#e4mExclusive:  TRAI moves to reclaim role in TV ratings, writes to MIB seeking review of TRP policy

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) seeking a review of the newly notified Television Ratings Policy, 2026, after the ministry removed the telecom regulator from the television audience measurement framework, people familiar with the matter told e4m.

This letter comes at a time when the MIB is fighting a legal battle in Kerala High Court on the interim stay to proviso Clause 5.4.1 of the TV Ratings Policy 2026 pertaining to landing pages. 

According to sources, TRAI has urged the ministry to revisit provisions of the policy that take away its role in the television ratings ecosystem, arguing that audience measurement has historically fallen within its broader regulatory remit over broadcasting and cable services.

The communication comes days after the Centre unveiled the Television Ratings Policy, 2026, which vests all powers relating to television audience measurement—including registration of rating agencies, audits, compliance and enforcement—with the MIB, ending TRAI's formal role in the framework.

The policy is being viewed as the clearest signal yet of the government's intent to consolidate broadcasting regulation under the ministry, in line with its broader vision of creating a single regulatory architecture for the sector.

Industry executives and legal experts, however, said the policy largely formalises an arrangement that already existed in practice, even as it removes any ambiguity around the ministry's primacy.

Under the 2014 guidelines governing television audience measurement, TRAI's role was primarily recommendatory. While the regulator issued consultation papers and policy recommendations, the authority to approve, implement and enforce the framework rested with the MIB.

"The latest policy essentially codifies what has been the operational reality for years," said a person familiar with the matter. "The difference now is that TRAI has been explicitly excluded from the framework, prompting the regulator to ask the ministry to revisit the decision."

The development assumes significance as the government has, over the past few years, explored the possibility of moving broadcasting away from telecom-style regulation and placing it under a unified oversight mechanism.

For broadcasters, however, the immediate concern is less about institutional jurisdiction and more about regulatory certainty.

Several industry executives described the new policy as overly prescriptive and "chaotic", saying the framework appears over-engineered despite its stated objective of simplifying regulation.

At the same time, broadcasters acknowledged that eliminating overlapping oversight between TRAI and the ministry could improve ease of doing business.

"For years, the industry has dealt with overlapping jurisdictions between TRAI and MIB, often leading to delays in decision-making. A single regulatory framework brings much-needed clarity and speed, which is critical in a fast-moving advertising market," a senior executive at a leading broadcast network said.

Another senior broadcaster said broadcasting should not be regulated through the same lens as telecommunications.

"Broadcasting is fundamentally different from telecom, and regulating it under a telecom framework created unnecessary complexity. Moving oversight fully to the MIB aligns regulation with sector realities and should improve regulatory efficiency," the executive said.

Television ratings remain central to the broadcasting ecosystem, directly influencing advertising revenues, channel positioning and media planning decisions. Industry executives said a single-window regulatory structure could reduce bureaucratic friction and speed up approvals.

The latest policy also reinforces the government's broader push towards regulatory convergence at a time when broadcasting, digital media and telecom services increasingly overlap.

Legal experts said the policy represents a clear shift in regulatory design by concentrating oversight within one ministry, although the effectiveness of the framework will ultimately depend on its implementation.

TRAI was established under the TRAI Act, 1997 primarily to regulate the telecom sector. As cable television and satellite broadcasting expanded, the government brought broadcasting and cable distribution services within the regulator's ambit, allowing it to make recommendations on issues such as tariffs, interconnection and quality of service.

However, in the specific case of television audience measurement, policy formulation and implementation remained with the MIB, with TRAI playing an advisory role through recommendations and consultations.

That distinction could become relevant if differences between the regulator and the ministry deepen.

Legal experts said TRAI could examine whether television audience measurement falls within its statutory mandate under the TRAI Act, although the regulator's historical advisory role may limit the scope for any legal challenge.

"The government has considerable latitude in designing regulatory policy. Since the ministry has always exercised executive authority over television ratings, the policy may be viewed as formalising the existing position rather than creating a fundamentally new framework," a legal expert tracking media regulation said.

For now, the immediate flashpoint remains TRAI's letter to the ministry.

Whether the MIB chooses to accommodate the regulator's concerns or retains the policy in its present form will determine the next phase of India's evolving broadcasting regulatory landscape, people aware of the discussions said.