Raj TV 'Bribed' Panel Members, Says BARC

Indian TV audience rating body BARC (The Broadcasters Audience Research Council) has issued satellite TV firm Raj Television Network with a legal notice for allegedly bribing BARC panel home members, according to a report in the Times of India.

According to the media report BARC - which was launched last May - claimed that certain sample homes with BARC meters have been approached and asked to watch Raj TV in exchange for payments. A source told online publication Indian Television: 'The network, in order to garner higher ratings, was perusing households with the meter boxes to tune in to its channels. BARC found this as a criminal offense and hence have issued a legal notice to the broadcaster'.

A spokesperson for Raj TV has called the allegations 'baseless'.

BARC recently partnered with Nielsen/Kantar joint venture TAM India to launch a meter management company called MDL, in anticipation of TAM India exiting the ratings business. Through the MDL joint venture, TAM India's 12,000 meters have been re-deployed in panel homes selected by BARC, and the JV now provides BARC with a larger TV panel sample base.

Web site: www.barcindia.co.in .