**Policy Summary: Prioritization of High TRP News**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4496, addressed on August 20, 2025, concerning the prioritization of news based on Television Rating Points (TRP). The question raised by Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane inquired whether the current TRP-based evaluation system leads to the neglect of important national interest news with lower TRP ratings, potentially fostering unhealthy competition and declining credibility among news channels.
In response, the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan, acknowledged that while TRPs, published by registered audience rating agencies, quantify viewership, individual channels determine the priority of news items. The Ministry is aware of the potential issues arising from the current system and has proposed reforms to the television audience measurement system. Draft amendments to the existing Policy Guidelines for Television rating agencies in India have been published on the Ministry's website for public consultation.
The proposed reforms aim to enable fair competition, generate more accurate and representative data, and ensure the TRP system accurately reflects the diverse and evolving media consumption habits of viewers across the country. These reforms signal the government's intention to address the concerns raised regarding the prioritization of high-TRP news and its potential impact on the quality and credibility of news broadcasting.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: The Indian government ministry responsible for information dissemination and broadcasting regulations.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
SHRI BAJRANG MANOHAR SONWANE: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question No. 4496.
Dr. L. MURUGAN: The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting; and Parliamentary Affairs who provided the answer.
Television Rating Points TRP: A metric used to evaluate the popularity of television channels and programs.
Audience Rating agency: An organization registered to quantify the number of viewers of a particular channel or program during a given time.
Policy Guidelines for Television rating agencies in India: Existing policy document that the government proposes to amend.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4496
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025)
PRIORITISATION OF HIGH-TRP NEWS.
4496. SHRI BAJRANG MANOHAR SONWANE:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that news channels are currently evaluated based on Television
Rating Points (TRP), leading to prioritization of high-TRP news while important
news in the national interest with lower TRP ratings is neglected;
(b) whether the Government is aware that this practice may lead to unhealthy
competition among news channels and a decline in their credibility;
(c) if so, whether the Government is proposing reforms in the TRP evaluation system;
and
(d) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (Dr. L. MURUGAN)
(a) to (d): Television Rating Points (TRP) published by registered Audience Rating agency
quantifies the number of viewers of a particular channel or a program during a given time.
Individual channels decide priority of a particular program or a news item.
The government has proposed reforms to the television audience measurement system.
Draft amendments to the existing Policy Guidelines for Television rating agencies in India have
been published on the website of the Ministry for public consultation.Proposed reforms aim to enable fair competition, generate more accurate and representative
data, and ensure that the TRP system accurately reflects the diverse and evolving media
consumption habits of viewers across the country.
*****