Salman Danish, chief executive officer of TV ratings company, Medialogic Pakistan, on Tuesday claimed that the Express Media Group – a private media organisation – is involved in ‘malpractices’ to increase television ratings for its TV channels.

Danish made the claims while addressing members of the media fraternity.

According to the press conference given by the CEO of Medialogic, they had earlier served a notice to the Express Media Group, accusing it of indulging in malpractice and bribery to increase TV ratings.

“They were bribing Medialogic employees to increase their TV ratings,” said Danish, while presenting what he said were cheques and drafts received by Medialogic employees from individuals connected to the Express Media Group.

The CEO further claimed that the TV channels had profited by upto Rs450 million from the altered TV ratings at the cost of the entire electronic media industry.

Danish went on to say that his company was endorsed by Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), adding that a complaint along with evidence against Express had already been filed with the relevant authority.

“Now it is up to PBA to further investigate this matter and find out the veracity of our claims that Express Media Group has illegally profited by Rs450 million,” stated the CEO of Medialogic.

Earlier today, in a report published in The Express Tribune, the media group had claimed that the ratings agency was trying to extort Rs450 million from it.

The media group claims that the ratings agency chose its own employee, Shaista, and asked her to testify that Express News had pressurised households to tune into their channels — an attempt that resulted in an increase in its overall ratings.

On Shaista’s refusal to cooperate with Medialogic, The Express Tribune claimed that she and her family were harassed by Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) officials in Rawalpindi, adding that the victim is seeking justice from relevant authorities.