TRAI tightens the screws on TV audits to cut clutter and boost trust

MUMBAI: A long audit trail just got a lot shorter. India’s broadcast audit regime is being rewired, with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India rolling out the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2026 to bring clarity, credibility and fewer déjà vu audits to the sector.

The changes come after persistent industry feedback flagged bloated audit cycles, repetitive checks on distributors of pay channels (DPOs), patchy accountability of auditors and gaps around infrastructure sharing. TRAI says the overhaul is designed to cut costs and disruption, without diluting oversight.

At the heart of the amendment is a firmer audit calendar. Audits will now be conducted on a financial-year basis, replacing the calendar-year system. Distributors must complete audits and submit reports to broadcasters by 30 September each year, setting a single, predictable deadline across the ecosystem.

Transparency has also been dialled up. Broadcasters are now permitted to depute representatives during audits. If discrepancies surface, broadcasters can seek clarifications from auditors through the DPO, with responses required within defined timelines. Should doubts persist, broadcasters may commission a fresh audit at their own cost, subject to the Authority’s approval. And if an audit report does not land by the September deadline, broadcasters can trigger an audit themselves.

In a nod to ease of doing business, TRAI has eased the load on smaller distributors. Annual audits at the distributor’s cost are now optional for DPOs with fewer than 30,000 subscribers, though broadcasters retain the right to get these entities audited at their own expense.

The amendment also plugs a long-standing grey area around infrastructure sharing. Subscriber Management Systems and Conditional Access Systems or DRM must meet requirements separately for each distributor, with distinct instances to allow entity-wise reconciliation. On branding, infrastructure providers must insert network logo watermarking for all pay channels at the encoder end, while seekers supply their logo via set-top equipment or middleware. To keep screens clean, TRAI suggests limiting visible logos to two.

Backing the regulatory changes is a tougher gatekeeping process for auditors. Following consultations and an open house, TRAI has strengthened technical proficiency norms, categorised auditors by experience and tightened accountability provisions through its empanelment framework issued in August 2025. An updated audit manual aligned to the new rules is expected shortly.

Taken together, the Authority believes the package will restore confidence in the audit process, curb repeat checks, lower compliance costs for both broadcasters and distributors, and ensure audits are completed on time. For an industry long tangled in audit fatigue, TRAI’s message is clear: fewer loops, clearer lines, and a cleaner bill of health.