India's TV ratings blackout deepens as BARC registration decision waits

India's TV ratings regulator BARC is waiting for renewed registration from the information and broadcasting ministry.

BARC's previous registration expired in 2025, and the ministry is also considering an application from TAM India, a joint venture between Nielsen and Kantar Media.

The dispute centres on broadcaster influence and competition: broadcasters hold 60% of BARC, while advertising agencies and advertisers hold the remaining shares, and the ministry wants more competition in the market.

The ministry stopped BARC from publishing audience data in June, while news viewership figures have been withheld since March.

Without ratings, broadcasters have lost a key way to assess channel performance and show advertisers the value of their ads in a TV advertising market estimated at Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 40,000 crore.

An informal group of ministers is examining the impasse, but no decision on fresh registration has been announced; a prolonged blackout could put pressure on smaller channels, jobs and distribution platforms.