Cable TV operators win interim relief as Kerala HC pauses TRP overhaul rule

The Kerala High Court on Friday stayed a key provision of the Centre’s new TV ratings policy that excludes “landing page” viewership from Television Rating Points (TRP), giving interim relief to cable operators who argue the move threatens a crucial source of revenue.

In an order dated May 22, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas of the Kerala High Court directed the Centre and other respondents not to implement the proviso to Clause 5.4.1 of the TV Ratings Policy, 2026, until further orders. The matter will be heard next on June 19.

The petition was filed by the All India Digital Cable Federation and another petitioner challenging the information & broadcasting ministry's TV Ratings Policy notified on March 27 and the operational guidelines issued by BARC on May 13.


The dispute centres on “landing pages,” the default channel shown when a viewer switches on a set-top box. Landing pages are primarily provided by cable operators and not direct-to-home (DTH) platforms. Cable operators often monetise this placement through carriage and placement agreements with broadcasters, making it an important revenue stream for the sector.

Under the new policy, all landing page viewership will be excluded from TRP calculations, with regulators treating such exposure as a marketing tool rather than actual viewing.

The issue has long been contentious, particularly in the television news industry. Since TV news accounts for a relatively small share of India’s overall television universe, even small external interventions such as landing page placement can significantly alter channel rankings and viewership shares. News broadcasters have frequently argued that such placements artificially inflate ratings and distort competition.

However, cable operators have countered that the policy unfairly ignores genuine consumer behaviour. In their petition, they said the blanket exclusion of landing page viewership treats actual viewing as “zero viewership” and could severely hurt the cable television business at a time when it faces growing competition from OTT platforms and social media.

The petitioners also argued that the move infringes their right to carry on trade and business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.

A key argument in the case is that the issue of landing pages is already pending before the Supreme Court, where restrictions on landing pages remain under challenge. According to the petitioners, the apex court had earlier restrained the enforcement of landing page regulations while the matter remains pending.

The high court referred to the pending Supreme Court proceedings while granting interim relief. “It is only appropriate that the respondents herein be directed not to implement the proviso to Clause 5.4.1 of TV Rating Policy of 2026 without getting further orders from the court," the court said.

The petition also questioned the rationale for a complete exclusion, arguing that BARC already uses a Landing Page Algorithm (LPA) designed to filter passive or forced viewing while counting genuine audience engagement. According to the petitioners, removing all landing page viewing from ratings could distort actual audience measurement.

For now, the high court’s order preserves the status quo, preventing the new rule from taking effect until the matter comes up for hearing next month.