The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) on March 27, 2026, issued the TV Ratings Policy 2026.
The following has been stated:
• The TV Ratings Policy 2026 introduces a comprehensive overhaul of India’s television audience measurement framework, replacing the 2014 guidelines with a system focused on transparency, accuracy, competition, and accountability.
• The policy reduces entry barriers for rating agencies by lowering the minimum net worth requirement from ₹20 crore to ₹5 crore, while simultaneously imposing stricter governance norms—such as requiring at least 50% independent directors and prohibiting conflicts of interest. It mandates a significant expansion of sample size (up to 1.2 lakh metered households) and introduces technology-neutral measurement, capturing viewership across cable, DTH, OTT, and connected TVs to reflect modern viewing habits.
• The policy also strengthens transparency and data integrity by requiring agencies to disclose methodologies, publish anonymised data, and comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
• A dual audit system (quarterly internal and annual external audits), along with government-led inspections, ensures continuous oversight. It introduces a structured grievance redressal mechanism (within 10 days) and excludes landing page viewership from ratings, treating it only as a marketing tool.
• Additionally, OTT and distribution platforms are allowed to publish their own viewership data without registration.
• A key feature is the strict enforcement and penalty framework, where non-compliance can lead to suspension of ratings, financial penalties, and eventual cancellation of registration for repeated violations, significantly raising accountability for rating agencies.
[Notification no. - 36011/13/2020-BP&L(Vol-III)]
