I&B Ministry
MIB mulls sharp cut in Rs 20 crore net-worth rule for TV rating agencies
Ministry reviews norm to widen competition in ratings
NEW DELHI: The ministry of information and broadcasting is reconsidering a key eligibility norm for television rating agencies, with officials weighing a sharp cut in the minimum net-worth requirement to broaden participation in the audience-measurement market, Storyboard18 reports.
Under the draft policy guidelines issued by the ministry, companies seeking registration as television rating agencies must have a minimum net worth of Rs 20 crore, certified by a statutory auditor. The draft also sets out rules on corporate structure, board composition and cross-holding restrictions.
Officials are now examining whether the threshold should be lowered to around Rs 5–10 crore, following representations from multiple stakeholders who argue that the current bar stifles competition and innovation.
The Rs 20-crore requirement was designed to ensure financial resilience in a sector that directly influences advertising revenues, said a senior industry executive. But advances in data analytics and measurement technologies have significantly reduced the capital intensity of audience tracking, the executive added.
Supporters of the proposed recalibration say the existing benchmark has effectively shut out credible start-ups and research-driven firms. A lower threshold, they argue, would allow technology-led players to challenge legacy models and diversify the ratings ecosystem.
Executives at digital measurement firms also say the move would better reflect the convergence of television and digital viewing. Audience measurement today is increasingly software-driven rather than infrastructure-heavy, one executive said, making high capital thresholds less relevant.
Others, however, warn against weakening financial safeguards in a market that shapes advertising spends running into tens of thousands of crores. Sustaining nationwide panels, audit systems and compliance mechanisms over a ten-year registration cycle requires deep pockets, said a senior broadcaster executive.
Another industry veteran noted that net-worth norms operate alongside bank guarantees and stringent compliance obligations. Any reduction, they said, must be carefully calibrated to avoid undermining the credibility of ratings.
The review comes amid a broader overhaul of the ratings framework. Draft amendments released by the ministry have removed several long-standing restrictions, opening the door for new entrants, including OTT platforms, distribution platform operators and big technology firms, to set up ratings agencies.
The changes are expected to intensify competition and challenge the dominance of the Broadcast Audience Research Council, while placing greater emphasis on digital and cross-platform measurement as viewing habits shift.
Minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan has said the ministry issued a revised draft in November 2025 after receiving feedback on the first version released in July. The amendments, he said, aim to modernise India’s TRP system, improve accuracy and representation, and reflect consumption across linear television, digital platforms and connected devices.
Media planners and broadcasters have broadly welcomed the intent of the reforms, though many caution that translating the policy into a credible, multi-platform measurement system will require substantial operational investment.
I&B Ministry
AIDCF moves TDSAT over Waves plan to stream linear TV channels
Industry body flags regulatory gap as OTT push sparks broadcast turf war
NEW DELHI: The battle between traditional television distributors and digital platforms has found its way to the courts, with the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) moving the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against Prasar Bharati’s latest OTT play.
At the heart of the dispute is Waves, Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform, which has invited applications to onboard linear satellite TV channels. Aidcf, which represents multi-system operators (msos), argues that this move sidesteps existing broadcasting rules and risks tilting the playing field in favour of digital platforms.
The federation’s petition hinges on a key provision in the Uplinking and Downlinking Guidelines, 2022. Clause 11(3)(f) allows broadcasters to downlink channels only if they provide signal decoders to recognised distribution platforms such as MSOS, DTH operators, hits operators and iptv platforms. OTT platforms, aidcf points out, do not feature on that list.
In simple terms, AIDCF’s argument is this: if OTT platforms are not officially recognised distributors, they should not be receiving broadcast signals in the first place. By inviting channels onto Waves, the federation claims, Prasar Bharati is opening a backdoor that lets broadcasters bypass long-standing rules.
The concern goes beyond legal interpretation. Aidcf says OTT platforms currently operate without a clear regulatory framework, allowing them to expand into traditional broadcasting territory without the compliance burden that cable and satellite operators must carry. That, it argues, creates an uneven contest.
There is also a warning for broadcasters. If they provide signal decoders to an OTT platform like Waves, they could risk breaching the very conditions under which their downlinking permissions were granted.
For its part, Prasar Bharati’s Waves initiative is positioned as a step towards wider access and digital reach, bringing linear television into the streaming era. But critics say the move blurs the line between regulated broadcasting and largely unregulated streaming.
The matter is expected to come up before tdsat next week. The outcome could do more than settle a single dispute. It may help define how India regulates the fast-merging worlds of television and OTT, where the lines are getting fuzzier by the day and the stakes, sharper than ever.
