iWorld
VoD broadcast primetime viewing sees 22% growth
MUMBAI: The total time spent on viewing Free on Demand (FOD) television content in the Broadcast Primetime category increased 22 per cent compared to the previous year, with 32.8 million more hours per month watched in Q1 2015 than two years ago.
A report titled ‘State of VOD: Trend Report’ by Rentrak includes two years Video on Demand analysis and year-to-date metrics from Rentrak’s On Demand Essentials measurement service. Since Rentrak started issuing the report five years ago, findings show that time spent watching Broadcast Primetime on Demand has doubled.
Insights from the Rentrak report include:
Free on Demand (Broadcast Primetime): Transactions are up 19.8 per cent
Free on Demand (Cable Series Content): Transactions are up 8.2 per cent
The majority of primetime viewing On Demand happens after day three, with more than 50 per cent occurring day seven and beyond.
“Much has been written about the movement from TV to digital viewing, however, Rentrak shows that while live TV viewing is slightly down, television viewership is largely unchanged as more viewership is occurring on DVR and VOD over 28 days,” said Rentrak corporate president Cathy Hetzel.
“With 100 per cent of all primetime series shows now available on VOD, consumers know that favourite shows will be available when they want to watch. The water cooler effect is also driving higher usage as consumers now have the opportunity to watch shows they hear about, from the first episode on,” Hetzel added.
“It is no surprise that Free on Demand continues to see growth. On Demand is truly the ultimate engagement medium. No commercial avoidance for primetime content available on FOD makes On Demand one of the most effective platforms on which to target your most desirable consumers. Our recent ‘Report’ proves that VOD advertising should be sold at a premium price,” said Rentrak CEO and vice chairman Bill Livek.
iWorld
BARC launches cross-media measurement pilot with JioStar
TV ratings body tests unified framework across linear, CTV and mobile, addresses long-standing advertiser demand on 20 February 2026.
MUMBAI: India’s TV ratings system is finally catching up to the screen-hopping viewer because when audiences juggle remotes like cricket balls, measurement can’t stay stuck in the living room. The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has quietly begun a pilot project for cross-media measurement, marking its first structured attempt to track audiences seamlessly across linear TV, Connected TV (CTV), and mobile platforms. Multiple BARC board members confirmed the development on 20 February 2026, describing the initiative currently running with JioStar as a foundational step toward a unified industry currency.
The pilot arrives amid sharp criticism from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), which in 2025 directed BARC to integrate CTV data into its system. MIB highlighted glaring gaps: India has roughly 230 million television households, yet BARC relies on only about 58,000 people meters, a sample representing just 0.025 per cent of total homes. The ministry also flagged BARC’s lack of tracking for smart TVs, streaming devices, and mobile apps, undermining the reliability of TRPs in a diverse, multi-screen country.
The initiative builds on JioStar’s December 2025 Cross-Screen Measurement Study with Nielsen during TATA IPL 2025, which analysed five major brands across impulse and high-consideration categories. That study demonstrated how audiences engage with live sports across linear TV, CTV, and mobile underscoring the need for total reach and incremental impact metrics.
Advertisers have welcomed BARC’s proactive move. A senior member of the Indian Society of Advertisers (anonymous) called it the right move at the right time. Consumers are fluid across screens, and measurement must reflect that reality. A credible cross-media framework will help us optimise budgets scientifically, reduce waste, and drive higher ROI.
Another brand leader added, that the move will allow marketers to identify incremental reach across platforms rather than overexposing the same audience. That improves campaign effectiveness and ensures every rupee works harder.
A broadcaster executive praised the pilot-led approach saying BARC deserves credit for stepping forward and testing this in a structured way. Reform of this scale requires collaboration, experimentation and patience.
If the pilot proves robust and expands beyond JioStar, India could move toward a single, cross-platform measurement standard potentially reshaping how billions in advertising rupees are planned and spent. In a media world where viewers rarely stay on one screen, BARC’s experiment might just be the first step toward making ratings as multi-talented as the audience they try to count.
