#e4mExclusive:  MIB directs BARC to stop charging news broadcasters during TRP blackout period

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) not to levy subscription charges on news broadcasters during the ongoing suspension of television ratings, according to industry executives familiar with the development.

The directive, which was communicated by the ministry directly to BARC, comes at a time when the television news industry continues to grapple with the prolonged absence of Television Rating Points (TRPs) — the key currency that underpins advertising deals, media planning and programming decisions.

Industry executives said the ministry has conveyed that news broadcasters should not be billed for audience measurement services for as long as the "dark period" remains in force.

"The view within the ministry appears to be that if news channels are not receiving ratings data, they should not be required to pay for it," said a senior industry executive aware of the communication. 

"However, the move also raises questions about the extent of governmental involvement in the operational and commercial functioning of BARC," the executive added.

Another executive noted that the development marks a significant intervention in BARC's revenue collection process.

"BARC is an industry-led body. Decisions relating to subscriber fees have historically been internal matters. The ministry's direction on whether broadcasters should be charged during the blackout period represents a deeper level of regulatory involvement than what the industry has previously witnessed," the executive said.

Queries sent to BARC remained unanswered till the time of publication.

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Fresh layer of uncertainty

The directive adds another dimension to an already uncertain environment for news broadcasters, who have been operating without weekly ratings for a long time.

BARC derives a portion of its revenues from subscription fees paid by broadcasters and other stakeholders for access to audience measurement data. The temporary suspension of news ratings had sparked discussions within the industry over whether broadcasters should continue paying for a service that is currently unavailable to them.

The ministry's latest communication appears to settle that issue, at least for the duration of the blackout.

However, executives said the development could reignite debates around BARC's autonomy and governance framework.

"While news broadcasters may welcome relief from subscription payments during the suspension period, there is concern over the precedent being established. It raises broader questions around the relationship between the regulator and a self-regulatory measurement body," said a media analyst tracking developments in the broadcast sector.

TRP suspension extended

The latest directive comes against the backdrop of the MIB extending the suspension of television news ratings by another four weeks.

BARC had informed subscribers last week that, acting on instructions from the ministry, it would continue withholding audience data for news channels across languages and genres for an additional month. The suspension now covers ratings releases beginning with Week 21 data and will remain in force either for the period specified by the ministry or until further directions are issued.

The withholding of news ratings was first ordered by the ministry in March this year. At the time, the government had cited concerns over "unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content" in television news coverage relating to the conflict in West Asia, arguing that ratings-driven competition could incentivise irresponsible reporting.

Since then, the suspension has been extended multiple times, creating an unprecedented situation in which news broadcasters have continued operating without access to the industry's primary measurement currency.

New TRP policy and industry pushback

The ratings freeze has coincided with a wider overhaul of India's television audience measurement framework.

The ministry notified the Television Rating Policy, 2026, replacing the earlier 2014 guidelines governing television rating agencies. The revised framework introduced several structural changes aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in audience measurement.

Among the most contentious provisions was the exclusion of "landing page" viewership from the final ratings calculations. Landing pages refer to the default channels that appear automatically when subscribers switch on their television sets. Broadcasters have historically paid distributors for such placements, arguing that they improve discoverability, while critics contend that they distort actual viewership behaviour.

The exclusion of landing page impressions from ratings was welcomed by many broadcasters, particularly news channels that had long argued that artificial inflation of viewership through placement deals undermined the credibility of the measurement system.

However, the provision triggered strong opposition from cable distribution platforms and industry bodies representing multi-system operators.

Kerala High Court intervention

The matter eventually reached the Kerala High Court.

In May, the court granted an interim stay on the operation of the specific clause in the Television Rating Policy, 2026 that sought to exclude landing page viewership from ratings calculations. Petitioners, including distribution platform stakeholders, argued that the ministry had exceeded its jurisdiction and that the provision ran contrary to earlier judicial precedents relating to landing page regulations.

Following the court's interim order, several broadcasters and distribution platform operators adopted a wait-and-watch approach as legal proceedings continued.

The continuing suspension of news ratings has, in effect, prevented the immediate implementation of the revised measurement framework for the news genre, prolonging uncertainty for both broadcasters and advertisers.

Last week, MIB filed an affidavit in Kerala HC defending the revised TRP Policy which directed exclusion of landing page data from BARC's measurement system. 

Advertising impact

Industry observers said the absence of ratings has complicated media planning decisions, particularly for advertisers seeking objective benchmarks to allocate spending across competing news networks.

TRPs play a central role in determining advertising rates, sponsorship negotiations and programming strategies. Without weekly data, broadcasters have increasingly relied on historical performance trends, qualitative assessments and direct client relationships to retain advertising revenues.

While some industry executives believe the suspension has reduced the pressure to chase ratings at any cost, others argue that an extended blackout risks undermining transparency in the television advertising ecosystem.

The ministry's latest directive exempting broadcasters from subscription payments may provide temporary financial relief to news networks. Yet, with no clarity on when normal ratings services will resume, the industry continues to operate in one of the most uncertain periods in the history of India's television measurement system.