The Mumbai Police on Thursday, addressed a press conference, claiming that it has busted a "TRP scam", whereby Television Rating Points (TRPs) were being manipulated.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh named Republic TV and two other Marathi channels 'Fakt Marathi' and 'Box Cinema' who were involved in the scam. Four people have been arrested in connection with the matter and Republic TV’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami is also likely to be summoned.After the scam was exposed, every primetime news debate on TV focused on the alleged scam.
Among the major themes that emerged from the primetime debates were:
ABP NEWS (5pm): “Republic TV ki TRP saazish ki poll khuli” (Republic TV’s TRP conspiracy unmasked) read the channel’s top band.
AAJ TAK (6pm): “Republic TV TRP Chor Hai!” (Republic TV is a TRP thief)
INDIA TODAY (8pm): “...no matter how pathetic your journalism is, if it can even be called pathetic journalism, you have the right to present your case in a court of law.” – Rahul Kanwal
NDTV (8pm & 9pm): Beginning of the end for hate-for-profit media?”
NDTV INDIA (9pm): “ye sirf TRP ka mamla nahi hai” (This isn’t just about TRPs)
TIMES NOW (8pm & 9pm): “Republic TV Cheated Bharat”
CNN-NEWS 18 (9pm): #FakeTRPRacket
REPUBLIC TV (9PM): “This man is on weed. He can’t tell his nose from his ears.”- Madhu Kishwar on Commissioner Param Bir Singh.
Meanwhil, Arnab in his 9 pm debate held an alleged copy of the FIR, read aloud that the complaint names India Today and not Republic TV.