TRP system set for revamp to reflect changing media landscape: L Murugan, MoS MIB

The government on Wednesday said it has proposed significant reforms to the television audience measurement framework, with the aim of making the system more accurate, competitive, and reflective of present-day media consumption patterns.

Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. L. Murugan, said: “The Government has proposed reforms to the television audience measurement system. Draft amendments to the existing Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India dated 16.01.2014 have been published on the website of the Ministry for public consultation.”

He further added that the proposed changes are designed to “enable fair competition, generate more accurate and representative data, and ensure that the TRP system accurately reflects the current media landscape.”

The move signals the government’s intention to open up the television ratings market, which is currently monopolised by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), by allowing the entry of new players.

The question was raised by MPs Eetala Rajender, Ch M Kiran Kumar Reddy, and D K Aruna, who asked whether the government was looking to amend restrictive provisions that prevent broader participation in audience measurement.

BARC presently holds the exclusive mandate for television ratings in India, but has drawn criticism over the years for issues related to transparency, sample representation, and methodology. The proposed reforms could introduce a multi-agency model, addressing some of these long-standing industry concerns.

While no specific feedback from stakeholders was disclosed in the Minister’s response, the government stated that inputs had been sought from “experts, stakeholders, committees and task forces appointed” for the purpose.

The draft guidelines, currently hosted on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s website, are open for public consultation. Once finalised, the revised framework is expected to better align with changing viewer behaviour and the growing shift toward digital and hybrid content platforms.

The reforms are being viewed by industry analysts as a critical step toward strengthening the credibility of the audience measurement ecosystem, which plays a foundational role in shaping programming, advertising, and media investment decisions.