By BestMediaInfo Bureau

After NDTV and Zee Media, iTV network has pulled out from BARC ratings with immediate effect. The network owns nine channels including two national channels - India News, NewsX and seven regional channels - India News Haryana, India News UP/UK, India News MPCG, India News Gujarat, India News Rajasthan, India News Punjab-Himachal-Jammu Kashmir and NE News.

Stating the reason to pull out of BARC, iTV network said, “Time and again, we’ve raised our concern and reservations over the arbitrary and unilateral mechanism being used by BARC. We have raised very serious issues regarding the reliability/trustworthiness of the ratings, but none of our concerns has been addressed to date. There is a total loss of faith and credibility in the working of BARC, and we along with many Broadcasters are forced to remain connected with BARC because it is the only TV Ratings Agency and enjoys a dominant position. The unexplained actions of BARC have greatly damaged our networks.”

iTV network has sent a letter to the TV viewership measurement company BARC informing the decision to suspend ratings for the time being till its grievances are taken care of by the audience measurement body.