TRP scam

The '''TRP manipulation scam of 2020''' in India involved the alleged inflation by some television channels of their viewership ratings. The investigation was based on a complaint filed with the Mumbai Police.<ref name="TOI_15Dec20" /> The 70% revenue for television channels coming from advertising highlights the importance of Target Rating Point (TRP) for television channels.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-10-08 |title=Explained: TRP and its loopholes |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/explained-trp-and-its-loopholes/article61720376.ece |access-date=2022-05-04 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==History== In October 2020, Mumbai Police announced that they had received complaints of channels fraudulently inflating their ratings. An investigation was launched into Republic TV's viewership ratings.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=16 October 2020|title=What is TRP scam: All you need to know|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/what-is-trp-scam-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/78696131.cms|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-22|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=16 October 2020|title=TRP scam: IT panel, I&B Ministry agree that changes needed in legislation, say reports|url=https://scroll.in/latest/975923/trp-scam-it-panel-i-b-ministry-agree-that-changes-needed-in-legislation-say-reports|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-22|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/breaking-mumbai-police-names-arnab-goswami-republic-tv-chief-as-accused-in-trp-scam-chargesheet-176090| title=Mumbai Police Names Arnab Goswami|date=22 June 2021|website=Live law}}</ref> Fakt Marathi, and Box Cinema TV were also charged in the FIR.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gokhale|first=Omkar|date=2020-10-20|title=TRP case: Issue summons to Arnab before arraigning him, HC tells Mumbai Police|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/bombay-high-court-mumbai-police-fake-trp-scam-republic-arnab-goswami-6789238/|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

The police conducted an audit into the accounts of the ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd (owner of Republic TV and Republic Bharat). It showed that the TRPs and viewership of its Hindi channel, Republic Bharat, were high from the first month of its launch in 2016.<ref name="TOI_15Dec20">{{cite news |last1=Ali |first1=Ahmed |title=Republic's TRPs high from 1st month, used to get revenue: Cops {{!}} India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/republics-trps-high-from-1st-month-used-to-get-revenue-cops/articleshow/79730429.cms |access-date=23 December 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=15 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The police alleged that the channel inflated its ratings by bribing low-income individuals, including people who did not comprehend English, to keep their televisions turned on and tuned to Republic TV. With an inflated TRP, ARG Outlier Media was able to bargain for higher revenue from advertisers.<ref name="TOI_15Dec20" /> Arnab Goswami denied the allegations and accused the Mumbai Police of retaliating against the channel's recent criticism of their activities.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Jeffrey|last1=Gettleman|author-link1=Jeffrey Gettleman|first2=Hari|last2=Kumar|first3=Shalini Venugopal|last3=Bhagat|access-date=9 October 2020|title=Indian Police Accuse Popular TV Station of Ratings Fraud|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/09/world/asia/india-republic-tv-ratings.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=9 October 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=9 October 2020|title=Mumbai cops take first step in probe against Arnab Goswami's Republic TV|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-cops-take-first-step-in-probe-against-arnab-goswami-s-republic-tv/story-4XBcsgIvsPsCYEXWPlbnnJ.html|date=9 October 2020|website=Hindustan Times|first=Manish K|last=Pathak}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=9 October 2020|title=Republic TV CFO Summoned By Mumbai Police Tomorrow Over Ratings Scam|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/republic-tv-cfo-summoned-by-mumbai-police-tomorrow-in-rigged-ratings-case-2307803|website=NDTV|first=Sunilkumar M|last=Singh|editor-first=Divyanshu Dutta|editor-last=Roy|date=9 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/reel/975626/why-big-bollywood-has-launched-a-potentially-damaging-battle-against-times-now-and-republic-tv|title=Why Big Bollywood has launched a potentially damaging battle against Times Now and Republic TV|first=Nandini|last=Ramnath|website=Scroll.in|date=13 October 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/law/bollywood-republic-tv-times-now-delhi-hc|title=34 Bollywood Producers Move HC Against Irresponsible Remarks by Republic TV, Times Now|website=The Wire}}</ref>

