The Kerala High Court has granted interim relief to cable TV operators by temporarily pausing the implementation of a revised Television Rating Point (TRP) policy linked to landing page viewership. The court’s decision came after several cable television operators and industry associations approached the High Court challenging the new regulations.
According to the petitioners, the revised TRP policy could negatively impact smaller cable operators and regional television channels by giving an unfair advantage to larger broadcasters and networks with stronger landing page visibility. Operators argued that the policy may affect viewer choice, advertising revenue distribution, and business sustainability within the cable television sector.
The revised system reportedly aimed to measure channel popularity based on landing page positioning and viewer engagement metrics. However, cable operators claimed that the policy was introduced without adequate consultation with stakeholders and raised concerns regarding transparency and fair competition.
During the hearing, the High Court considered the arguments presented by cable operator associations and decided to temporarily halt the implementation of the revised policy until further examination of the matter. The court also sought responses from concerned authorities and broadcasting regulators regarding the policy framework and its impact on the television distribution industry.
Industry representatives welcomed the interim relief, stating that the court’s intervention would provide temporary protection for smaller operators who feared financial losses and operational difficulties under the new system. Several regional channel operators also expressed concern that the revised TRP mechanism could reduce visibility for local content providers.
Meanwhile, legal experts noted that the case could have wider implications for television broadcasting regulations and audience measurement systems across the country. Media analysts are closely watching the proceedings, as the final verdict may influence future TRP policies and digital broadcasting practices.
The Kerala High Court is expected to continue hearing the matter in the coming weeks while stakeholders from the broadcasting, cable distribution, and advertising sectors await further clarity on the implementation of the revised TRP rules.
