Republic TV CEO arrested over TRP manipulation case

www.mangaloretoday.com

Mumbai, Dec 13, 2020: Mumbai Police on Sunday arrested Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani in the alleged TRP manipulation case.

The fake TRP scam came to light in October when ratings agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) filed a complaint through Hansa Research Group, alleging that certain television channels were rigging TRP numbers.

Mumbai Police on Sunday arrested Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani in the alleged TRP manipulation case. pic.twitter.com/6lFC3fKDg7

— Mangalore Today News (@mtodayteam) December 13, 2020

Hansa is one of BARC’s vendors on engagement with panel homes or people’s meters.

TRP, measured by recording viewership data at sample households, is crucial for attracting advertisers.

As per the police, some of these households were being bribed to tune into Republic TV and a few other channels.

Republic TV has denied wrongdoing.

Another of channel’s employee - western region distribution head Ghanshyam Singh - was arrested last month in conection with the alleged scam. He was grsnted bail eaerlier this month.

The police have arrested a total of 12 persons in the case so far.

Meanwhile, Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami moved the Bombay high court last week seeking a stay to further investigation by the Mumbai Police in the TRP manipulation scam.

The petition, filed by Goswami and ARG Outlier Media which owns Republic TV, also alleged that one of the employees of the firm was tortured by the police in custody.

It sought protection for all employees from the “malicious witch hunt” allegedly being carried out by the Maharashtra authorities.

The Supreme Court had last Monday refused to entertain a plea filed by ARG Outlier Media Private Limited, which owns the Republic Media network, seeking protection for the group and its employees in the cases lodged against them in Maharashtra.