India’s television viewership data is unlikely to return in the near term because no ratings agency has yet registered under the Television Ratings Policy, 2026, according to the government. That means the restart of regular audience measurement remains pending despite the new policy framework being in place.
The updated policy brings stricter compliance requirements for television ratings agencies. Among the key conditions mentioned by the government is the appointment of independent directors to BARC’s board, reflecting a tighter regulatory approach to how audience data is collected and governed.
The delay matters for broadcasters, advertisers and media planners who rely on television ratings to track channel performance and plan campaigns. Without a registered agency under the new rules, the resumption of official viewership data appears to remain some distance away.
The government’s update also comes as the Kerala High Court has lifted its stay on the landing-page issue referenced in the policy discussion. Even so, the larger question of when TV ratings data will fully resume now depends on agencies completing registration and meeting the tougher compliance standards set by the 2026 policy.
