Republic TV has been accused of rigging its viewership numbers
Mumbai:
Republic TV CFO Shiva Subramaniyam Sundaram will seem earlier than Mumbai Police as we speak over allegations the information channel paid individuals to recreation its scores and illegally earn extra advert income.
Mr Sundaram is the primary senior determine from Republic TV to be summoned in reference to a scandal that broke Thursday after BARC (Broadcast Viewers Analysis Council) – an company that tracks tv viewership – alleged the numbers have been being fudged by sure channels.
Republic TV is the largest identify to have emerged from early inquiries, with viewers testifying they have been paid to maintain the channel on even after they weren’t watching. The 2 different channels named in early investigations are native channels Fakt Marathi and Field Cinema.
The police intend to hold out a “forensic audit” of Republic TV’s accounts, which might be frozen if it was established that the channel pocketed additional promoting cash utilizing rigged scores.
The summons to Mr Sundaram contend that there are affordable grounds to imagine he’s “acquainted with sure info and circumstances of the matter”. The police have additionally summoned accountants from the 2 different channels and people from a few promoting businesses.
Republic TV has strongly refuted the allegations and accused Mumbai Police of a vendetta as a result of the channel had questioned the police investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s loss of life.
Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami declared yesterday that he would sue Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh over the allegations and insisted “not a single BARC report that talked about Republic TV”.
“The individuals of India know the reality,” he added.
4 individuals, together with the house owners of the 2 smaller channels have already been arrested.
In keeping with the police, the grievance was filed earlier this month by Hansa Analysis, an organization appointed by BARC, which installs “individuals metres” to trace viewership. The corporate mentioned some former staff had shared particulars of the households being tracked and helped rig scores.
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