Hiatus for Indian Audience Figures

Indian television measurement body TAM is suspending publication of its viewing data from week 41 (October 7th) onwards, for 8 weeks while four of the country's biggest cities switch over from analogue to DAS.

The metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are undergoing a mandatory switch to digital, and India's broadcasters and advertising bodies had requested the stoppage to avoid 'discrepancies' in the data associated with the changeover. Publication will resume again from week 49 (December 8th).

Meanwhile TAM said in a statement that it had been ready to measure DAS audiences since 2007, and that it will conduct a survey in the four cities in November in order to chart the progress of compulsory digitisation. It will also conduct a special all-India Digital Establishment Survey - covering both urban and rural Indian markets, in December.

Nielsen-WPP joint venture TAM is meanwhile embroiled in controversy with broadcaster NDTV, which has filed a case in the New York Supreme Court, accusing the firms of violating anti-bribery laws.