The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) mulls amending the television rating agency norms through the removal of restrictions on board members’ associations and ownership limits in India. The step mainly aims to increase participation in the media landscape and enable broader industry proliferation and growth. 

Among the key changes under consideration by the MIB are updating eligibility criteria to include only companies registered under the Companies Act, 2013, and strengthening conflict-of-interest norms by barring consultancy or advisory roles that could undermine a rating agency’s primary function of audience measurement. To streamline the process and enable decisiveness, the ministry has invited feedback from the public and industry stakeholders on the “Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India.” 

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Opening Doors for New Entrants 

According to the experts, the proposed amendments removing restrictions on shareholding, board composition, and cross-holdings intend to eliminate the potential barriers for the entry of new agencies. Post this, only operational independence and legal compliance remain as the substantive requirements to enable new entrants in the TV rating space.

Regulators Advocating a Multitude of Agencies 

A few months ago, at the 2025 Waves Summit, Mr. Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman of TRAI, advocated for a multitude of TV rating agencies, rather than a single agency deciding the fate of India’s broadcast landscape. TRAI had also recommended that the MIB establish a framework allowing multiple data collection and processing agencies to operate under strict regulatory oversight.

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Clauses Under Deliberation 

Among the clauses under consideration are restricting eligibility for TV rating agencies to companies registered under the Companies Act, 2013 (Clause 1.1), and banning them from offering consultancy or advisory services to avoid conflicts of interest (Clause 1.4). The ministry also proposes deleting Clauses 1.5 and 1.7, which bar board members from having ties to broadcasting or advertising businesses and restrict cross-holdings between stakeholders.

The proposed changes aim to transform the broadcasting landscape by enabling greater participation from private investments.