2025: The year of media regulations & reforms 

In 2025, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) stood at the centre of some of the most consequential debates shaping the media landscape in the country, from reforming how television audiences are measured to tightening norms for digital content and grappling with accusations of overreach. 

At the centre of these developments were the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), as industry stakeholders repeatedly locked horns over pricing power, distribution norms and regulatory oversight.

This year will be remembered for its regulatory activism, stakeholder pushback and an evolving contest between content freedom and cultural norms.

The year was also a turbulent one for India’s television, cable, DTH and OTT ecosystem, marked by pricing disputes, regulatory churn, structural reforms and long-running transparency concerns. 

From TRP controversy to structural reform

Television Rating Points (TRP), the backbone of television economics, became one of MIB’s most enduring policy engagements in 2025. The controversy surrounding TRP systems has simmered for years, fuelled by allegations of manipulation, limited sample representation and an outdated methodology that failed to account for changing viewer behaviour. In response, the MIB initiated a sweeping overhaul of the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India.

MIB relaxes eligibility norms for ratings agencies

In July 2025, MIB proposed significant changes intended to democratise and modernise the TRP ecosystem. These amendments sought to allow multiple rating agencies to operate beyond the traditional Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) model. 

The move was designed to encourage competition, technological innovation and more representative data, especially by accommodating connected TV viewership and evolving consumption patterns. Key clauses restricting cross-holdings between broadcasters and rating agencies were initially set for deletion, sparking industry debate on both transparency and conflict of interest.

However, by November 2025, the MIB had recalibrated its approach and in a refined draft, it reinstated stringent conflict-of-interest provisions, barring broadcasters from owning stakes or board positions in rating agencies, reversing the earlier relaxation and restoring a regulatory wall between media owners and measurement bodies. 

This draft also envisaged expanding the rating panel to 1.2 lakh households over time and excluding “landing page viewership” from ratings to focus on genuine engagement. 

Read more on MIB proposal to drop landing page 

The TRP reform process was marked by extended deadlines for feedback, consultations with stakeholders and heated debates on balancing data accuracy, industry fairness and commercial interests. 

Broadcasters and advertisers expressed both cautious optimism and deep scepticism, concerned that changes could either usher in fairness or fragment the industry’s rating architecture.

OTT regulation and digital content standards

If the TRP overhaul was about television’s quantitative core, the MIB’s engagement with over-the-top (OTT) platforms in 2025 was about content quality, legal compliance and digital culture.

MIB issues fresh advisory to OTT platforms

Concerns about obscene, vulgar and adult content on OTT platforms have drawn consistent public and political attention throughout the year. 

In February 2025, the ministry issued a comprehensive advisory to OTT platforms reminding them of their obligations under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. These rules establish a Code of Ethics, mandating age-based content classification, robust grievance mechanisms and strict adherence to Indian law on decency and child protection. Despite these advisories, several platforms continued to attract complaints and scrutiny. 

In July, the MIB directed internet service providers to block access to at least 25 OTT platforms and apps, including well-known names like ULLU and ALTT, for allegedly streaming content that violated multiple provisions of Indian law, including Sections of the Information Technology Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. This enforcement was not a one-off exercise as updated parliamentary disclosures later confirmed that the ministry has blocked dozens more OTT platforms for similar violations, citing explicit, adult and culturally insensitive material that allegedly flouted legal and ethical norms. 

These actions, while applauded by conservative segments and some policymakers concerned about societal harm, have also sparked debate on freedom of expression, due process and procedural fairness.

Alongside enforcement, the MIB has taken a proactive stance on accessibility in OTT content. It released draft guidelines for accessibility features, requiring platforms to include accommodations for persons with hearing or visual impairment, a landmark step in inclusive entertainment regulation.

Cable TV and the Broadcasting Services Bill

The cable television ecosystem and the long-awaited Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill also remained on the MIB’s agenda this year. Stakeholders from the cable TV industry repeatedly engaged with the ministry to accelerate the release and implementation of the Bill, which promises to replace outdated statutes and unify regulatory frameworks in an era where boundaries between traditional broadcast and digital platforms blur. 

This reform drive reflects broader ambitions: to modernise broadcasting in line with technological shifts, simplify compliance and create a single authorisation regime across platforms, an objective also reflected in parallel recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). 

Content Responsibility, advisories and the Public Interest

Beyond television and OTT, the MIB in 2025 took a strong editorial stance on content deemed harmful to public order or national security. It issued advisories warning TV channels against broadcasting sensitive material that could incite violence or undermine national interest. 

While the ministry’s activism has won praise in some quarters for tackling perceived excesses in digital content and updating regulatory frameworks, it has also faced allegations of overreach and scant consultation. Civil society advocates have urged broader public engagement on proposed regulations, especially those that affect speech and access to information online, warning that too narrow a regulatory compass can inhibit free expression.

Such debates intensified around proposals affecting influencers and digital creators, where critics charted parallels with past advisories and the potential chilling effect on creative speech.

