Television news channel ratings to be barred for four weeks after Centre’s direction to BARC

The Centre on Friday directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to withhold television ratings of news channels for at least four weeks.

In its order, the Union ministry of information and broadcasting said some news channels were displaying “unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content” amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, which had the potential to create panic among the general public, especially those having friends and family in the affected areas or residing in the conflict zones.