NewsGuard Begins Rating CTV, OTT News Channels

• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, 10 hours ago

NewsGuard, a pioneer in the field of rating the reliability of news and information sources in digital media and linear TV, this morning announced the rollout of a "reliability ratings" service covering top connected TV (CTV) and over-the-top (OTT) news channels.

The CTV reliability ratings utilize NewsGuard's team of analysts assessing trust scores on a scale of 0-to-10 rating overall risk level, metadata fields, as well as a detailed written explanation of a channel's content and credibility practices.

The service is aimed at advertisers and agencies and is similar to one NewsGuard created for linear TV networks and programming that was chartered by IPG Mediabrands in 2021.

The CTV ratings service has already rated 41 channels across CTV/OTT covering more than 900 shows.

CTV channels are rated based on the following weighted criteria specific to the television medium, which have been  adapted from nine basic, apolitical criteria of journalistic practice NewsGuard applies to news and information websites:

• Does not repeatedly convey false information (4 points): This network or program does not regularly allow clearly false facts of significant importance to be conveyed by the on-air talent or an interviewee in a way that is unchallenged by other on-air talent or another interviewee.

• Conveys news on important topics responsibly (3 points): This network or program rarely if ever conveys unchallenged false facts, presents unsubstantiated claims as fact, or distorts or misrepresents information regarding important issues.

• Presents multiple viewpoints (2 points): When the on-air talent or guests offer opinions on significant issues, care is generally taken by this network or program to present alternative viewpoints.

• News organization associated with this program adheres strongly to journalistic standards (1 point): The website of the network that airs this program passes all NewsGuard’s credibility criteria.

Sample CTV Reliability Ratings and Nutrition Labels are publicly available for the following streaming news channels: Scripps News, which scores 10/10, The Young Turks, which scores 4/10, and CGTN, a global network operated by the Chinese government's Propaganda Department, which scores 0/10.