The government on Friday directed television rating agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to immediately freeze reporting the Television Rating Points (TRPs) for TV news channels for a period of four weeks, or until further orders, over ‘sensational’ coverage of US-Iran conflict.
The move comes amid concerns that some TV news channels are displaying “unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content” about the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, which “may potentially create panic” among the general public, especially those having friends and family in the affected areas or residing in the conflict zones, mentioned a report by news wire PTI.
Track all the latest developments in US-Iran conflict here
The conflict in West Asia entered its seventh day on Friday, 6 March – following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Islamic Republic on 28 February. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.
What is BARC?
According to the ‘Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India’, issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on January 16, 2014 for television rating, Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) is a registered television rating agency.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in its directive, said that it has observed that, amid the ongoing Israel–Iran conflict, certain news TV channels are displaying “unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content”, which “may potentially create panic” among the general public, especially those having friends and family in the affected areas or residing in the affected areas.
The Clause 24.2 of the policy guidelines, prescribes that “The company shall be required to comply with any orders, regulations, guidelines, directions, etc., issued by the Ministry from time to time.
“Therefore, in the public interest, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting herein directs M/s BARC to immediately withhold reporting the Television Rating Points(TRPs) for news TV channels for a period of four weeks or until further directions, whichever is earlier,” the directive said.
