NEW DELHI: Further to last week's mega controversy around the viewership data of TV9 Bharatvarsh released by BARC, NBA has now written to the chairman of the industry body demanding the details of the inquiry. 

In a press statement, NBA president has drawn his attention to several news reports about videos of a sting operation, as purported proof of tampering of panel homes by TV9 Bharatvarsh and response by BARC that it carried out a detailed investigation into the compromised homes and the manipulation of data.

The letter reads, "NBA is rather surprised to note from the news reports that BARC has so quickly investigated into the sting operation and also passed a judgement that those who appeared in those videos were “paid to say what they did” and the videos are “fake”. NBA desires to know who conducted the investigation? Since the allegations were against BARC, NBA presumes that the investigation was conducted by a third party. NBA would like BARC to share this investigation report with NBA to help understand how the investigations were concluded so quickly that there was no tampering of data and the videos are fake."

It highlights that a proper investigation is crucial in the light of the fact that the allegations are against an organisation (TV9 Bharatvarsh), which by BARC's own admission, has a dubious past. "It has a history of indulging in such malpractices and for which the ratings of TV9 Telugu were suspended. Was this record made available to the investigators?"

President, NBA has sought an urgent response with the details of the investigation report.