Hansa Research files a suit against Republic TV

Hansa Research has filed a suit against Republic TV on 16 October in the City Civil Court Mumbai.

 

The agency revealed that this suit was filed after Republic TV showed something called a 'Hansa Report' on its channel. The agency stated that Republic TV didn't check with Hansa Research about the veracity of this document. The channel also didn't seek permission for use of any of its documents for public broadcasting.

 

Hansa Research is the agency appointed by Broadcast Advertising Research Council (BARC) for managing household panels for TV audience measurement.

 

On 6 October, the agency filed an FIR with the assistance of BARC's vigilance team against Hansa’s former employee complaining of wrongdoing and tampering of people-meter homes. The FIR is being investigated by the Mumbai Police. The police, in a press conference on 8 October, had stated that Republic TV was one of the channels involved in this 'TRP scam'.

 

Republic TV responded to that statement by broadcasting details of a 'Hansa report' on its channel and said that the report does not mention the channel anywhere. 

 

Given that Hansa’s name and its purported report were being repeatedly used publicly without permission, Hansa filed the suit.

 

A statement from Hansa has revealed that the Court heard the plea and has posted a formal hearing on this for 25 November 2020. 

 

Praveen Nijhara, CEO, Hansa Research, said, “We formally sent a notice to Republic TV on 12 October 2020 requesting them not to use our name. Since this was not acted upon, and Republic TV continued to use the Hansa name on television, we had no option but to approach the City Civil Court seeking an injunction against use of our name. The matter is now sub-judice and will be heard in November.”

 

Hansa also clarified its role in the TV measurement system is to set up and manage a certain number of panel homes on behalf of BARC. It added that Hansa does not receive nor review any viewership information data from the panel homes. All the data on viewership goes directly to BARC.