Government proposes to open up TRP market
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
New Delhi, In a bid to encourage competition, the government has proposed to remove entry barriers for companies keen to foray in the sector of television viewership measurement ecosystem.The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has proposed amendments to the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies-2014 to ensure that the TRP system reflects the diverse and evolving media consumption habits of viewers across the country.The proposed changes include the deletion of key clauses - 1.5 and 1.7 - that earlier restricted cross-holdings between rating agencies and broadcasters, advertisers, or advertising agencies The Ministry has invited feedback on the draft amendments by August 1 from viewers, broadcasters, advertisers or concerned citizens.The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) is the only agency providing TV ratings, but it does not track connected TV device viewership, despite it being a major trend.Currently, India has approximately 230 million television households. However, only about 58,000 people meters are used at present to capture viewership data, representing just 0.025 per cent of the total TV homes."This relatively limited sample size may not adequately represent the diverse viewing preferences across regions and demographics," an official statement said.It said the existing audience measurement technology does not sufficiently capture viewership on emerging platforms such as smart TVs, streaming devices, and mobile applications, which are witnessing growing adoption among audiences.The proposed amendments to Clause 1.4 of the Guidelines seek to introduce an easier-to-comply provision to explicitly prevent rating agencies from engaging in consultancy or advisory services that may result in a conflict of interest with their primary role.The proposed amendments aim to allow multiple agencies to foster healthy competition, bring in new technologies, and provide more reliable and representative data especially for connected TV platforms, an official statement said."As viewing habits evolve, so must the way we measure them. The amendments will also enable more investments from broadcasters, advertisers, and other stakeholders to improve rating technology and infrastructure," it said.With these reforms, India aims to build a more transparent, inclusive, and technology-driven TV rating ecosystem.The existing policies had entry barriers that discouraged new players from entering the TV ratings sector. Cross-holding restrictions also prevented broadcasters or advertisers from investing in rating agencies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Member of Parliament meets Steel Minister Kumaraswamy on reinstatement of contract workers at Vizag Steel Plant
Visakhapatnam Member of Parliament Matukumilli Sribharat met Union Minister of Steel and Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy in New Delhi on Monday urging him reinstate the contract workers in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (RINL). During the meeting, he pointed out that the contract workers who contributed significantly to the plant's development and possess strong service records need to be reinstated. He emphasized the importance of regularizing these employees to ensure the plant's smooth functioning. Further, the MP proposed that the Kendriya Vidyalaya presently operating within the plant premises be transferred under the Ministry of Education. This, he explained, would provide students with more stable and quality educational facilities. Mr. Sribharat also recommended implementing a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for the staff of Vimal Vidyalayam, functioning within the plant area, to provide them with financial security. Highlighting concerns of the workforce, Mr. Sribharat stressed the urgent need for full-time employee recruitment at the steel plant. He pointed out that proper staffing would facilitate effective promotions, enhance production capacity, and ensure steady availability of raw materials. These strategic improvements would greatly benefit the plant's overall performance, he said. Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy acknowledged the proposals favorably and assured that the Ministry would undertake necessary measures. He said that the Ministry is committed to addressing these concerns promptly and constructively.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
UK: Social media people smugglers to face jail
