The prolonged suspension of television ratings has emerged as a key point of contention between broadcasters and the ministry of information and broadcasting, with the festive season intensifying pressure to restore audience measurement and provide advertisers greater visibility.

In July, the ministry asked the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to withhold the measurement and publication of TV ratings until the government decides on its registration application. The decision is subject to BARC complying with the ministry's TV rating guidelines, released in March and amended in May.

The guidelines require cross-screen measurement, 33% independent representation on BARC's board and the removal of landing-page data from viewership measurement. BARC's earlier registration expired in July 2025.

ET Bureau

According to an update provided to the ministry, BARC's panel count stands at 77,596 and is on track to achieve its target of 80,000 ahead of the December 31 deadline.

Following approvals from the registrar of companies, BARC's board has proposed inducting Muralidharan Ramachandran as its fifth independent member. His appointment would help BARC meet the 33% independent representation requirement under the TV Ratings Policy 2026. BARC is expected to submit the necessary paperwork seeking the ministry's approval next week.

Other independent directors include senior Supreme Court advocate Gopal Jain, former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Vempati, former Johnson & Johnson managing director Narendra Ambwani and SISA Information Security director Gayatri Chandrasekhar.

BARC has urged the ministry to process its registration application at the earliest. TAM India and Chrome DM have also applied to provide audience measurement services.

While the ministry's guidelines seek to create a competitive audience measurement market, industry stakeholders have raised concerns over the financial viability of multiple rating agencies and the possibility of conflicting data from different agencies for the same programmes, which could create confusion in the industry.

Entertainment broadcasters have expressed disappointment over the delay, arguing that entertainment channels should not bear the consequences of issues involving news broadcasters.

News ratings have been unavailable since March, when they were suspended amid the Iran war to prevent sensationalism and speculative content. The blackout was extended to all broadcasters in July.

At its 27th annual general meeting on Monday, members of the Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF) called for the immediate restoration of BARC ratings. Broadcasters said the suspension had affected revenue visibility, advertiser confidence and media planning during the festive season.

The participants at the meeting included JioStar CEO-entertainment Kevin Vaz, who is also the IBDF president, Zee Entertainment Enterprises CEO Punit Goenka and Sony Pictures Networks India CEO Gaurav Banerjee.

Crisil Ratings said BARC's operations remained unaffected despite the suspension, with continued cash inflows from broadcasters and healthy liquidity.

BARC recorded revenue of ₹297 crore in 2024-25, down from ₹319 crore in the previous financial year, while net profit declined to ₹16 crore from ₹20 crore.