#e4mExclusive:  BARC extends TV news TRP blackout as MIB directive stays in force

The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has decided against resuming the publication of television news audience ratings this week after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's (MIB) directive to withhold the data continued to remain in force.

In a communication to subscribers, BARC said the ministry's instructions requiring the suspension of TV news ratings continue to be applicable and, consequently, the scheduled weekly release for Week 25-26 will not carry audience data for any news channel.

"As we have informed you earlier, subsequent to instruction directions received from Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, BARC India has withheld the reporting of ratings of TV news channels," the audience measurement body said.

It further added: "Please note that Ministry's directives on the matter continue to be applicable and consequent to that tomorrow's data release that is for Week 25-26 will not have data for all the news channels as in preceding weeks. This would cover all news channels including English, Hindi and regional. As per BARC India's policy."

The latest communication comes after industry executives had expected news ratings to return this week following the expiry of the four-week suspension period that ended on June 28. However, the continuation of the ministry's directive means the blackout will remain in place until further instructions are issued.

BARC seeks withdrawal of billing directive

According to industry executives familiar with the matter, BARC has written to the MIB seeking withdrawal of the ministry's direction that prevented it from levying subscription charges on news broadcasters during the ratings blackout. BARC has argued that while ratings are not being published, it continues to incur significant operational costs in maintaining the audience measurement panel, collecting viewing data, processing information and running the measurement infrastructure. 

The ministry had earlier directed BARC not to bill news broadcasters for the duration of the blackout, taking the view that broadcasters should not be charged while ratings remain unavailable. The directive marked an unusual intervention in the commercial relationship between the industry-owned ratings body and its subscribers and sparked debate over the extent of regulatory involvement in BARC's commercial operations. 

Regulatory overhaul at the centre of the dispute

The suspension of news ratings is unfolding alongside a broader overhaul of India's television audience measurement framework.

In March, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting notified the Television Rating Policy, 2026, replacing the 2014 guidelines governing television rating agencies. The revised framework introduced a series of structural reforms intended to improve transparency and strengthen the credibility of television audience measurement.

One of the most debated provisions requires the exclusion of "landing page" viewership from television ratings. Landing pages refer to channels that automatically appear when viewers switch on their television sets or set-top boxes. Critics have long argued that such default placements artificially inflate viewership and distort audience behaviour, while distribution platform operators contend that landing pages improve content discoverability and should continue to be reflected in measurement.

The revised methodology immediately triggered legal challenges from cable distribution platforms and industry associations.

In May, the Kerala High Court granted an interim stay on the implementation of the provision relating to the exclusion of landing page viewership. As a result, BARC has been required to continue operating under the existing methodology until the matter is decided or further judicial clarity emerges. Industry executives had expected that whenever news ratings resumed, they would have to be released in accordance with the court's interim order.

Why the ratings were suspended

The current suspension traces its origin to a March 6 directive issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting asking BARC to immediately stop publishing Television Rating Points (TRPs) for news channels for four weeks.

The ministry said it had observed "unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content" by certain television news channels while reporting on the conflict in West Asia and argued that intense competition for ratings could encourage irresponsible coverage capable of creating unnecessary public anxiety. The ministry invoked provisions under the television rating agency guidelines requiring BARC to comply with government directions.

Although the original suspension was for four weeks, it was subsequently extended multiple times, including another four-week extension from June, with the ministry directing BARC to continue withholding ratings until further orders.

Impact on broadcasters and advertisers

The prolonged absence of weekly TRPs has left television news broadcasters without the industry's primary audience currency used for advertising sales, competitive benchmarking and programming decisions.

Media agencies rely on BARC's weekly data to plan campaigns, optimise media investments and evaluate performance across competing news networks. While broadcasters have continued to negotiate advertising deals using historical audience trends, client relationships and internal analytics, the lack of an independent third-party measurement system has reduced transparency in the market. Industry executives say an extended blackout could eventually affect pricing efficiency and competitive benchmarking, particularly during major news events.

For now, broadcasters, advertisers and media agencies remain in wait-and-watch mode as they await fresh directions from the ministry on when regular publication of television news ratings will resume.