The News Broadcasters Federation (NBF), India’s largest and only accredited collective of broadcasters, convened its Annual Meeting on December 1 in Delhi NCR, where it raised sharp concerns over recent corruption allegations linked to BARC’s audience measurement system. The gathering also marked a significant structural milestone, with the Federation announcing its expansion into the News Broadcasters & Digital Media Federation (NBDF).

According to a press release, members expressed deep unease about the emerging reports of tampering and alleged kickbacks within BARC, including the Kerala case involving an employee reportedly linked to irregularities from BARC’s headquarters. Senior representatives noted that such incidents undermine the credibility of television ratings—an essential pillar for both editorial and commercial decision-making within the news sector. The Federation underlined that confidence in an independent, tamper-proof measurement system is non-negotiable for the industry’s functioning.

Taking a firm position, NBF passed a dedicated resolution confirming that the matter will be formally raised with BARC. The body will seek transparent corrective action, strict accountability, and structural reforms to ensure that audience ratings remain free from manipulation. There was unanimous agreement among members that the issue demands urgent attention to restore trust in the system and to safeguard the integrity of the broadcasting ecosystem.

Even as it addressed this pressing concern, the Federation announced its transition into NBDF, a broadened national platform that will bring together television broadcasters, digital news publishers, and technology-driven news organisations. With India’s media landscape rapidly converging across TV, digital, and new-age platforms, NBDF aims to steer policy dialogue, address digital regulation, foster platform governance, and develop technology frameworks to support a unified industry approach. The expanded mandate reflects the rising influence of digital media and the evolving behaviour of Indian audiences.

To ensure continuity through this transformation, the Federation confirmed that all current office bearers and the existing management structure will continue in their roles. This stability, NBF noted, will help maintain direction and leadership as responsibilities grow under the NBDF umbrella.

Through the decisions taken at the Annual Meeting, the Federation reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening India’s news industry, demanding transparent and reliable audience metrics, and shaping a future-ready organisation that represents both regional and national voices across television and digital media.