The suspension of television ratings in India is continuing, with pressure growing to restore audience measurement ahead of the festive season.

According to an Economic Times report today, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) asked the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) in July to withhold the measurement and publication of TV ratings until the government decides on its registration application. BARC India earlier registration expired in July 2025. The government’s TV rating guidelines were released in March and amended in May.

The guidelines require cross-screen measurement, 33 percent independent representation on BARC’s board and the removal of landing-page data from viewership measurement. BARC India panel has reached 77,596 homes and is on track to reach its target of 80,000 before the December 31 deadline.

Following approval from the Registrar of Companies, BARC India board has proposed inducting Muralidharan Ramachandran as its fifth independent member. His appointment would help BARC India meet the 33 percent independent representation requirement under the Television Ratings Policy 2026. BARC India is expected to submit the required paperwork to the ministry for approval next week.

Other independent directors on the BARC India board include Supreme Court advocate Gopal Jain, former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Vempati, former Johnson & Johnson managing director Narendra Ambwani and SISA Information Security director Gayatri Chandrasekhar.

BARC India has urged the ministry to process its registration application at the earliest. Meanwhile, TAM India and Chrome DM have also applied to provide TV audience measurement services. Industry stakeholders have raised concerns about the financial viability of multiple rating agencies and the possibility of conflicting viewership data for the same programmes.