Copyright thehindubusinessline
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has proposed expansion of the size of panel of households meters set up for measurement of television viewership. It has also brought in sharper provisions pertaining to conflict of interest and re-introduced cross-holding requirements in its latest amendments in draft guidelines for Television Rating Agencies. The Ministry had first released a draft of proposed amendments in the policy guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in July. On Thursday, the amendments proposed by the Ministry stated that TRP rating agencies should implement a minimum panel size of 80,000 people metres within 18 months of registration. “Thereafter the panel size shall be increased by 10,000 every year until it reaches the figure of 1,20,000,” it added. Currently, there are only 58,000 people meters and the provision has been proposed to ensure diverse viewing patterns across regions and demographics gets captured. People metres are electronic audience measurement tools used to record media consumption habits. It has also proposed that existing TV rating agencies should increase their panel size to 80,000 within six months. A key addition to the guidelines being proposed also States that landing page viewership should not be counted in the viewership measurement. It added that the landing page can be used only as a marketing tool. The Ministry has also modified the earlier draft amendment to introduce sharper conflict of interest provisions with the broadcast industry. The draft amendment proposal released on Thursday stated that the entity applying for registration as TRP agency “shall not have any conflict of interest with broadcasters.” In the July draft amendment removal of clause 1.5 was proposed. In the latest draft guidelines, the clause which has been re-introduced states that any member of the board of directors of television rating company “shall not be involved in the business of broadcasting.” In the guidelines released in 2014, the provision also prohibits board members from being involved in ad agencies and advertising agencies, which is being proposed for amendment. In addition clause 1.7 describing cross-holding requirements, which was proposed to be removed in the earlier draft, has been re-introduced in the latest draft released on Wednesday. The amended 1.7 clause stated that no single company or legal entity can either directly or through its associates have “substantial equity holding” in rating agencies and broadcasters. Substantial equity holding has been defined as 20 per cent or more. Among other provisions of clause 1.7 that have been re-introduced in the latest draft include that promoters or members of board of the rating agency cannot have stakes in any broadcaster either directly or indirectly or through its associates. However it clarifies these provisions will not apply to industry-led self-regulatory bodies such as the Broadcast Audience Research Council. The Ministry had earlier said that it is proposing to bring these amendments to enable fair competition, generate more accurate and representative data, and ensure that the TRP system reflects the diverse and evolving media consumption habits of viewers across the country. It has now sought views from stakeholders withing 30 days. Published on November 6, 2025
