India:Guidelines approved for regulating TV rating agencies

The Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to a comprehensive framework that will regulate TV rating agencies in the country.

The move is expected to bring in transparency in the measurement of television ratings that determine the number of eyeballs garnered by TV channels.

This was stated by Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari after the Cabinet meeting. On foreign direct investment in rating agencies, the Minister said, “We will make a separate reference to TRAI for it to look into the FDI issue.”

He also said that the notified guidelines will come into immediate effect, however, existing Television Rating agencies like TAM will be given 30 days to implement these guidelines.

Some of the key features of the guidelines are: rating agencies will now need to register with the Ministry subject to eligibility conditions including cross-holding norms. Agencies will also need to ensure that they capture data across multiple platforms that includes cable TV, Direct-to-Home as well as Terrestrial TV.http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/info-tech/guidelines-approved-for-regulating-tv-rating-agencies/article5558637.ece