministry also pointed to ongoing efforts to overhaul the ratings ecosystem. Television measurement continues to be regulated under the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014. Draft amendments were released for public consultation in July 2025, followed by a revised version in November 2025, aimed at tightening audit mechanisms and improving transparency and representativeness.

In November 2025, Barc said it had taken note of allegations aired by Malayalam news channel Twenty-Four, which linked an internal employee to irregularities in audience measurement. The council said it had engaged a “reputed independent agency” to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit, underscoring the seriousness of the claims.

The ratings system sits at the heart of India’s broadcast advertising economy, shaping billions of rupees in annual ad spends. With trust in audience data once again under strain, advertisers, broadcasters and regulators are closely watching the outcome of the investigations.

Barc has urged industry stakeholders and media organisations to exercise restraint while the probe is underway, calling for an end to “unverified or speculatory claims” and reiterating its commitment to integrity and accountability.

Until the forensic audit and police findings are submitted and reviewed, the government said it would refrain from drawing conclusions.

News Broadcasting

Rajat Sharma defamation row: Delhi court summons Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has ordered the summoning of senior Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh in a criminal case filed by veteran journalist Rajat Sharma, sharpening a legal battle over alleged defamation and doctored digital content.

The order was passed on Monday by Devanshi Janmeja, judicial magistrate first class at Saket Courts, after the court found prima facie grounds to proceed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery, creation of false electronic records and defamation.

Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief of India TV, had approached the court over allegations made in June 2024 that he had used derogatory language against Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak during a live television debate. He denied the charge, claiming it was fuelled by a manipulated video circulated online.

According to the complaint, a clipped version of the broadcast carrying superimposed captions, which were not part of the original programme, was first shared on social media platform X by Nayak and later amplified through retweets and public statements by Khera and Ramesh. Sharma said the viral spread caused serious reputational harm and personal distress.

The court took note of forensic science laboratory findings that pointed to visible post-production alterations in the video, including added titles and captions. It also cited witness testimonies from those present during the live broadcast, who stated that no abusive or objectionable language had been used.

In a related civil matter, the Delhi High Court had earlier observed a prima facie absence of abusive remarks and directed the removal of the disputed social media posts.

With criminal proceedings now set in motion, the case adds to mounting scrutiny around political messaging, digital manipulation and accountability on social media platforms.

News Broadcasting

Mukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive

Reliance and BlackRock chiefs map the future of investing as global capital eyes India

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: India’s capital story takes centre stage today as Mukesh Ambani and Larry Fink sit down for a rare joint television conversation, bringing together two of the most powerful voices in global business at a moment of economic churn and opportunity.

The Reliance Industries chief and the BlackRock boss will speak with Shereen Bhan, managing editor of CNBC-TV18, in an exclusive interaction airing from 3:00 pm on February 4. The timing is deliberate. Geopolitics are tense, technology is disruptive and capital is choosier. India, meanwhile, is pitching itself as a long-term bet.

The pairing is symbolic. Reliance straddles energy transition, digital infrastructure and consumer growth in the world’s fastest-expanding major economy. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, oversees more than $14 tn in assets and sits at the nerve centre of global capital flows. When the two talk, markets tend to listen.

Fink’s appearance marks his third India visit, a signal of the country’s rising strategic weight for the Wall Street-listed firm, which carries a market value above $177 bn. His earlier 2023 trips included an October stop in New Delhi, where he met both Ambani and Narendra Modi.

India is now central to BlackRock’s expansion plans, notably through its joint venture with Jio Financial Services. Announced in July 2023, the 50:50 venture, JioBlackRock, commits up to $150 mn each from the partners to build a digital-first asset-management platform aimed at India’s swelling investor class.

The backdrop is robust. BlackRock ended 2025 with record assets under management of $14.04 tn, helped by $698 bn in net inflows, including $342 bn in the fourth quarter alone. Scale gives Fink both heft and a long lens on where money is moving.

He has been openly bullish on India. At the Saudi-US Investment Summit in Riyadh last year, Fink argued that the “fog of global uncertainty is lifting”, with capital returning to dynamic markets such as India, drawn by reforms, demographics and durable return potential.

Expect the conversation to range beyond balance sheets, into technology’s role in finance, access to capital and the mechanics of sustainable growth in a fracturing world order. For investors and policymakers alike, it is a snapshot of how big money is thinking about India.

At a time when capital is cautious and growth is contested, India wants to be the exception. When Ambani and Fink share a stage, it is less a chat and more a signal. The world’s money is still looking for its next big story, and India intends to be it.