TRAI repeals 12-minute TV ad cap after MIB rule change

India’s telecom regulator has withdrawn the 12-minute-per-clock-hour television advertising cap after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting removed the underlying Cable TV rules provision. The change could expand TV ad inventory and alter media-planning options for consumer brands and retailers.

— Source publishedThu, 10 Sept, 2026, 19:55 IST·First seen Thu, 10 Sept, 2026, 20:08 IST·Source ET Small Business

What happened

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) · TRAI repealed India’s 12-minute-per-hour TV advertising cap after MIB removed the underlying Cable Television

Key facts

  • 12 minutes per clock hour
  • Rule 7(11)
  • 62 TV channels in 2006
  • more than 900 TV channels currently

Why this matters

Media, ad-tech and retail-media players may find new partnership or inventory-packaging opportunities as broadcasters expand commercial airtime after gazette publication.