BARC's TV viewership data to be accessible to Twitter users

Users can tweet using the hashtag #BARCTweet and get topline data as BARC and Twitter join hands.

Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has announced that it will share weekly ratings data on the go and have them delivered almost instantly to Twitter timelines of even non-subscribers. All one has to do is tweet and ask.

If someone is looking for topline television audience ratings data, the person has to tweet with the hashtag #BARCTweet followed by the data request. For example, #BARCTweet Top 5 Telugu Programs. He/She will receive a reply from @BARCIndia with the data requested.

While BARC India's subscribers have access to all the data on a weekly basis, this service is available free of cost to any non-subscriber. The offering, in association with Frrole, a Social Data Intelligence Setup manning the backend software, makes it possible to reach out to consumers bringing to life one of BARC India's key goals. This also underlines the innovative nature of Twitter and the possibilities for partners.

This latest step towards an open TV rating service is another in a series of advances like BARC India Media Workstation (BMW) and SpotTrek (Next day of telecast - spot monitoring and certification service).

Says Partho Dasgupta, CEO, BARC India, "In keeping with our focus on Technology, BARC India is geared for new possibilities and opportunities to connect with all who are keen on knowing more about the television audience measurement service in India and are proud to present a World First with the launch of hashtag #BARCTweet with the Twitter India team."

Adds Rishi Jaitly, market director, South & Southeast Asia, Twitter, "BARC India's ambition to innovate and create a unique value proposition for users is something we admire. Twitter believes in the power of information and this empowers all users equally which is very exciting from Twitter's point of view."