1 hr ago
BARC ratings impasse threatens Rs 60-crore revenue before festive advertising
BARC measures how many people watch different television programmes and channels.
Its ratings stopped after its licence was not renewed under new government rules.
This has caused BARC to lose at least Rs 60 crore in revenue.
Advertisers and television companies use ratings to decide where to spend money.
Industry groups are worried because the Dussehra and Diwali season is a major advertising period.
They want ratings restored by October.
The government says BARC must meet several conditions before its licence can be renewed.
BARC says it has already met most conditions and is working toward 80,000 measured homes.
BARC faces a revenue shortfall of at least Rs 60 crore after television ratings stopped in July.
The blackout followed the non-renewal of BARC’s licence under the government’s new TV ratings policy.
Industry groups want the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to restore ratings by October, before Dussehra and Diwali advertising.
The government requires BARC to expand its panel, add independent board representation, remove landing-page data and enable cross-screen measurement.
BARC says it has addressed the requirements and will expand its metered-home panel to 80,000 by October.
- Who
- The Broadcast Audience Research Council, television broadcasters, advertisers, advertising agencies and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting are involved.
- What
- A television ratings blackout has continued after BARC’s licence was not renewed, causing a reported revenue shortfall of at least Rs 60 crore.
- Where
- India.
- When
- The full ratings blackout began in July; news ratings had already been disrupted since March 2026. Industry groups seek restoration by October.
- Why
- The government says BARC must comply with new TV ratings policy requirements, while industry bodies want ratings restored before the Dussehra-Diwali advertising season.
Industry bodies and BARC
Government position
Restoring ratings
Industry bodies and BARC
The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation, Advertising Agencies Association of India and Indian Society of Advertisers want an urgent resolution and ratings restored by October, before the major Dussehra-Diwali advertising season.
Government position
The government has not renewed BARC’s licence under the new TV ratings policy and requires compliance with specified conditions before ratings can resume.
Compliance with policy
Industry bodies and BARC
Industry sources say BARC has increased its panel to 77,000 homes, will reach 80,000 by October, and has addressed independent representation, landing-page data and cross-screen measurement requirements.
Government position
The government says BARC needs an 80,000-home panel, 33% independent board representation, removal of landing-page data from measurement and cross-screen measurement.
Impact of the blackout
Industry bodies and BARC
Industry groups and experts say the lack of current ratings complicates advertising decisions, negotiations and comparisons during a critical period for television advertising.
Government position
The government’s stated policy requirements indicate that measurement standards and governance changes must be secured before the ratings system is restored.
Key facts
- Reported revenue shortfall
- At least Rs 60 crore since the full blackout began
- Full ratings disruption
- Started in July
- Earlier news-ratings disruption
- Under way since March 2026
- Industry request
- Restore television ratings by October
- Festive advertising share
- About one-third, or Rs 12,000-13,000 crore, of India’s Rs 38,000-crore television advertising market
- Government panel requirement
- 80,000 metered homes
- BARC panel progress
- Increased from 67,000 to 77,000 homes and aims to reach 80,000 by October
Quotes
Avinash Pandey
Secretary general of the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation
“Television ratings serve as the industry’s principal currency for measuring programme and channel audiences. Broadcasters use the data to assess programming performance and price advertising inventory, while agencies and advertisers use it to plan campaigns and evaluate reach.”
financialexpress.com
“The television industry is entering one of its most important advertising periods. Consumer-facing companies step up marketing expenditure around Dussehra and Diwali, making audience measurement particularly important for broadcasters, advertisers and agencies.”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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