Republic TV, the baby of the controversial and silent-when-needed reporter, Arnab Goswami, is in heat. The astonishing fact that, well, does not surprise us that much, is the heat was a long-way coming. Republic TV is an Indian news channel created in May 2017 by Arnab Goswami and Rajeev Chandrashekhar. In 2019, while the latter took off from the company, the former emerged as the sole king. Be it the news coverage on the channel or the accountability it offers, Republic TV has been in news for quite longs. Mumbai police also dropped a bomb when it accused the company of rigging the ratings. It is no new feat in the TV world, however, the fact that a journalist who vows to be truthful is trapped, makes it all gung-ho-ed.
TRP manipulation racket and Republic TV
TRP stands for Television rating points. These points basically assess how well a particular channel is doing amidst the audience. It shows which channels created hype among people, weekly. The Broadcast Audience Research Council of India has installed “BAR-O-meters” in 45,000 households and they emanate the TRP info. Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh stated that channels ae rigging the devices BARC uses. One such channel is Republic TV. Other than Republic TV, Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema is also under police radar.
Param Bir Singh said the police have arrested the owners of the latter two companies. However, he said after getting adequate proof, they can freeze the accounts of Republic TV as well. We were also hearing the name of India Today in the racket. However, Commissioner said, “As of now, we have no evidence against India Today. We are proceeding against Republic TV, Marathi channels.”
What’s next for the channel?
Param Bir Singh made it clear that anyone involved in the TRP manipulating channels will face repercussions. “No matter, how top the senior, will be questioned, and if involved they will be investigated.”
This TRP scam intended to create more advertising revenues. The police suspect that the selected 45,00 families received a monthly amount of Rs. 400-500. The people who don’t speak English were watching only English TV news. Why?
This is what republic TV reacted with.
#RepublicFightsBack | They should have examined India Today and not Republic at all, and it comes across as some big blooper by Mumbai Police for reasons best known to them: Swapnil Kothari, Lawyer https://t.co/RZHKU3wOei pic.twitter.com/4FmVVJYOhs
— Republic (@republic) October 9, 2020
Arnab Goswami also retaliated saying that the Mumbai police commissioner is avenging them because they questioned him in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. Furthermore, he added, “he should issue a public apology or get ready to face us in court.” Thus, the Mumbai police are investigating further to bring the culprits in front of the law. However, what Arnab Goswami says next really will set the course of his defense.
