Leading Indian streamer JioStar‘s Kevin Vaz has called on India’s government to immediately restore BARC audience ratings, using the inaugural address at the FICCI-Frames conference to warn that the data gap is leaving broadcasters, advertisers and agencies without dependable numbers heading into the festive season.
\n\nVaz is the CEO of entertainment at JioStar and chair of the FICCI Media & Entertainment Committee. He thanked India’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for scrapping the 10+2 advertising cap, describing the move as a step toward rules that fit how linear TV and the wider media business now operate.
\n\nThe ministry first ordered BARC to stop publishing news channel ratings on March 6, citing sensationalist coverage of the Israel-Iran conflict, and extended that pause several times. In early July, it widened the freeze to all genres until BARC secures registration under the Television Ratings Policy 2026, which took effect in March. BARC applied on April 29 and has expanded its panel to 70,876 homes against the policy’s 80,000-home target, but ratings remain suspended.
\n\n“At a time of global economic uncertainty, reliable audience measurement is critical to keeping this ecosystem efficient, supporting advertisers and broadcasters, and keeping domestic economic activity moving,” Vaz said.
\n\nHe…
Original source: https://variety.com/v/tv/
