I&B Ministry
TV Viewership: Unaccredited agencies issuing motivated measurement reports under government radar
Mumbai: The government may take strict action against the unlicensed agencies issuing viewership data for TV and internet-connected platforms.
As per the government guidelines, these platforms are in violation of the policy for TRP in India which also covers the measurement of online video platforms. Recently, an agency issued a viewership report for TV news channels. As per industry experts, most of these reports are motivated and at times are even paid by channels being shown as number one.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting requires all Television Rating Agencies to register themselves and follow the policy guidelines laid down by the Ministry in respect of television ratings.
The guidelines provide for strict conditions and obligations to be compulsorily met, including ensuring that ratings are tech-neutral and capture data across multiple viewing platforms including Cable TV, DTH, Terrestrial TV and online platforms.
I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati sets EPG standards for DD Free Dish platform
New specs define 7-day guide, LCN mapping, and device compatibility.
MUMBAI: Your TV guide just got a backstage pass structured, scheduled, and far more in sync. Prasar Bharati has released detailed technical specifications for Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) services on DD Free Dish, laying down a standardised framework for how channels and programme information are organised and delivered. At the core of the update is a defined EPG data structure, covering genre-based categorisation, scheduling formats, and Logical Channel Numbering (LCN). The aim is simple: make navigation less guesswork and more guided experience across the platform’s over 40 million households.
The specifications also introduce a seven-day programme guide window for each channel, alongside clear rules for channel grouping and LCN mapping effectively deciding not just what you watch, but how easily you find it.
On the technical front, the document outlines requirements for Program Specific Information (PSI) and Service Information (SI), including descriptor usage across tables such as PAT, BAT and NIT. It further details service lists and network linkage parameters, giving OEMs and developers a clearer blueprint for integration.
Importantly, the framework is designed to work seamlessly with television sets equipped with in-built satellite tuners, enabling users to access DD Free Dish directly without additional hardware, an incremental but meaningful step towards simplifying access.
The platform will continue to operate on GSAT-15 transponders, using MPEG-4 compression and DVB-S2 transmission standards, ensuring continuity even as the interface evolves.
While largely technical, the move signals a broader push towards standardisation and user-friendly discovery in India’s free-to-air ecosystem because sometimes, the real upgrade isn’t what’s on screen, but how easily you get there.
