The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting notified the Television Rating Policy (TRP) 2026 on March 26, 2026, replacing 2014 guidelines to enhance transparency, accountability, and credibility in audience measurement. Key changes include barring landing page viewership from official ratings, relegating it solely to marketing use.
Major Reforms
- Landing Page Ban: Viewership from landing pages excluded from TRP calculations; broadcasters must disclose channel availability to agencies.
- Ease of Entry: Net worth threshold for rating agencies slashed from ₹50 crore to ₹20 crore, enabling competition beyond BARC’s monopoly.
- Sample Expansion: Mandates larger, representative samples across urban/rural demographics for accurate data.
Compliance and Oversight
Agencies must adhere to DPDP Act 2023, undergo dual audits (quarterly internal, annual external), and secure government clearances for key personnel. Violations trigger graded penalties; OTT/distribution platforms can self-publish data without registration.
Industry Impact
The policy curbs TRP manipulation via forced landing page views, fostering organic measurement. It promotes multi-screen technology-neutral metrics, benefiting advertisers with reliable planning data.
Follow-ups
