Mumbai: As per the data from various monitoring and research agencies accessed exclusively by tvnews4u.com, it is understood that TV Today Network owned News Channels AajTak and India Today TV were running in Multiple LCNs even in the very same week 19 during which it has sphere headed the initiative of News Broadcasters Association (NBA) accusing Republic TV of involving in Dual and Multiple feeds.
It may be noted that Mr. Ashish Bagga, the CEO of India Today Group is also the president of NBA and he was in the fore front and up against BARC India releasing the data of Republic TV accusing it of involving in alternate means of acquiring viewership numbers. Whereas, the data from ChromeDM, RW and Gracenote has revealed that the so-called corrupt practices leveled against Republic TV was very much happening in his own group channels.
The expose further derails the moment of NBA’s arm-twisting tactics against BARC India and loosens the genuineness in their threat of pulling out from Water Marking. BARC India also categorically declared that it was common distribution practice, which every channel did in the past and there is nothing unusual for NBA to get so much offended about the whole thing.
According the DUAL LCN reports from research agency Gracenote, India Today TV and AajTak were very much running in Multiple LCNs during the week 9 to 19 in 2017. Similarly, the data released by Chrome DM also pinpoints the same.
Moreover, the data also reveals that during the re-launch of India Today TV the network has ran 64 Multiple LCNs.
In a statement issued by Vikas Khanchandani – CEO Republic TV commented, “It has been brought to our knowledge, through independent investigations and data provided to us by credible and highly respected and independent monitoring agencies, like RW and Gracenote, that India Today network and Times Network have been actively using dual LCNs across many networks in the country”.
It is unfortunate and condemnable that these two networks while using dual LCNs themselves have misused their position in an industry body like NBA to gain a competitive advantage against a newly launched channel. These are unfair trade practices and weakens the ethical base of the industry, and raises serious issues regarding conflict of interest.” said the statement
Vikas has also clarified that the article carried by certain online magazines quoting that Republic TV has gained extraordinary numbers in Chennai without being present in Arasu Cable TV and SCV was absolutely misleading and carried without verification of facts as Republic TV is very much available on Arasu Cable TV and all other Major MSO and DTH platform in Chennai and Tamil Nadu.
