The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has proposed expanding India’s TRP meter panel to 1.2 lakh households to make TV viewership data more representative and reliable. Stakeholders can submit feedback by December 5. The move aims to enhance transparency, strengthen audience measurement, and modernize India’s broadcast ecosystem for future growth.
In a move that could redefine how India measures and understands its television audience, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has proposed to expand the Television Rating Point (TRP) meter panel size to 1.2 lakh households across the country. The proposal, released for stakeholder consultation this week, seeks to make audience measurement more representative, inclusive, and technologically advanced — reflecting India’s vast diversity in languages, regions, and viewing habits.
As part of the process, the Ministry has invited feedback from stakeholders within 30 days, setting December 5 as the deadline for submission. The decision has already sparked keen interest among broadcasters, advertisers, media planners, and audience research bodies, as it signals one of the most ambitious overhauls of India’s TRP system in recent years.
Why the Expansion Matters
Television continues to be one of India’s most influential mediums, reaching over 800 million viewers across urban and rural areas. From soap operas and sports to news and regional entertainment, the medium shapes public opinion and drives a significant share of India’s advertising industry, which is projected to cross ₹32,000 crore in 2025.
Despite this scale, the accuracy of TRP data — the metric that determines what India watches and how advertising money flows — has often been a subject of contention. Currently, the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) manages the country’s only accredited television audience measurement system. However, its existing panel size — estimated to be around 44,000 households — has been criticized for being too limited to represent the full spectrum of Indian viewership.
Industry experts have long argued that this relatively small sample cannot adequately capture the viewing preferences of India’s 1.4 billion people, particularly those living in Tier-3 and rural regions. Critics say this imbalance has led to skewed TRP data, overrepresentation of urban audiences, and an uneven playing field for regional broadcasters.
By expanding the panel to 1.2 lakh households, the MIB aims to address these challenges and bring India’s audience measurement standards closer to those followed internationally, where larger, more representative samples are the norm.
Government’s Vision for a Transparent Media Ecosystem
The proposal to expand the TRP panel reflects the government’s long-standing efforts to reform India’s broadcast measurement ecosystem. In recent years, the MIB has emphasized the need for more transparency, accountability, and technological innovation in the way television audiences are measured.
An official from the Ministry noted that the proposed expansion is part of a “continuous process of improving the accuracy and reliability of viewership data to serve the interests of viewers, broadcasters, and advertisers alike.”
The Ministry’s draft proposal reportedly outlines plans to ensure that the expanded panel is geographically and demographically balanced, covering not just metropolitan cities but also smaller towns and rural areas where television penetration remains strong.
Moreover, the move aligns with the recommendations made earlier by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and various industry committees, which had repeatedly pointed out that India’s TRP system needed an overhaul to match global standards.
Industry Reaction: A Welcome Move with Big Implications
The announcement has been met with optimism across the media and advertising landscape. Industry veterans see the move as a much-needed step to restore faith in TRP ratings and to support fairer competition among broadcasters.
“An expanded panel size will bring in much-needed granularity and accuracy,” said a senior executive at a major television network. “Right now, decisions about programming, ad rates, and investments are based on limited data. With 1.2 lakh households, we’ll finally get a more realistic picture of what India is actually watching.”
Advertisers, too, have expressed cautious optimism. For brands that invest heavily in television campaigns, reliable audience measurement is critical to assessing reach and return on investment. “When TRP data becomes more representative, it benefits everyone — from broadcasters to advertisers to consumers,” noted an advertising strategist from a leading media agency. “This will also help in better regional targeting, especially for vernacular content.”
However, some experts have pointed out that the expansion will require significant technological and logistical investment. Setting up and maintaining TRP meters in 1.2 lakh homes across such a vast and diverse country poses challenges — from infrastructure and maintenance to ensuring data security and preventing manipulation.
A Look Back: The Evolution of TRP in India
India’s TRP measurement system has undergone several transformations since its inception in the 1990s. Initially managed by private research firms like TAM Media Research, the system came under scrutiny for its lack of transparency and limited sample size.
In 2015, BARC India — a joint industry body formed by broadcasters, advertisers, and advertising agencies — was established to bring credibility and standardization to audience measurement. It introduced a more advanced methodology and technology-driven tools, marking a new chapter in Indian broadcasting.
Yet, controversies persisted. In 2020, the industry was shaken by a TRP manipulation scandal, leading to the temporary suspension of news channel ratings. The episode reinforced the need for stronger oversight, better data governance, and broader sampling.
Since then, both the MIB and TRAI have consistently pushed for reforms to strengthen the measurement ecosystem. The latest proposal to expand the panel size is being seen as the government’s most decisive action yet to address the system’s core limitations.
What It Means for Broadcasters and Viewers
For broadcasters, a larger TRP panel promises more accurate performance insights. It could change how programming is designed, how success is measured, and how advertising is priced. Regional networks, in particular, stand to benefit, as their audiences — often overlooked in the current system — will finally find representation.
For viewers, the benefits are indirect but equally important. A more representative TRP system means more diverse and inclusive programming decisions. As channels get clearer data on what audiences across regions and demographics prefer, content strategies will likely evolve to reflect a broader range of interests.
Additionally, the expanded panel could open the door to integrating cross-platform viewership data, bridging the gap between traditional TV and digital platforms — an area of growing importance as India transitions toward hybrid viewing behaviors.
Challenges and Opportunities
While the industry has welcomed the proposal, implementing such a large-scale expansion will not be without hurdles.
First, there is the question of cost and technology. Installing and maintaining TRP meters in over a lakh homes requires robust infrastructure and real-time data integration systems. Ensuring data accuracy, privacy, and protection against tampering will be key priorities.
Second, ensuring representative sampling across linguistic, cultural, and economic segments will be complex. India’s viewing habits differ sharply from region to region — what works in Punjab may not resonate in Tamil Nadu. Hence, balancing the sample to reflect this diversity is crucial.
Lastly, collaboration between stakeholders — BARC, broadcasters, advertisers, and the government — will be vital. The system’s success depends on transparency, shared responsibility, and continued innovation.
A Step Toward a Smarter Broadcast Future
The MIB’s proposal to expand the TRP meter panel to 1.2 lakh households marks a pivotal moment in India’s media landscape. It signals not just an administrative reform but a forward-looking vision — one that recognizes that data is the foundation of credibility in a rapidly evolving media environment.
By inviting stakeholder feedback and aiming for inclusivity, the government has taken a consultative approach that prioritizes both industry growth and viewer representation.
If implemented effectively, this expansion could set a new benchmark for audience measurement in India — one that combines scale, transparency, and technological sophistication.
In an era where digital platforms are redefining what it means to “watch,” a stronger, more representative TRP system could help Indian television not only stay relevant but thrive in the age of convergence.
