Govt freezes TV news TRPs for 4 weeks over ‘sensational’ coverage of US-Iran conflict

The government on Friday directed television rating agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to immediately freporting the Television Rating Points (TRPs) for TV news channels for a period of four weeks, or until further orders.

The move comes amid concerns that some TV news channels are displaying "unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content" about the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, which "may potentially create panic" among the general public, specially those having friends and family in the affected areas or residing in the conflict zones, mentioned a report by news wire PTI.

The conflict in West Asia entered its seventh day on Friday, 6 March – following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Islamic Republic 28 February. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region, reported ANI.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in its directive, said that it has observed that, amidst the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, certain news TV channels are displaying "unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content", which "may potentially create panic" among the general public, specially those having friends and family in the affected areas or residing in the affected areas.

The Clause 24.2 of the policy guidelines, prescribes that "The company shall be required to comply with any orders, regulations, guidelines, directions, etc., issued by the Ministry from time to time.

"Therefore, in the public interest, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting hereby directs M/s BARC to immediately withhold reporting the Television Rating Points(TRPs) for news TV channels for a period of four weeks or until further directions, whichever is earlier," the directive said.