Television Rating Point (TRP) is a metric that indicates the popularity of a television program. It reflects the percentage of a particular target audience that watches a show or a channel during a specific time period. It is used to measure viewership patterns and the reach of television content.
Importance of TRP
1. Advertising Revenue:
Higher TRP attracts more advertisers, leading to higher ad revenues for the broadcaster.
2. Programming Decisions:
TRP helps television channels decide whether to continue, modify, or cancel a show based on its popularity.
3. Market Competition:
Channels compete to increase TRP, leading to better and more engaging content for viewers.
4. Audience Insights:
It provides critical insights into the viewing preferences and behavior of the audience.
How is TRP Calculated?
1. People Meter System
Electronic devices known as People Meters are installed in selected sample households.
These meters record:
- Channel watched
- Time spent on each program
- Viewing frequency
2. Sample and Extrapolation
The sample households are chosen scientifically to represent the entire viewing population.
Data collected is statistically extrapolated to calculate national TRP figures.
3. Formula (Simplified)
TRP (%) = (Impressions / Total Target Audience) × 100
Where:
Impressions = Number of times a program is viewed
Target Audience = Estimated number of total viewers
Authority for TRP in India
BARC India (Broadcast Audience Research Council)
Established: 2010
Joint initiative by broadcasters, advertisers, and agencies
World’s largest TV audience measurement system
Publishes weekly TRP ratings and reports
Types of TRP Measurements
1. Weekly TRP – Most commonly used metric, updated every Thursday by BARC.
2. Cumulative Reach – Total unique viewers over a specific period.
3. Time-Band Based TRP – TRP during specific time slots (e.g., prime time).
4. Demographic-Based TRP – Viewership by age, gender, region, etc.
TRP Scam in India (2020)
In October 2020, the Mumbai Police unearthed a TRP manipulation scam.
Allegation: Some TV channels bribed households with People Meters to keep their channels running.
Channels involved: Republic TV (alleged), Fakt Marathi, Box Cinema (confirmed).
Outcome: The incident raised questions on the credibility of the TRP system.
Response: BARC paused TRP ratings for English and Hindi news channels for three months.
Challenges with TRP System
Small Sample Size: Only a few thousand meters for a large and diverse population.
Manipulation Risk: Households can be influenced to watch specific channels.
Not Inclusive of OTT Platforms: Current system excludes online content consumption.
Urban Bias: Sampling may be skewed towards urban and semi-urban regions.
Reforms and the Way Forward
1. Increasing Sample Size: BARC plans to expand the number of people meters.
2. Digital Integration: Future TRP systems may integrate data from OTT and digital platforms.
3. Transparent Methodology: Ensuring openness in data collection and analysis.
4. Legal Safeguards: Stricter laws to prevent manipulation and fraud.
TRP is an essential tool in the Indian television ecosystem. It guides both economic decisions (such as ad revenue and investments) and editorial strategies (like show formats and timing). However, in the age of digital streaming and personalized content, the TRP system must evolve to remain effective, fair, and credible.
.png)
 – A Comprehensive Overview){kind=link}