NBF writes to I&B minister against a group of broadcasters seeking to suspend news genre ratings

NBF writes to I&B minister against a group of broadcasters seeking to suspend news genre ratings

The News Broadcasters Federation (NBF), which serves as a collective voice for more than 300 national and regional TV news channels, has written a letter to Anurag Thakur, the Minister of Information & Broadcasting. In this communication, the NBF has expressed its concerns regarding the suspension of weekly ratings for the news genre.

The NBF’s letter highlights the apprehensions of its members—news broadcasters—regarding the decision to halt the weekly ratings for news content. This move has raised questions and uncertainties within the news broadcasting industry.

By addressing the Minister of Information & Broadcasting, the NBF seeks to engage in a dialogue and possibly influence the decision-making process regarding the suspension of these ratings. This collective representation underscores the importance of ratings data for news broadcasters in understanding their audience reach and the effectiveness of their programming.

To obtain a more comprehensive understanding of this situation and its implications, it is advisable to consult credible news sources and official government releases.

The contents of the letter, available to Mint, reveal that a faction of broadcasters is purportedly involved in endeavors to secure the suspension of ratings for news channels. Although the letter refrains from explicitly identifying specific news channels or networks, it underscores the significance of news ratings as a “lifeline” for credible news organizations. These ratings serve as a vital metric by which the success and viability of honest news entities are evaluated and conveyed, grounded in their weekly performance as assessed by viewers throughout India.

This letter underscores the concerns of the News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) and its members, urging for a reconsideration of the decision to suspend the weekly ratings for news content. The sentiment expressed in the letter emphasizes the central role ratings play in the ecosystem of news broadcasting, especially for organizations committed to transparent and credible journalism.

To obtain a comprehensive grasp of the situation and its potential ramifications, it is advisable to consult reliable news sources and official statements from the parties involved.

The quoted excerpt from the letter underscores that the attention of the collective News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) has been drawn to the actions of a certain consortium of broadcasters with established monopolistic inclinations. These broadcasters are allegedly involved in endeavors aimed at obstructing the current transparent protocol of releasing weekly ratings for the news genre.

The letter, signed by R Jai Krishna, the Secretary-General of the NBF, strongly communicates the collective concern of the federation. It beseeches the relevant authorities to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of the practice of disseminating ratings for the news genre, as provided by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), a recognized rating agency.

The content of the letter underscores the NBF’s commitment to maintaining transparency and integrity in the process of rating publication. The collective’s apprehensions center around potential disruptions that could compromise the objectivity and fairness of the ratings framework for news channels.

For a well-rounded comprehension of the situation and its implications, referencing credible news sources and official statements from the NBF and relevant authorities is recommended.

The letter further emphasizes the broader consequences of potential rating disruption, extending beyond news operations to the fundamental nature of a free and dynamic broadcast media.

The letter underscores that any interruption in the publication of ratings would not only affect the functioning of news broadcasters but also jeopardize the future and sustainability of a robust and independent broadcast media landscape.

The NBF firmly asserts that news broadcasters should be allowed the opportunity to earn their revenues through fair and competitive engagement within the genre. This competition is determined solely by the ratings published by BARC on a weekly basis. The cessation of BARC ratings exclusively for the news genre would inevitably impact the operations of news channels, thereby creating a ripple effect that impacts the livelihoods of employees associated with these channels across the nation and various languages.

The letter expounds on the critical role of BARC ratings as the primary metric by which advertisers allocate their advertising budgets to different genres and channels. If ratings are discontinued solely for the news genre, while ratings for 95% of the TV landscape covering other genres continue to be released, it could erode advertisers’ trust and preference for news content. This, in turn, might lead to reduced allocation of advertising budgets to the news genre as a whole.

The comprehensive and thoughtful nature of this letter underscores the intricate web of repercussions that potential disruptions in ratings could set in motion across the broadcast media landscape.

Mint’s sources have revealed that within the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA), another influential lobby group of news broadcasters, there is a division of opinion regarding the suspension of ratings for the news genre. Some members of NBDA have reportedly been advocating for the suspension of ratings for news channels, while others are opposed to this idea.

Members of NBDA include notable national broadcasters such as Reliance Industries-owned TV18 Broadcast, Times Network, TV Today Network, India TV, ABP News, and Zee News.

It appears that not all members of NBDA are in agreement with the notion of a blackout in ratings for the news genre. Rather, only a subset of players within the group have been actively advocating for this suspension.

An internal vote held on August 4th highlights this divergence in opinion among NBDA members. The vote showcased that networks such as ABP Group, TV Today, India TV, and a few others supported the idea of suspending ratings, whereas TV18, Times Network, Eenadu Television, and Matrubhumi Group opposed it.

This internal split within NBDA demonstrates the complexity of opinions within the news broadcasting industry regarding the suspension of ratings for news channels. It reflects the varied interests and considerations of different broadcasters as they navigate the landscape of media ratings and their potential impact.

In an internal vote held on the matter, the outcome favored the suspension of ratings for the news genre by a margin of 5 to 4.

However, it’s important to note that sources within BARC have informed Mint that the measurement body itself has not made any decision on the suspension of ratings. BARC would only take such action if it were directed to do so by the government.

The NBF’s letter highlights that the cessation of news ratings primarily serves the interests of a select few news broadcasters. This has precedent, as in 2021, news ratings were suspended without clear justification. The letter suggests that established brands might gain an unfair advantage from this scenario, as advertisers may continue to prioritize them based on historical familiarity. This could potentially disadvantage emerging leaders who would be deprived of a level playing field to demonstrate their value.

The letter points out the complexity and potential consequences of suspending news ratings, drawing attention to both the immediate and longer-term impacts on the media landscape.