New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) is set to face sharp questions in Parliament on August 20, as Members of Parliament (MPs) demand clarity on reforms to modernise India’s Television Rating Points (TRP) system.
The session is expected to address growing concerns about the credibility of the current TRP framework, which many believe incentivises sensationalism over substantive journalism. Industry observers say the exchange could prove to be a pivotal moment for the Indian broadcasting sector.
MPs including Yogender Chandolia, Dr. Hemang Joshi, Manoj Tiwari, Aparajita Sarangi, Ashish Dubey, Anil Firojiya, and Kangna Ranaut have sought details of the Government’s roadmap for audience measurement reforms. Their queries cover accurate viewership measurement across TV and digital platforms, and lowering entry barriers to encourage multiple rating agencies.
Additionally, MPs want updates on any initiatives to integrate advanced technologies into the ratings ecosystem to enhance transparency, accuracy, and robustness.
In a related question, Bajrang Manohar Sonwane, MP from Maharashtra, pressed the Government on whether the race for TRPs has pushed news channels toward populist coverage at the cost of stories of national importance. He asked if such practices were creating unhealthy competition and diminishing media credibility, while seeking details of reforms to ensure a more balanced evaluation framework.
The debate follows the MIB’s July 2 call for major reforms to India’s television audience measurement system. At the time, the Ministry highlighted that while India has 230 million television households, only 58,000 people meters are in use—representing just 0.025% of TV homes. The Ministry said this small sample undermines reliability and fails to account for smart TVs, OTT platforms, and mobile viewing, where audiences are increasingly concentrated.
In its statement, the Ministry noted, “With a view to have wider participation from the industry bodies and other stakeholders, it has been decided to extend this period by a further thirty days and the feedback/ comments may now be submitted till 01.09.2025, preferably in electronic form.”
The MIB’s responses in Parliament on August 20 are expected to reveal whether the Government will push for structural reforms—potentially reshaping how television and digital audiences are measured and how credibility is restored in India’s media ecosystem.