New RIOs by broadcasters causing unrest in cable industry

One of the most contentious issues during the year was the sharp hike in channel prices following the release of new Reference Interconnect Offers (RIOs) by major broadcasters. The formation of JioStar after the merger triggered fresh RIOs, with bouquet prices rising by nearly 18%, while Zee and Sony raised prices by about 12%. The cable industry reacted strongly, terming the hikes “exorbitant” and warning of increased consumer churn. 

Industry bodies openly questioned whether TRAI intervention was required and whether the sector should appeal against what they saw as unchecked broadcaster pricing power. The dispute further sharpened the long-standing debate on broadcaster dominance versus distributor viability.

Is it time for DTH to reinvent?

The issue of bundled channel packages continued to remain unresolved. In March, cable operators once again approached TRAI, arguing that consumers were being compelled to subscribe to broadcaster-defined bouquets containing channels they did not want. Operators demanded flexibility to break bouquets and offer more customised packs, a position broadcasters firmly opposed. The stalemate highlighted persistent structural friction between broadcasters and Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs).

In April, these concerns were formally raised at the government level when the All-India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) met Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The discussions focused on restoring balance in the distribution ecosystem, with the federation seeking government intervention on RIO pricing and bouquet freedoms granted to large networks.

Amendment of Cable TV Network Rules; DD FreeDish auction 

On the regulatory front, MIB introduced a key reform by amending the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, streamlining the Local Cable Operator (LCO) registration process. Effective January 17, 2025, registrations moved fully online under MIB’s authority, enabling real-time issuance of certificates after Aadhaar, PAN and other verifications. The amendment also introduced an appeal mechanism against denial or non-renewal, replacing a cumbersome, offline, post-office-based system that limited operational expansion.

Read more on DD FreeDish auction facing allegations

Another major flashpoint was the DD Free Dish MPEG-2 slot e-auction, which descended into controversy. The February auction saw accusations of arbitrary disqualifications, particularly in the R1 bucket covering southern language channels. Smaller broadcasters alleged selective removals and lack of transparency, while industry estimates suggested Prasar Bharati may have lost nearly Rs 150 crore due to muted bidding in the second round. Despite the controversy, major GECs such as Sony, Zee and JioStar retained their presence on the free-to-air platform, reinforcing DD Free Dish’s importance in mass-market television.

Meanwhile, TRAI recommended greater flexibility for broadcasters by allowing them to choose the technology used to deliver channels to DPOs under its framework for ground-based broadcasters, signalling a more market-driven regulatory approach.

Public broadcasting modernisation under BIND scheme

Beyond regulation and enforcement, 2025 also saw renewed focus on strengthening India’s public broadcasting infrastructure. The government stepped up efforts to modernise Akashvani (All India Radio) and Doordarshan Kendras across states under the Central Sector Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme 2021–26 to reinforce the reach and relevance of public broadcasting.

Govt plan to modernize Akashvani and Doordarshan 

Approved with a total outlay of Rs 2,539.61 crore for the period 2021 to 2026, the BIND scheme focuses on digitisation and modernisation of broadcasting equipment, replacement of legacy systems, upgradation of studio and transmitter infrastructure, and the introduction of new technologies and digital workflows. 

The initiative is aimed at improving service quality, expanding coverage and ensuring that public broadcasters remain technologically competitive in a rapidly evolving media environment.

Print media ad rate revision and cost structure reforms

The MIB also addressed the financial sustainability of the print media sector during the year by approving a long-pending revision in government advertisement rates. In a statement to Parliament, the ministry confirmed that it had assessed and approved recommendations on the cost structure of newspaper operations, including a 26% hike in print advertisement rates.

Read more on MIB nod for hike in print ad rates

Responding to concerns over the timing of the increase amid broader fiscal pressures, Dr L Murugan said the revision was based on the recommendations of the 9th Rate Structure Committee (RSC), constituted in November 2021. The committee held extensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), All India Small Newspapers Association (AISNA), Small-Medium-Big Newspapers Society (SMBNS), and representatives of large, medium and small publications.

According to the ministry, the committee examined multiple cost pressures affecting print media viability, such as rising newsprint prices, inflation, higher production and processing costs, wage obligations and volatility in imported paper rates. The recommendations, which were unanimous, were approved in full by the government.

The revised rate structure also provides for premium pricing on colour advertisements and preferential placements, a move that industry players see as a modest but necessary correction to reflect the economic realities facing print publishers amid intensifying competition from digital platforms.

Digital radio policy and FM transition

TRAI also advanced reforms in radio broadcasting by releasing its recommendations for a digital radio policy for private FM broadcasters. The proposals outline India’s shift from analog FM to digital radio, detailing licensing norms, auction rules and reserve prices for spectrum across key cities.

TRAI unveils digital radio policy framework

The recommendations followed a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in April 2024, a consultation paper issued in September 2024 and an open house discussion held in January 2025.

TRAI has proposed a simulcast model for the transition, under which a broadcaster can operate one analog FM channel, three digital channels and one data channel on a single frequency. The approach is aimed at ensuring a smooth migration while allowing broadcasters to expand content offerings as digital adoption gathers pace.

The regulator has recommended an authorisation period of 15 years for digital radio broadcasting. Broadcasters will pay an annual authorisation fee of 4% of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), with a concessional rate of 2% of AGR for the first three years in border, hilly and island territories, rising to 4% thereafter.