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Picture Courtesy:  NDTV

Context:

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) suggests changes to Television Rating Point (TRP) policy.

About Television Rating Point (TRP)

TRP measures the popularity and viewership of a television channel or program.

It indicates how many people watch a specific show or advertisement, helping advertisers and broadcasters understand audience engagement.

TRP directly influences advertising revenue, guides content creation decisions, and shapes a channel's overall strategy.

Limitations of India's TV Viewership Measurement

Sole Agency => Currently, the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) operates as the only agency providing TV ratings in India.

Limited Sample Size => India has about 230 million television households, however, BARC utilizes only about 58,000 "people meters" to collect viewership data, which comprises only 0.025% of the total TV homes. The limited sample size may not adequately represent diverse viewing preferences across various regions and demographics.

Inadequate Connected TV (CTV) Tracking =>The current measurement technology fails to capture viewership on emerging platforms such as smart TVs, streaming devices, and mobile applications, despite their growing adoption.

Key Proposed Amendments to the TRP Policy Guidelines-2014

Removal of Cross-Holding Restrictions => Government proposed deleting Clauses 1.5 and 1.7, to eliminate entry barriers for new companies wishing to enter the television viewership measurement sector.

Preventing Conflict of Interest => Amendments to Clause 1.4 to prevent rating agencies from engaging in consultancy or advisory services that could create a conflict of interest with their primary role of providing impartial ratings.

Public Feedback Invited => The Ministry encourages viewers, broadcasters, advertisers, and concerned citizens to submit feedback on these draft amendments by August 1.  

Source: 

NDTV

The Hindu