Television Rating Policy, 2026 to Strengthen Transparency, Independence and Accountability in India's TV Audience Measurement System

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has issued the Television Rating Policy, 2026, replacing the 2014 guidelines. It lowers the net‑worth threshold for rating agencies from Rs 20 crore to Rs 5 crore, adopts technology‑neutral measurement across TV and OTT platforms, and expands the sample of metered homes from 50,000 to 80,000. The policy mandates periodic establishment surveys every three years, annual independent audits, cross‑holding restrictions, a minimum of 33 % independent directors, and a graded penalty framework for non‑compliance. No agency has yet registered under the new regime.