Five Detained in BARC India Panel Tampering Scam

TV audience rating body BARC India has filed a police report against possible panel home manipulation in the southern Indian state of Telangana. Five suspects have been detained.

Joint-industry not-for-profit body BARC (The Broadcast Audience Research Council of India), publishes weekly TV viewing data for India, and is tasked with designing, commissioning, supervising and providing a real-time TV rating points measurement system. The organisation has recently set up a Disciplinary Council headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal to strengthen the transparency and credibility of its measurement system.

After taking action against those involved in panel home manipulation in the southwest India state of Karnataka, BARC India has now involved the police in a case against suspects in Telangana, where its BAR-O-Meters were found to have been manipulated/tampered with. Commenting on the issue, BARC India CEO Partho Dasgupta (pictured) said: 'Over the years, we have taken a number of measures to curb panel home tampering. However, there are still people who continue to indulge in such malpractices, and we are continuously investing in technology and on-ground vigilance to curb these malpractices. BARC India has and will continue to take action against those who try and infiltrate our system'.

Web site: www.barcindia.co.in .