TV Ratings Policy released to ensure transparency and accountability in audience measurement: MIB in RS

 
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the government has released the TV Ratings Policy 2026, which sets out comprehensive guidelines for regulating television ratings in India. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today, Mr Vaishnaw said, the policy defines clear standards for the registration, operation, audit, and oversight of agencies providing TV rating services, to ensure transparency, independence and accountability in audience measurement. He said, the TV Rating Policy 2026 replaced the existing Guidelines for TV Rating Agencies in India dated 16th January 2014.
The Minister informed that the major reforms were introduced under the Policy. It includes reduction of net worth criteria from 20 crore rupees to five crore rupees, technology-neutral audience measurement across multiple platforms including connected TVs and TV channels available on OTT platforms, and increased sample size by expansion of metered homes from 50 thousand to 80 thousand. There will be periodic establishment surveys every three years, exclusion of landing page in computation of viewership data, annual independent audits and an A-graded penalty framework for non-compliance. Mr Vaishnaw said, the prescribed safeguards include cross-holding restrictions, requirement of at least 33 per cent independent directors on the board of the agency, prohibition of consultancy or advisory activities that may create conflicts of interest, security clearance requirements, audit and transparency obligations to ensure the functional and operational independence of rating agencies. He said, under this Policy, any entity in the business of television ratings in India has to comply with certain additional requirements and to register under the new Policy. Mr Vaishnaw said, as on date, no entity is registered under the new Policy. He said, the Television Ratings Policy, 2026 places no restriction on the number of agencies that may be registered to provide TV rating services.