Govt Introduces TV Ratings Policy; Focus on Registration, Transparency, Accountability

The Centre has unveiled the TV Ratings Policy 2026 , introducing a comprehensive framework to enhance transparency , credibility , and accountability in India’s television audience measurement system.

The new guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, replace the 2014 norms and come amid growing concerns within the industry over data reliability and influence in ratings.

A key highlight of the policy is the easing of entry barriers, with the minimum net worth requirement for rating agencies reduced from ₹20 crore to ₹5 crore. This is expected to encourage more participants and improve competition in the sector.

To ensure independence, the policy mandates that at least 50 per cent of board members must be independent directors with no links to broadcasters, advertisers, or advertising agencies. Rating agencies have also been barred from offering consultancy services that could lead to conflicts of interest.

The government has also pushed for greater data accuracy by requiring agencies to expand their sample size to 80,000 metered homes within 18 months, eventually reaching 1.2 lakh homes. Additionally, ratings must now be technology-neutral , capturing viewership across cable, DTH, OTT platforms, and connected TVs.

Transparency and privacy safeguards have been strengthened, with agencies required to disclose methodologies and publish anonymised data, while complying with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

A dual-audit system — including quarterly internal audits and annual external audits — has been made mandatory, alongside periodic inspections by the ministry. The policy also introduces a structured grievance redressal system, requiring complaints to be resolved within 10 days.

Importantly, viewership generated through landing pages will not be counted in ratings, addressing long-standing concerns over artificial inflation of audience numbers.

For media companies, including smaller and regional players, the reforms are seen as a positive step. Industry stakeholders believe that improved measurement accuracy and reduced entry barriers could lead to fairer representation of content performance, especially for niche and emerging channels that often remain underreported in current systems.

Experts say the success of the policy will depend on its implementation, but it marks a significant step toward building a more fair and competitive broadcasting ecosystem in India.