NEW DELHI: The applications of TAM and the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) for registration under the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India notified early this year is under process under established procedure/practices, Parliament has been informed.

These are the only two agencies to have applied for registration under the guidelines issued on 16 January with the objective of creating a credible, transparent and accountable rating system in the country which , cover detailed procedure for registration of rating agencies, eligibility norms, terms and conditions of registration, cross-holdings, methodology for audience measurement , complaint redressal mechanism , sale and use of ratings, audit, disclosure, reporting requirements and action on non-compliance of guidelines etc.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said all rating agencies shall require registration from the Ministry under the guidelines, which are also available at the Ministry’s website at www.mib.nic.in.

These guidelines are based on recommendations made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on “Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies” of 11 September 2013. The recommendations have been made by TRAI after holding wide-ranging consultations with various stakeholders. 

Some of the provisions of these guidelines have been challenged by Kantar Market Research Services and another in Delhi High Court. The High Court has granted stay to some paras relating to restrictions on cross–holding of the company and its board members in rating agencies and generating and publishing ratings till the disposal of the writ petition. The matter is sub-judice.