People smugglers who use social media to advertise their services to migrants looking to enter the United Kingdom illegally could face up to five years in prison, according to new plans announced by the British government. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The facilitation of illegal immigration is already a criminal offense in the UK, but the government wants to give police and law enforcement agencies more options to combat smuggling gangs who promote illegal crossings of the English Channel online. According to analysis by the British interior ministry, the Home Office, a record 25,000 people have made the dangerous journey this year alone, around 80% of whom used social media to contact and communicate with smugglers. "Selling the false promise of a safe journey to the UK and a life in this country – whether on or offline – simply to make money, is nothing short of immoral," Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told The Sunday Times. "These criminals have no issue with leading migrants to life-threatening situations using brazen tactics on social media. We are determined to do everything we can to stop them, wherever they operate." UK's 'small boats' crisis Prime Minister Keir Starmer's center-left Labour government is under increasing domestic pressure to combat what are colloquially known in the UK as "small boats." The term, which US President Donald Trump appeared unfamiliar with during a recent press conference alongside Starmer in Scotland, refers to the flimsy and often over-crowded vessels used by smugglers to transport migrants on the perilous journey from France to England. In November 2024, a smuggler based in the northern English town of Preston was jailed for 17 years after posting videos of migrants apparently thanking him for his help, while Albanian smuggling gangs have been found promoting £12,000 (€13,750 / $15,900) "package deals" including travel and fake documentation, accommodation and illegal work upon arrival. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Last month, the government launched a new sanctions regime allowing it to freeze assets, impose travel bans and block banking access for individuals and entities involved in irregular migration. And Home Secretary Cooper told The Sunday Times that she was also planning a "major overhaul" of the asylum appeal process in the hope of driving down numbers of arrivals. "If we speed up the decision-making appeal system and keep increasing returns, we hope to be able to make quite a big reduction in the overall numbers in the asylum system," she said. "That is the best way to restore order and control." The opposition Conservative Party, which was in power for 14 years prior to its defeat in the 2024 general election, criticised the plans as "too little, too late." Under pressure from the far-right populist Reform UK party, it has proposed what it calls a "no-nonsense" strategy of automatically deporting anyone who arrives in the UK via unauthorised routes.
NDTV
7 hours ago
- NDTV
India Fact Checks Reports On Centre's Review Of US Goods Exempted From Tariffs
Washington: Amid the ongoing tariff row with the United States, India has debunked fake news reports claiming that the Narendra Modi government was reviewing a list of US-made products exempted from import duties. The Foreign Ministry's fact-checking arm also refuted reports claiming the government is "considering suspending or reviewing certain bilateral agreements with the United States if hostile economic policies continue." The fact check came after an X handle-- 'China in English'-- claimed, "The Indian government begins reviewing the list of US products exempted from tariffs... and declares: No privilege without mutual respect" Disinformation being spread on X. #MEAFactCheck — MEA FactCheck (@MEAFactCheck) August 3, 2025 "This is FAKE News!" the Ministry posted on its fact-checking handle 'MEA FactCheck', tagging the 'China in English' post. Refuting the claims of suspending bilateral agreements, MEA FactCheck wrote, "Fake News Alert! This is FAKE News. No such statement made." The Ministry also noted that a handle going by the name 'Middle Eastern Affairs' was making several fake claims on the issue. "Disinformation and FAKE news alert! This handle (@Middle_Eastern0) has been making several social media posts with FAKE News. Be aware," it said. Disinformation and FAKE news alert! This handle (@Middle_Eastern0) has been making several social media posts with FAKE News. Be aware. #MEAFactCheck — MEA FactCheck (@MEAFactCheck) August 3, 2025 Trump Tariffs on India On top of a new 25 per cent tariff on India's exports to the US, US President Donald Trump last week indicated in a Truth Social post that India would face additional penalties for purchases of Russian arms and oil. The US President cited New Delhi's high tariff rates and its trade ties with Russia for being the 'vast majority' buyer of military equipment and crude oil. On Friday, Trump told reporters he had heard that India would no longer be buying oil from Russia. However, Indian government sources refuted the claim and said India will keep purchasing oil from Russia despite Trump's threats of penalties. "These are long-term oil is not so simple to just stop buying overnight," a government source told news agency Reuters. Last week, in a suo motu statement in both the houses of Parliament, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said, the government is examining the implications of these tariffs and is engaged with all stakeholders, including exporters and industry, for taking feedback on their assessment of the situation. "The government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, exporters, MSMEs and all sections of industry. We will take all necessary steps to secure and advance our national interest," he said.
