Archive · 21 Sep 2026
IBDF Calls for Immediate Restoration of BARC Television Ratings
The IBDF wants television viewing ratings to be published again.
These ratings show how many people watch different television programs.
The ratings were stopped in July while BARC’s licence is renewed.
Broadcasters say this makes advertisers less certain about where to spend money.
They also say it makes planning difficult during the important festive season.
IBDF raised the issue at its 27th annual meeting.
The group welcomed the removal of a rule limiting television advertising to 12 minutes.
Television reached hundreds of millions of people in India and earned about ₹61,700 crore in 2025.
IBDF members urged the immediate restoration of BARC television ratings at the foundation’s 27th annual general meeting.
Broadcasters said the ratings suspension reduced revenue visibility, increased advertiser uncertainty and disrupted media planning during the festive season.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry directed BARC in July to stop publishing news and non-news ratings pending licence renewal.
IBDF welcomed the removal of the prescribed 12-minute advertising cap by the government and TRAI.
Television generated approximately ₹61,700 crore in 2025 and reached about 831 million monthly viewers and 745 million weekly viewers.
- Who
- The Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation, broadcasters, the Broadcast Audience Research Council, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
- What
- IBDF called for the immediate restoration of BARC television ratings and welcomed the removal of the prescribed 12-minute advertising cap.
- When
- The demand was made at IBDF’s 27th annual general meeting; the article was published on September 21, 2026, and ratings were suspended in July.
- Where
- India’s television broadcasting sector.
- Why
- Broadcasters said the ratings suspension created advertiser uncertainty, disrupted media planning, reduced revenue visibility and caused commercial disruption during the festive season.
IBDF and Broadcasters
Regulatory Position
Restoring television ratings
IBDF and Broadcasters
IBDF and broadcasters want BARC ratings restored immediately, saying the suspension harms advertiser confidence, media planning, revenue visibility and commercial activity.
Regulatory Position
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry directed BARC to stop publishing news and non-news ratings until its licence is renewed under the Television Ratings Policy, 2026.
- Ratings publisher
- The Broadcast Audience Research Council publishes television ratings.
- Ratings suspension
- Ratings for news and non-news genres were stopped in July.
- Licence requirement
- The Information and Broadcasting Ministry said BARC must renew its licence under the Television Ratings Policy, 2026.
- Advertising cap
- The prescribed 12-minute advertising cap was removed through the omission of Rule 7(11) of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.
- TRAI action
- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India repealed the related provision from its 2012 television advertising regulations.
- 2025 television revenue
- Television revenues were approximately ₹61,700 crore, about 22% of India’s Media and Entertainment sector.
- Audience reach
- Television reached approximately 831 million viewers monthly and 745 million viewers weekly.
