Republic TV resorts to 'multiple feed' for viewership, NBA writes to TRAI

[Dinesh jain]

The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has alleged that the recently launched Republic TV is adopting unethical distribution tactics to garner high viewership numbers.

In a letter to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the NBA has claimed that Arnab Goswami’s channel is running multiple feeds on various multi system operators’ (MSO) platforms. This is for the first time that NBA has singularly pointed out one a channel for alleged trade-related malpractices.

The letter has mentioned that the channel has been listed at multiple locations across different genres in the electronic programme guide (EPG) of various MSOs and other distributors on multiple logical channel numbers (LCNs).

Usually, such cases come out in the public and the complaints are filed only after viewership data is released for the time and when a channel had run on multiple frequencies. This is possibly the first time a complaint has been lodged at the time of implementing multiple feeds.

A highly placed source at Republic TV, on condition of anonymity said, “Times Now has been doing this for years, and so have other channels. As we speak, they are running dual feeds on many major distribution networks, including Fastway, Hathway, Indian Cable Net Company Limited (ICNCL), SCOD and a few others.”

As per data from Chrome Data and Analytics, Republic TV’s dual/ triple feed was spotted in 171 cities across the country, with maximum push in the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand markets.

Republic TV resorts to 'multiple feed' for viewership, NBA writes to TRAI

 

[SarFa]

Times Now also doing same so why pointed only to Republic Tv :huh

 

[hike]

Times Now also doing same so why pointed only to Republic Tv :huh

Yes! Even Sony TV, Sony Yay! All are doing same as well.

 

[Dinesh jain]

a letter dated 12 May, NBA said Republic TV has been registered by various cable distribution platforms multiple times under different genres, making the channel appear more than once in their electronic programme guide (EPG), in violation of Trai interconnection regulations.

“Republic TV is licensed as an English news channel but for reasons best known has been registered by several multi-system operators/distribution platform operators/distributors multiple times under different genres in their EPG (electronic programme guide) by listing it on multiple logical channel numbers (LCN). We have been informed of several infractions,” the letter said. Mint has reviewed a copy of the missive.


Arnab Goswami’s Republic TV flouting rules, says NBA in Trai complaint - Livemint

 

[hike]

Surely they've visited our forum :hehe

 

[Satvijay]

Republic TV breaking broadcasting rules for higher viewership

The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has accused Arnab Goswami’s news channel Republic TV of using unfair methods in order to gain TRPs. The private news channels’ self-regulatory body has asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) to intervene in the matter. Interestingly, the newly launched news channel isn’t a member of the NBA yet, as its membership application is being processed.

According to the formal complaint that the NBA lodged with TRAI, Republic TV has listed itself under multiple genres across cable distribution platforms. This makes the channel all the more probable to be watched by a cable subscriber and consequently, the viewership ratings receive an upward thrust. The NBA has also named national multi-system operators Den Networks Ltd, Hathway Cable and Datacom Ltd and several others as violators.

TRAI norms require distributors to assign a unique channel number to a TV channel after the channel registers itself under a particular genre, which in effect means a particular channel can be listed under a single genre only.


The NBA has alleged that the channel spearheaded by Arnab Goswami and promoted by NDA MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar has been listed at multiple locations in various genres in the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) of various Multi System Operators. Multiple System Operators (MSO) is a term used in the cable industry to describe a company which owns and operates two or more cable TV systems.

This practice of flouting TRAI regulations so as to garner TRPs is said to be commonplace in the industry. Recently, CNBC TV18 had been accused of inflating their viewership indices using dual feeds. ET Now had gone as far as filing a formal complaint. India Today TV during its rebranding (from the erstwhile Headlines Today) and Times Now have been aired on multiple slots in the recent past. However, this is the first instance of the NBA taking notice and taking the matter to the TRAI.

The issue at hand is contentious as the TRAI regulation that the letter quotes has been stayed by the Supreme Court after a leading TV network pleaded against them. The TRAI had floated new regulations regarding interconnection in March this year. 

Strangely, no big name from the media has commented on the issue yet. During the last week, media stakeholders across the board didn’t spare a chance to take up the cudgels against Goswami’s channel.

 

[SarFa]

@Satvijay don't post Full article :no Post Max 3-5 paragraphs or Main summary n always give source link with your post when you're posting articles/news from other sites :k

 

[SarFa]

MUMBAI: Arnab Goswami is creating a storm. After the launch of Republic TV, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has swung into action twice.

First, the apex body of private news broadcasters complained to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) against Arnab Goswami’s Republic TV for taking dual slots on cable TV networks to boost its viewership.

Now, just ahead of the weekly release of ratings data, the NBA has urged the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India not to release Republic TV’s viewership data until the channel stopped using multiple LCNs (logical channel number).

NBA wants BARC not to release Republic TV viewership data | TelevisionPost.com

 

[Vishnu777]

NBA wants BARC not to release Republic TV viewership data

MUMBAI: Arnab Goswami is creating a storm. After the launch of Republic TV, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has swung into action twice.

First, the apex body of private news broadcasters complained to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) against Arnab Goswami’s Republic TV for taking dual slots on cable TV networks to boost its viewership.
Now, just ahead of the weekly release of ratings data, the NBA has urged the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India not to release Republic TV’s viewership data until the channel stopped using multiple LCNs (logical channel number).

The NBA has in its letter to BARC said that the release of Republic TV’s viewership data under such circumstances would amount to “aiding and abetting such malpractices” which could have serious consequences on the news broadcasting industry in India.

BARC is set to release the weekly ratings data today. This will be Republic TV’s first viewership data since its launch on 6 May.

It must be noted here that dual frequency is not a new tactic employed by TV channels. Many news channels have tried it at some point to drive ratings.

NBA wants BARC not to release Republic TV viewership data | TelevisionPost.com

 

[SarFa]

Posted the same bro above :shy