Source: PIB
Context: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting released a draft policy on TV Rating Guidelines 2025, proposing to allow multiple agencies in the TRP ecosystem to improve accuracy, transparency, and reflect digital viewership trends.
About TV Rating Guidelines 2025:
- What is TRP?
- Television Rating Point (TRP) is a quantitative metric used to measure the popularity and reach of television programs. It helps broadcasters, advertisers, and stakeholders assess audience engagement and plan revenues accordingly.
- Administering Authority:
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- Governed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India.
- Operationally handled by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC).
- Established: The current regulatory framework was introduced in 2014 under the “Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India”.
- Objective of the TRP System:
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- To ensure transparent, scientific, and reliable measurement of TV viewership across platforms.
- To aid content creators, advertisers, and regulators in making data-driven decisions in the media ecosystem.
- Issues with the Existing TRP System:
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- Monopoly by BARC: BARC is the only rating agency authorized, limiting innovation and competition.
- Limited Sample Size: Only 58,000 meters for over 230 million TV homes—representing just 0.025%.
- No Measurement of Connected Devices: Current system excludes smart TVs, OTT platforms, and mobile apps.
- Proposed Reforms in the Draft TRP Policy 2025:
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- Allow Multiple Rating Agencies: Entry barriers removed to foster competition and modernise the ecosystem.
- Modern Technology Integration: Encourages agencies to include connected TVs, streaming apps, and mobile devices in measurement.
- Amendments to Restrictive Clauses:
- Clause 1.4 reworded to focus only on avoiding conflict of interest, not general consultancy bans.
- Clauses 1.5 and 1.7 deleted to eliminate entry barriers.
- Democratising Investment: Broadcasters and advertisers can now invest in rating infrastructure under regulated norms.
- Transparent and Inclusive Ratings: The new system seeks to better reflect India’s diverse content consumption, especially in regional and digital domains.
