Media ratings, which tap the pulse of the TV viewership, have been a more or less unregulated industry in India, at least, till recently.

But the TRAI has now issued a set of guidelines to bring more transparency in the ratings system, which are seen as measures to heavily regulate the industry.

These include monitoring of sample sizes, establishing a mandatory audit every 3 years as well as putting a cap on the stakeholders in these agencies.

The BARC's Technical Committee to decide the sample size and audit by independent firm once in three years. No single entity will have above 10 per cent shares in one rating agency.

"It has been said by the advertisers, and viewers that because of the distorted rating system certain programmes are getting the primary space which is affecting the content of the broadcasting channels," said Nripendra Misra, Chairman, TRAI.

Prominent ratings agencies refuse to give an opinion just yet. 

" We are still studying the details. We cannot comment at this point. We will express our views at an appropriate time," stated TAM.

Sources in the industry expressed surprise at TRAI's contradictions. While Clause 7 of their guidelines implies self-regulation, they would also be placing I&B nominees on the BARC board. 

The government could also prove to be a competitor through Doordarshan, which some speculate could give them the incentive to establish their own service. And now all eyes are on the dates at the end of the month, when the two parties could come together for a discussion on the issue.

This recommendation is the first of its kind attempt made by both the unhappy industry and the government to bring about some kind of transparency to the system of auditing ratings, and if this recommendation gets passed, this will also be the first time when the industry will be able to act upon unfair play in the rating methodology.