After some news channels have been alleged for the fake Television Rating Points (TRP) manipulations, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology has decided to look into the issues related to media ethics, news coverage, and TRP scam. Reportedly, the discussion will be headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in the coming week after a member of the panel Karti Chidambaram urged him to call a meeting.
In the meeting, officials of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry will be called before the committee to seek clarification and remedial measures related to the scam. Karti Chidambaram had said, "The government's advertising expenditure depends on the TRP system, and public spending should not be based on flawed data."
The Parliamentary committee on IT has asked Broadcasters Association, Press Council of India, and Prasar Bharati to depose on 'Ethical Standards in Media Coverage'.
K Chidambaram further said, "Flawed or manipulated TRP cannot be the basis of ad spend. TV companies also base their valuations on TRP. Those valuations are questionable now."
Notably, the Committee will take up the matter on October 15 and 16. On the first day, an issue related to the "ethical standards in media coverage" will be discussed in length. Apart from these, women security in the digital space, cybersecurity scenario in India will be reviewed along with the review of the functioning and outreach of Doordarshan channels, and related topics. Also, the committee will discuss how citizens' rights can be safeguarded and how the misuse of social/ online news media platforms can be prevented.
The matter in the sittings would be discussed with representatives of the News Broadcasters Association, Press Council of Indian, and Prasar Bharti on the 'Ethical Standards in Media Coverage'.
Reportedly, Mumbai Police on Thursday has busted a TRP scam on three TV news channels -- Republic TV, Fakt Marathi, and Box Cinema.
According to the Police, owners of the two news channels have already been detained while owners and prime management of Republic TV would soon be called for interrogation.
Notably, the issue came into limelight after BARC, an organization that measures TRP, lodged a complaint in this regard through Hansa Research Group Pvt Ltd, police said.