#e4mExclusive:  MIB extends TV news ratings suspension for 4 more weeks; BARC to continue withholding data

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed the continued suspension of television audience ratings for news channels, extending the embargo by another four weeks in a move that prolongs uncertainty for broadcasters, advertisers and media planners dependent on weekly viewership data.

The directive, communicated by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India to its subscribers on Monday, comes less than a month after an earlier order issued in May and effectively pushes back the resumption of ratings reporting for the country's television news sector.

According to the communication sent by BARC India, the industry measurement body has received "a further directive from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to withhold the reporting of Ratings for TV News Channels for an additional period of four weeks, or until further directions, whichever is earlier."

The suspension will take effect from the data release scheduled for Thursday, June 4, 2026, covering Week 21 of the television measurement calendar, corresponding to the period between May 23 and May 29.

The latest extension means that weekly audience data for television news channels will remain unavailable across genres and languages, including Hindi news, regional news, English news and business news channels.

BARC said the withholding exercise would apply to all news channels classified under its "Policy for Genre Classification of TV Channels". The measurement body has informed subscribers that the suspension will continue either for the four-week period specified by the ministry or until fresh instructions are issued.

The decision is significant because television ratings serve as the primary currency for advertising transactions in the broadcast industry. Weekly viewership data influences media planning, advertising allocations, sponsorship negotiations and programming strategies across the television ecosystem.

For news broadcasters, the absence of ratings data creates challenges in benchmarking channel performance and demonstrating audience reach to advertisers. Media agencies and marketers also rely on BARC's weekly ratings to evaluate campaign effectiveness and make spending decisions across television properties.

The latest directive extends a period of opacity in the television news measurement system, with industry stakeholders awaiting clarity on when regular reporting will resume. While BARC has not disclosed the reasons behind the ministry's latest instruction, the extension indicates that the government continues to maintain restrictions on the publication of audience data for news channels.

In its communication, BARC advised subscribers to contact their designated representatives for any clarifications regarding the suspension.

The audience measurement body did not indicate a specific timeline for restoring ratings beyond the four-week extension window, leaving the possibility open for either an earlier resumption or a further extension depending on subsequent directions from the ministry.