India’s Television Ratings Policy 2026 mandates technology-neutral measurement across cable TV, direct-to-home (DTH), terrestrial TV, OTT, connected TVs, and other platforms. The policy, notified on March 27, requires ratings agencies to deploy at least 80,000 metered homes within 18 months of registration, increasing by 10,000 annually until reaching 120,000 homes, according to medianama.com.
The 2026 framework replaces the 2014 policy and lowers the minimum net worth requirement for ratings agencies from Rs 20 crore to Rs 5 crore. It also introduces new rules on methodology disclosure, audits, data protection, governance, and independence. Existing agencies have six months to comply, while new agencies have 18 months to reach the metered home targets. The policy aims to capture viewership accurately across multiple platforms where viewers consume content.
This policy update reflects the changing landscape of television consumption in India, where viewers increasingly watch content on smart TVs and OTT platforms in addition to traditional cable and DTH. By requiring technology-neutral measurement, the policy addresses the challenge of counting viewers without duplication across platforms. The expanded metering targets aim to improve data reliability and transparency in TV ratings, which are critical for advertisers and broadcasters.
The Television Ratings Policy 2026 is expected to reshape audience measurement in India’s TV industry, with the first 80,000 metered homes deployment deadline set 18 months from each agency’s registration date, as specified in the policy notification on March 27.