Disclaimer: This is the based on the information gathered online so it might not be 100% accurate. But when a tug of war begins each day Trps are out with comments that are fuelled out of ignorance and advices doled out due to lack of knowledge, information becomes the need of the hour.
So here goes.
Presently, INTAM (Indian Television Audience Measurement) is the only electronic rating agency functioning in India. INTAM uses two methodologies for calculating TRP. First is frequency monitoring, in which 'people meters' are installed in sample homes and these electronic gadgets continuously record data about the channel watched by the family members. 'People meter' is a costly equipment, which is imported from abroad.
People's meter
TRPs = Reach among target audience (%) x Average frequency
BARC (Broadcast Audience Ratings Council) in the mid of 2015 surpassed the so-called dark era of TV industry under TAM ratings which has around 12000 people meters installed. It is said that when the Hindi GEC in 2008 exploded with new channels, if it passes the TAM test, it is in the game.
BARC came up with 22000 people meters installed in urban and rural areas of the country rather metros and LC1 areas by TAM till date.
BARC and TAM came up for a joint venture to make BARC the only rating provider with 34000 people meters installed in many parts of India which is the world's largest rating measurement system surpassing the likes of many developing nations.
Short factual clarifications
1. Watching the show on TV doesn't make a difference?
TRPs are calculated on random sampling. 34000 households is a very small number for a population of billions. So whether you watch on TV or not, doesn't really matter unless you fall in that sample.
2. Doesn't DTH help in capturing data needed for trps?
DTH came years after the TRP system was already in place, so they would have to made changes in their current setup to do it that way.
Further, DTH boxes are sold by different companies, and therefore they are not centralized. You need one organization to manage the process if you don't want people to tamper with the ratings.
3. That is the most inaccurate system of measuring a show or as a basis for a show to be axed.
You could say that again
4. If I watch scenes that are far in between, frequently changing channels, would it contribute to trp, if I were the trp audience?
Logically, I hardly think so. Factually, someone will have to clarify.
5. Why did Durjoy Dutta tweet that had we watched on TV rather than on youtube, their show wouldnt have been axed?
They have no way of knowing which is the trp audience and which is not, they dont come in a different colour nor do they publicize that they have people meters installed. Makers can hardly say, I dont care if you watch on tv or not (They are known to have said it). Don't forget, every drop makes an ocean.
6. I'm dissatisfied with the storyline and so I don't watch on Tv and ask my friends not to watch. So would it bring trps down forcing makers to change the storyline?
Depends on whether you and all your friends fall in the sample of 34000 and unless you have 5000+ friends spread out all over India, all being trp audience, NO IT wont make a difference.
Yes every drop counts but you are not the ocean, you are still a drop.
Work out your math:
The people in those 34000 who watch the show on TV as neutral audience
Within that, those who are online audience.
Within that, those who watch for one particular track/storyline/ship
1. Within that those who watch but are satisfied
2. Those who watch and are not satisfied:
a) Those who will watch anyway
b) Those who stop watching for the want of a better storyline
The moment you realize your presence or rather your watching/ not watching on tv hardly makes a difference
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