TV ratings agency needs reforms for credibility, says telecom regulator

The agency that fixes television ratings in India needs reforms in its structure and methodology for credibility, said the country’s telecom regulator on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting notified the policy guidelines for television rating agencies in India on January 10, 2014, under which the industry-led body BARC was accredited to carry out the television ratings in India. BARC commenced its operations in 2015 and since then it is the sole provider of TV rating services on commercial basis.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said several concerns relating to neutrality and reliability of the existing rating system have been raised by stakeholders, which necessitated a need to review the existing television audience measurement and rating system in India.