The I&B Ministry has also asked the ratings agency to release data for the genre for the past three months.

The news genre accounts for only 10% of the TV viewership but 100% of the controversy around who watches what. Why don’t broadcasters of other genres complain?

Parts of the email was shared by Republic Media as a piece of evidence to establish its innocence. "BARC India has not commented on the ongoing investigation," shares television viewership auditor.