The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has initiated a significant move to overhaul the regulatory framework governing Television Rating Agencies in India. In a draft order released on July 2, 2025, the MIB proposed key amendments to the “Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India,” originally notified on January 16, 2014. The government has now opened these proposed changes for public and stakeholder feedback, with a 30-day window for submissions.
The amendments primarily aim to enhance transparency, tighten conflict-of-interest norms, and update registration criteria for rating agencies, ensuring a more robust and accountable system for television viewership measurement. This move comes amidst ongoing discussions about the integrity and reliability of TRP data, which heavily influences advertising revenue and content programming in the Indian television industry.
Key Proposed Changes:
The draft amendment order introduces several crucial modifications to the existing guidelines:
- Mandatory Company Registration: Clause 1.1 has been revised to mandate that any applicant seeking registration for providing television rating services must be a company registered in India under the Companies Act, 2013. This ensures that all rating agencies operate within India’s established corporate legal framework.
- Prohibition on Consultancy/Advisory Roles: A significant amendment to Clause 1.4 explicitly prohibits rating agencies from undertaking any activity like consultancy or advisory roles that could lead to a potential conflict of interest with their primary objective of audience measurement. This aims to prevent situations where a rating agency’s commercial interests might compromise the impartiality of its ratings.
- Deletion of Redundant Clauses: Clauses 1.5 and 1.7, along with a related proviso, have been deleted. The original Clause 1.5 had previously barred board members of rating agencies from being involved in broadcasting, advertising, or media buying businesses. Clause 1.7 dealt with restrictions on substantial equity cross-holdings between rating agencies and broadcasters/advertisers/advertising agencies, as well as between multiple rating agencies. The deletion of these clauses suggests a policy pivot by the MIB, possibly indicating a relaxation of certain eligibility norms concerning cross-holdings and board memberships, while focusing more on direct conflict of interest arising from advisory services.
- Immediate Effect: The MIB has clarified that these revised provisions will come into immediate effect and will apply to both new applicants and existing registered rating agencies.
The Ministry has invited feedback on these draft amendments within 30 days from the date of publication of the notice, preferably in electronic form at the email address sobpl-moib@nic.in. This consultation process underscores the MIB’s commitment to a collaborative approach in refining the regulatory landscape for television ratings.
The integrity of TRP data has been a subject of intense debate and scrutiny in recent years, with allegations of manipulation and lack of transparency. These proposed amendments signal the government’s intent to create a more equitable and reliable system that serves the interests of broadcasters, advertisers, and, most importantly, the viewing public. The outcome of this public consultation and the finalization of the amendments will significantly impact the future of television audience measurement in India.
Key Highlights:
- The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has proposed amendments to the Television Rating Agencies guidelines, inviting public and stakeholder feedback within 30 days.
- Key changes include mandating that all rating agencies be registered companies under the Companies Act, 2013, and strictly prohibiting them from offering consultancy or advisory services that could create a conflict of interest.
- The MIB has also deleted Clauses 1.5 and 1.7, which previously restricted cross-holdings and board memberships in related media businesses.
- These amendments aim to enhance transparency, accountability, and reliability in India’s television viewership measurement system, applying immediately to both new and existing agencies.