Overview

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has released draft amendments removing Clauses 1.5 and 1.7 to lift conflict-of-interest and cross-holding restrictions in the 2014 TV rating policy.
• OTT platforms, digital distributors and technology firms can now apply to become registered television rating agencies, challenging BARC’s decade-long exclusivity.
• All agencies must register under the Companies Act, 2013 and are explicitly barred from consultancy or advisory roles to prevent potential conflicts of interest.
• The revisions integrate modern viewership metrics by recognizing data from connected TVs, streaming devices and mobile applications for more representative audience measurement.
• The provisions take effect immediately and apply retrospectively to existing agencies, with a 30-day public consultation window closing on July 31