On 21 October, the investigation became a country-wide case, potentially covering every news channel in India investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). <ref>{{Cite web|last1=Tiwary|first1=Deeptiman|last2=Gokhale|first2=Omkar|date=21 October 2020|title=Twist in TRP case: UP Police file own FIR; case with CBI|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/twist-in-trp-case-up-police-file-own-fir-case-with-cbi-6814618/|access-date=22 October 2020|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Gunasekar|first1=Arvind|last2=Jain|first2=Sreenivasan|date=21 October 2020|title=CBI Moves To Investigate Fake Ratings Case As Complaint Is Filed In UP|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cbi-registers-case-to-investigate-fake-ratings-case-based-on-complaint-filed-in-uttar-pradesh-2313116|access-date=22 October 2020|website=NDTV}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-republic-media-network-gets-another-notice-from-police-6910657/|title=Republic Media Network gets another notice from Mumbai Police|date=October 31, 2020}}</ref> TV Today Network Ltd ( Aaj Tak and India Today) was fined 5 lakh by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) for viewership manipulation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/india-today-accept-that-barc-put-penalty-on-him-in-fake-trp-case-sc111-nu764-ta764-ta277-1123095-1.html|title=TRP Scam: India Today's confirms, 'BARC imposed fine of Rs 5 lakh'|date=October 10, 2020|website=News Track}}</ref> The Bombay High Court directed TV Today Network to pay a 5 lakh fine, or face coercive steps by the BARC Disciplinary Council (BDC).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/bombya-hc-directs-tv-today-to-pay-fine-imposed-by-barc-for-interim-protection|title=Pay 5 lakh fine if you want interim protection: Bombay High Court directs TV Today Network in plea against BARC order|first=Neha|last=Joshi|website=Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news|date=23 October 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/bombay-high-court-directs-tv-today-network-to-deposit-rs5-lakh-to-grant-interim-protection-in-plea-against-barc-164891|title=Bombay High Court Directs TV Today Network To Deposit Rs.5 Lakh To Grant Interim Protection In Plea Against BARC|first=Nitish|last=Kashyap|date=October 23, 2020|website=www.livelaw.in}}</ref>

On 4 November 2020, it was further complicated when Arnab Goswami was arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch on an alleged suicide case and sent him to judicial custody. <ref> {{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/arnab-goswami-arrested-for-allegedly-abetting-suicide-of-interior-designer-say-police-news-agency-pti-2320301 |title=TV Anchor Arnab Goswami Arrested, Sent To Judicial Custody For 2 Weeks |date=2020-11-04 |website=ndtv.com}}</ref> On 11 November 2020, Supreme Court of India granted an interim bail to Arnab Goswami mentioning that personal liberty must always be upheld including mention of Mumbai High court abdicated its constitutional duty and function as a protector of liberty in this case. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-orders-release-of-arnab-goswami-from-jail-165776 |date=2020-11-11 |website=www.livelaw.in |title=Breaking: Supreme Court Orders Release Of Arnab Goswami From Jail; Says 'Personal Liberty Must Be Upheld'}}</ref>

On 5 November 2020, Hansa Group asked the Bombay High Court to rule against Crime Branch and sought the transfer of the probe to CBI, claiming that the Mumbai Police Crime Branch had been adopting pressure tactics to coerce its employees to issue a statement that a document flashed as "Hansa Report" by Republic TV was a fake document. The plea stated that the petitioners were held at the Crime Branch for long hours and threatened with arrest and were repeatedly pressed to make a false statement. Police officers were listed as respondents in the petition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/trp-scam-hansa-research-claims-crime-branch-harassment-bombay-high-court|title=TRP scam: Hansa Research moves Bombay HC, claims harassment by Crime Branch to make false statements against Republic TV|first=Meera|last=Emmanuel|website=Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news|date=5 November 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/trp-case-hansa-moves-hc-against-crime-branch-6950493/|title=TRP case: Hansa moves HC against Crime Branch|date=November 5, 2020}}</ref> The Supreme court of India rejected the plea from the channel to protect its employees from arrest.

