Mumbai: The NBF President Arnab Goswami has written to MIB minister Prakash Javadekar for his immediate intervention to not allow vested interests to stop BARC Ratings during the critical period of Covid-19
Read on as is.
Dear Mr. Javadekar,
I am writing to you on behalf of all members of News Broadcasters Federation (NBF).
It has come to our notice that there are attempts made by some vested interest to put pressure via the ministry to stop the publication of ratings measured by BARC. I am informed that some of these vested interests, who are trying to stop ratings in this period, are doing so to protect their commercial interests, and falsely claiming to represent the news broadcasting industry of India, which unlike them is doing real time public service broadcasting in this period.
You are aware that the efforts of the news channels have been appreciated by one and all, including the Prime Minister in his recent video conference with owners and editors of some news channels. In order to continue the effort, which in this period involves creation of informative and relevant news content while covering the entire country at a time when communication and transport is not easy, our hundreds of thousands of professionals are working round the clock, and taking this battle on the frontlines to ensure that COVID 19 is defeated.
If news channels also face a situation when ratings are stopped, we will be destroyed and our organisations will be at peril. Mr Minister, while individual channels or bodies may claim to speak for us, let me assure you that they are only defending their short term interests at a time when they can shit down their programming while news channels work round the clock in this national effort against COVID 19.
We are completely and totally dependent on publication of TV ratings to run our business. We are doing committed public service broadcasting in this period of national emergency.
Once again, we request you to not allow any such decision or any such communication from MIB or anyone associated with your ministry to BARC, which is creating a sense of deep worry among news broadcasters and taking their attention away from the collective goal of defeating Covid 19, ensuring the lockdown is successful and we as a nation come through this together.
