Broadcasters Ask MIB To Drop Landing Page Proposal Amid Supreme Court Review

News broadcasters have called on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to scrap the proposed landing page amendment, arguing that it attempts to regulate-through administrative action-a matter currently under consideration by the Supreme Court. They maintain that the amendment brings back a previously rejected technical mechanism and unfairly penalizes broadcasters by removing legitimate first-exposure viewership from ratings.

A group of major news networks, including NDTV, News18 (Network18), and Times Now, have urged the MIB to drop the plan that seeks to remove landing page impressions from television viewership data. In their submission, they state that the proposal "should be dropped in its entirety" because the landing page issue is already sub judice before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, and any administrative intervention would violate principles of propriety.

Broadcasters argue that the proposal is not legally sustainable since the Supreme Court is currently hearing the matter. Introducing administrative changes at this stage, they say, is inappropriate. They also point out that in 2018, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had rejected a similar measurement process as "unsuitable," citing technical limitations that could wipe out genuine viewership figures.

Industry's Position

According to industry stakeholders, landing pages function as legitimate promotional and discovery tools-comparable to premium supermarket shelf placement or jacket ads in newspapers-where first exposure accurately mirrors consumer preference. They argue that eliminating these impressions would distort Television Rating Points (TRPs), hurt competitive fairness, and disproportionately affect smaller channels relying on this visibility.

Wider Pushback

The submissions, filed on December 5, 2025, also gained backing from groups such as the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) and several smaller broadcasters. With advertising revenues weakening, industry bodies are standing together to oppose the proposed change and maintain the current rating framework, which they believe offers a transparent and realistic reflection of audience behaviour.