TRP Scam: Parle speaks out against 'toxic content' on TV news, will move ads elsewhere

Mumbai: Parle Products, the maker of the Parle-G biscuits, on Monday became the latest company to condemn "toxic content" on television. The company said that "they will not advertise their products on toxic and aggressive Indian media channels." Parle's move comes amid massive outrage over 'TRP Scam' revealed by Mumbai Police on Thursday, 8 October.

The Mumbai police have claimed that investigation into a complaint by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has discovered a racket of "TRP-fixing" among the media bigwigs in the country, including Republic TV.

The Mumbai Police, in its press conference, said that its investigation into a complaint by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has discovered a racket of TRP-fixing by some channels, including Republic TV.

On 8 October, Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj told a media company that his company has "blacklisted three channels" for advertisement. This was done as Bajaj does not wish to endorse "toxicity", he said.

"Our brand has never associated with anything we feel is a source of toxicity in the society," Bajaj has been quoted as saying.

According to reports in the media, advertising companies have been receiving inquiries from clients since the TRP issue came to the fore. They are said to be re-evaluating whether to spend on these channels.

Another senior executive told scribes that the companies will continue to spend money on the said channels till the time inquiry isn't completed.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Mumbai Police on Sunday questioned Republic TV's CEO Vikas Khanchandani and others in connection with the alleged Television Rating Points (TRPs) scam.

Soon after the alleged scam came to the fore, Republic TV issued a statement. The news channel said that it would file a criminal defamation case against Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh.

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