NBF baffled by BARC's delay on resuming ratings for news channels

The News Broadcast Federation (NBF) has released an updated statement expressing how it's baffled over the delay of news channel ratings to BARC's chairman and board of directors. 

The statement has been put forth by NBF's secretary-general, R Jai Krishna. 

Krishna in his letter appealing to BARC said, "We, News Broadcasters Federation, are constrained to write this letter in light of the fact that it has been 16 months since the ratings of the news genre have been put on hold unilaterally by BARC. So far, no resumption of ratings has commenced."

He added, "We would also like to bring to light how numerous advertisers, have publicly and individually, iterated the need for the return of ratings. In absence of ratings, the entire industry is suffering and faces a stepper challenge with every delay by BARC." 

"As stated below, since BARC is capable of releasing News Genre data on any Thursday as long as they start preparing on the preceding Monday, we expect that BARC will release news genre data on 3 February 2022, as this letter is being written well in advance. We would request BARC to confirm us by return mail before 1 February 2022 (Tuesday) end of working hours, that it is going to release the news genre data on 3 February 2022 (Thursday). We look forward to your reply and the immediate resumption of ratings", he appealed.

This letter has been written on behalf of all the channels that are part of NBF and have been paying BARC subscriptions even during the blackout period.

The points highlighted to BARC in the email were: 

• MIB has called for 'immediate resumption', but BARC is mysteriously reluctant: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on 12 January 2021 stated that it has asked BARC to release the news ratings with immediate effect and also to release the last three months data. However, despite over a fortnight having passed, BARC has mysteriously been reluctant to release the data.

• Baffling delay despite BARC's stated position being that ratings would be released upon government permission: We bring to your notice that BARC in a sworn affidavit dated 17 August 2021 before the High Court of Bombay stated, 'the Defendant will restore access to the Weekly Channel Data as and when, and if, this is permitted by the Government or the regulator'. The affidavit further stated, 'If on the other hand, the government permits the release of all Weekly Channel Data, including for past periods, the defendant will supply that to the plaintiffs.' Now that the Government of India has categorically called for the release of ratings, it is baffling and unfathomable why BARC is refusing to act. 

• BARC's delay is incomprehensible given it takes three days to release ratings: Further, we have been given to understand as part of the various discussions with BARC at various levels, that it takes three days for the release of ratings. Therefore, it is incomprehensible and indecipherable as to what was holding BARC back from releasing ratings for the news genre by 20 January 20202.

• BARC apparently wants news channels to give affirmations before releasing ratings, but didn't seek any to suspend them: We have been given to understand that BARC has given a representation before the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting about needing affirmation from news channels before reviving ratings. This position is surprising considering no affirmation was sought to the Federation of News Media Services abruptly suspend ratings. We put on record that all NBF channels want ratings to be provided and BARC must release ratings for the willing channels with immediate effect starting the coming Thursday (3 February 2022).