On 13 December 2020, Republic TV's CEO Vikas Khanchandani was arrested by Mumbai police. Later on 16 December, he was granted bail by a sessions court. While granting the bail, ''the court took exception over the haste in which Mumbai Police arrested Khanchandani'' and expressed displeasure over the manner in which the police chose to arrest him a day before his plea for anticipatory bail was scheduled for hearing.<ref>{{Cite news|date=16 December 2020|title=Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchadani granted bail in TRP manipulation case|work=indian express|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/republic-tv-ceo-vikas-khanchadani-granted-bail-in-trp-manipulation-case-7107197/|access-date=19 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119164120/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/republic-tv-ceo-vikas-khanchadani-granted-bail-in-trp-manipulation-case-7107197/|archive-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>

Republic TV CFO Sundaram got multiple pre-arrest bails.<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 December 2020|title=Won't arrest Republic TV CFO till Tuesday: Mumbai Police to court|work=indianexpress.com|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/wont-arrest-republic-tv-cfo-till-tuesday-mumbai-police-to-court-7104934/|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=7 July 2021|title=TRP Rigging Case: 3 Republic TV Employees Get Anticipatory Bail|work=news18|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/trp-rigging-case-3-republic-tv-employees-get-anticipatory-bail-3936920.html|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=7 July 2021|title=trp-scam-3-republic-tv-employees-get-anticipatory-bail|work=indiantelevision.com|url=https://indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/news-broadcasting/trp-scam-3-republic-tv-employees-get-anticipatory-bail-210707|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>

On 22 June 2021 Mumbai Police named Arnab Goswami, Republic TV chief, as a participant. The police named Goswami and four others from ARG Outlier Media (that owns Republic TV) in their 1800 page supplementary charge sheet submitted in the Esplanade Metropolitan Magistrate Court.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/breaking-mumbai-police-names-arnab-goswami-republic-tv-chief-as-accused-in-trp-scam-chargesheet-176090| title=Mumbai Police Names Arnab Goswami|date=22 June 2021|website=Live law}}</ref>

BARC has renewed their ratings since Week 10 of 2022. This has been undertaken after the industry-wide consultation process which resulted in the Augmented Data Reporting Standards for News and Special Interest genres.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pandey |first=Devesh K. |date=2022-03-17 |title=BARC India resumes ratings for individual news channels |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/barc-india-resumes-ratings-for-individual-news-channels/article65233634.ece |access-date=2022-05-04 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Closure == With unable to produce any legitimate evidences by Mumbai Police as observed by courts previously <ref>{{Cite news |work=TheBar and Bench |date=2021-03-17 |url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/trp-scam-republic-tv-bombay-high-court-case-live-updates |language=en-IN |title=TRP Scam: "You have no evidence against Republic TV after 3 months:" Bombay High Court to Mumbai Police }}</ref> ultimately court allowed Mumbai Crime Branch to withdraw the case and bring it to an end with no legitimate proof of Republic TV and Arnab Goswami's allegedly involvement in TRP scam. <ref>{{Cite news }ref=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mumbai-police-seeks-withdrawal-of-trp-case-against-republic-court-accepts-101709731398798.html |language=en-IN |date=2024-03-06 |work=The Hindustan Times |access-date=2024-05-21 |title='Fake TRP' case against Republic, Arnab Goswami allowed to be withdrawn}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:Audience measurement Category:Advertising Category:Mass media industry Category:Mass media regulation Category:Television controversies in India Category:Mass media issues Category:Mass media rivalries Category:Bribery scandals