Names of two channels surfaced for allegedly being involved in fixing the TRP. (Representational)
Mumbai:
The names of two more TV channels have surfaced during the investigation of alleged fake Television Rating Points (TRP) scam, the police said on Wednesday.
While one is a news channel, the other one is an entertainment channel, the official said, according to new agency PTI.
“During the investigation, it came to light that these two channels were also involved in fixing the TRP by paying money to households for watching them,” he said.
“While investigating the fake TRP racket, the police have added fresh sections of IPC, including 174, 179, 201, 204,” he added.
According to the official, the police had earlier registered an offence under section 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 120(B), 34 of IPC in the case. He said the crime branch submitted the letter to the court on adding the new sections.
Three channels, including Republic TV, are under investigation for allegedly gaming ratings and using them to spread fake narratives and gain ad revenues.
The probe team on Wednesday recorded statements of Republic TV CFO S Sundaram and executive editor Niranjan Narayanswami, the official said.
The alleged fake TRP scam came to light when ratings agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) filed a complaint with the police through Hansa Research Group, alleging that certain channels were rigging TRP numbers to lure advertisers.
It was alleged that some residents, whose houses had meters for collecting data of viewership installed, were being bribed to tune into a particular channel.
