TRP Full Form
TRP stands for Television Rating Point. It is defined as a tool for evaluating the rate of viewership of any specific channel or program over a 30-day period. It serves as a source to provide an index of public preference and to determine the popularity of a specific show or program. Advertisers use the results to determine how frequently an advertisement is seen by a specific target audience, and media outlets use the results to plan their show timings.
Target Audience
Target audiences are usually defined in terms of demographic and psychographic profiles, and demographic profiles. Demographics explain the segment of the audience in quantifiable terms such as age, gender, household income, and educational attainment. Psychographics and demographics explain the motivational quotient of consumer behavior.
In India, TRPs are evaluated by the only electronic rating agency, INTAM (Indian Television Audience Measurement).
The two methods used by the agency for calculating TRP are as follows:
1. Traditional method– Under this method, an electronic device called a “people meter” (that automatically records the frequency of channels watched) is being installed in some households by the agency. The traditional method is also called a frequency monitoring technique.
This box has buttons and a number on the meter assigned to each person living in the household who is required to push the buttons whenever he/she starts watching and push off the button when not watching.
The meter stores and periodically transmits all this data through the family’s telephone line or some gateways to the central server.
Then it is this server that is installed with a specific algorithm to process the average of the frequency taken for 30 days, sent by sample “people’s meters.” These frequencies are later decoded into channel names and a national viewership rating, or TRP is generated.
TRPs = Reach among target audience (%) x Average frequency
The method has two drawbacks-
- People meters are expensive and have to be imported from abroad.
- The frequency of the channel is often changed by the cable before transmitting the signals. Hence, the ratings can sometimes be unreliable.
2. Modern method- Video signals are sent through satellite channels at regular intervals using this method. This technique is also referred to as the “picture monitoring technique.” At the INTAM station, each channel signal is decoded and TRPs are generated. This technique is more dependable.
The TRP system is designed by the Broadcasting Audience Research Council (BARC).
TRP Benefits
- TRPs have a major impact on the programming content of television channels. Accountability, transparency, and objectivity of the television rating system play a significant role in preventing false and misleading ratings, which can have an effect not only on broadcasters and advertisers but more importantly, on the viewing public.
- Broadcasting companies can make more profits from advertisers when there are shows broadcast with higher ratings.
Conclusion
The TRP of any channel or program is determined by the program that is being shown. The TRP rate is the basis for calculating a TV channel’s TRP. These figures are regarded as a sample of all TV owners in various geographical and demographic sectors.
The TRP, or Target Rating Point, is a metric used by marketing and advertising firms to assess this audience. A TRP, or “television rating point,” indicates the percentage of a program’s target audience who watched it. When more people watch a show, its TRPs rise. It all comes down to money—because a show with higher TRPs has a larger audience, advertisers are willing to pay more to advertise on it.