The murky TRP saga — What is the way forward for TV media?

The last few days have been tumultuous for the television news media.

While putting a news editor behind the bars is something better left for the courts to decide, what happened a few days prior to that was totally unsavoury and unnecessary.

Behind all the grandstanding and swagger, the TV news media has always fought for a very small slice of ad revenue and this partially explains the rush for the much-coveted TRPs — the rating points that ensure a steady flow of revenue.

That a few thousand television sets, mostly in cities, can be a true reflection of viewer’s preference in a country where a majority lives in the rural and semi-urban surrounding is itself a doubtful proposition. However, in the absence of any alternative, it worked, or so it seemed.

There is an open secret about TRPs, it is manipulated. Mostly, because the very system lends itself to manipulation. The ever-growing number of news channels and a limited ad revenue just provided a ready argument in its favour.

In its early days, television news media was exciting. Energy levels were high, output was good, refreshing and the platform flourished.

But, the situation changed during the last decade or so. Competition emerged at the national level and also at the state level, at least in non-Hindi speaking states, strong competition emerged from channels in regional language. Then the digital platforms started to emerge, offering low cost, local coverage.

At the same time, production cost at big houses kept on increasing.

The problem with television news in India is that there are a few laws that provide guidelines on how it should function. The little legislation that exists are mostly remnants of the Raj, laws that enabled a foreign master to collar desi media and opinion.

Are such laws even relevant in a democratic setup any longer? The government must bring in new legislation to ensure that television news, as a part of the fourth pillar, survives.

For example, the recent suicide of a popular actor saw TV news become judge, jury, executioner, all rolled into one. Theories were bandied about, intrusion into personal life and investigation was defended as a right, personal grief was played out aloud on a public platform.

Then the report came.

Did you see a single house put out a well-meaning apology for hurting sentiments of those touched by the tragedy?

This happens. It has happened before, it will happen again. One reason maybe is that self-censorship does not work. Like self-control, Self-censorship is as elusive as it comes. Would the government even imagine getting rid of traffic lights in favour of self-discipline of motorists and their rights?

If you look at larger houses, even the self-proclaimed upholder of golden standards, you will see that there is little to separate them from others. Working hours are long, demanding, remuneration is minimal, job security is as alien as a Martian and the law of the land, which is applicable to every other industry, is not applicable here.

It is past the time when the government should step in, legislate a set of laws and standards to keep the flag flying for a medium that was supposed to be the voice of the people.

The entry of the Prasar Bharti CEO in the BARC panel is a welcome beginning, it should not end there. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Human Resources can join forces to ensure a level and fair playing field for all stakeholders.