Home / Business and Economy / Court Backs TRAI's 12-Minute TV Ad Rule
Court Backs TRAI's 12-Minute TV Ad Rule
9 Jul
Summary
- Delhi High Court upheld TRAI's 12-minute per hour TV ad cap.
- Broadcasters argued caps infringed on business and commercial speech.
- TRAI regulations aim to improve viewer experience and limit ad clutter.
The Delhi High Court has affirmed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) regulation imposing a 12-minute limit on television advertising within each clock hour. This ruling comes after a bench dismissed numerous petitions filed by broadcasters challenging the framework on constitutional grounds.
The broadcasters contended that TRAI's "per clock hour" enforcement of the ad cap infringed upon their business operations and commercial speech rights, adversely affecting advertising revenues. Specifically, news broadcasters highlighted their reliance on advertising income due to low subscription fees.
However, the High Court found TRAI empowered to implement such regulations, noting they were developed through a consultative process. The regulations, first introduced in 2006 and refined by TRAI in 2012 and 2013, aim to ensure an uninterrupted viewing experience by preventing excessive ad clustering.
This decision represents a significant validation of TRAI's authority to set quality-of-service standards for broadcasters. It is expected to impact broadcasters' advertising strategies, particularly for news channels, by reinforcing the regulator's control over advertising duration.
