Information & Broadcasting Ministry releases TV Rating Policy 2026
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting released the Television Rating Policy 2026, replacing the Guidelines for TV Rating Agencies of 16 January 2014, to bring transparency, independence and accountability to TV audience measurement (informed 24 July 2026).
Summary
Major reforms: net-worth requirement for rating agencies cut from ₹20 crore to ₹5 crore; technology-neutral measurement across platforms including connected TVs and TV channels on OTT platforms; metered homes expanded from 50,000 to 80,000; periodic establishment surveys every three years; exclusion of 'landing page' viewership from ratings; annual independent audits; and a graded penalty framework. Safeguards include cross-holding restrictions.
Key facts
- Policy
- Television Rating Policy 2026
- Replaces
- Guidelines for TV Rating Agencies, 16 January 2014
- Net worth
- ₹20 crore → ₹5 crore
- Metered homes
- 50,000 → 80,000
- Establishment survey
- Every three years
- Other
- Landing page excluded; annual independent audits; graded penalties; cross-holding limits
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Under the TV Rating Policy 2026, the number of metered homes for audience measurement is to be expanded to:
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Correct answer: D — 80,000
Metered homes are to be increased from 50,000 to 80,000.
The TV Rating Policy 2026 reduced the net-worth requirement for TV rating agencies from ₹20 crore to:
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Correct answer: B — ₹5 crore
The net-worth criterion was reduced from ₹20 crore to ₹5 crore.
Consider the following statements about the TV Rating Policy 2026: 1. It replaces the Guidelines for TV Rating Agencies issued in January 2014. 2. It provides for establishment surveys every three years. 3. It excludes the landing page from computation of viewership data. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct per the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.