Exclusive: BARC ratings return hinges on AIDCF case withdrawal after IBDF meets Vaishnaw

New Delhi: The return of BARC ratings may happen sooner than the industry fears, but only if the legal block on the landing-page exclusion clause is removed. Government sources told BestMediaInfo.com that an IBDF delegation met Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday and presented its case on BARC’s compliance with the new TV Ratings Policy 2026. The delegation also had representation from BARC India. According to government sources, the delegation explained that BARC had complied with the new framework and was ready to operate under the revised policy. However, the minister pointed to the pending Kerala High Court case filed by AIDCF, indicating that the case remained the key hurdle in granting relief. The message from the government side was clear: the issue is not whether BARC should continue. The issue is that one of the most important parts of the new ratings framework, landing-page exclusion, is under stay. BestMediaInfo.com could not get comments from the industry side at the time of filing this report. AIDCF case remains the sticky point The meeting came a day after the IBDF delegation met I&B Secretary Chanchal Kumar to discuss compliance under the new ratings framework. BestMediaInfo.com had earlier reported that the ratings pause was linked to the AIDCF case in the Kerala High Court, not to any government plan to shut down BARC. BARC had applied for registration under the revised policy. It had also prepared the operational framework for excluding landing-page viewing from ratings. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had amended the framework on May 8 after accepting several industry concerns. BARC came up with its landing-page framework on May 13. The process was moving towards implementation until AIDCF and DEN Networks moved the Kerala High Court and secured a stay on Clause 5.4.1 of the policy. That clause deals with landing-page exclusion. Once the clause was stayed, the ministry asked BARC India to suspend publication of weekly television ratings until it receives permission to operate under the new framework. Relief linked to case withdrawal Government sources said the minister’s position during Tuesday’s meeting indicated that any movement on ratings resumption would depend on the court case being withdrawn or resolved. That keeps the matter in the hands of the industry as much as the ministry. If AIDCF withdraws or modifies its petition, the path for BARC’s permission under the new policy becomes easier. If the case continues, the data-dark period may stretch further even though BARC has presented its compliance. This is why the industry expectation of an early return of ratings carries a caveat. Industry observers believe the ministry does not want BARC to resume ratings under a system where landing-page impact can continue to distort the market. As reported earlier by BestMediaInfo.com, the ministry had no intent to shut BARC . The final policy itself kept BARC’s continuity intact, while tightening oversight, expanding panel requirements, widening platform coverage and bringing in stricter audit conditions. The pause was enforced because the new framework could not be fully rolled out after the landing-page clause was stayed. The road ahead BARC has presented its compliance. IBDF has made its case. The government has pointed to the AIDCF litigation as the hurdle. This means the quickest route to ratings resumption is no longer unclear. The court's stay on Clause 5.4.1 has to go, either through withdrawal or modification that allows the landing-page exclusion framework to move ahead. Until then, the ratings pause may continue even though the government appears open to restoring the currency once the policy can be implemented.