TAM was set up in 2000 by the Joint Industry Body, which represented broadcasters and advertisers. TAM collects data by installing devices called peoplemeters in randomly chosen homes. It collects data from 35,000 respondents in 8,150 homes in 165 cities and towns.It represents the country’s viewership of 148 million homes.

Its ratings are called GRP ( gross rating points ) for a channel and TRPs (television rating points) for a programme. These are the percentages of the audience that actually watched either the channel or the show respectively.

A bigger sample, though better, would be more expensive. TAM gets its revenues through subscriptions. Its turnover stands at RS.50 crore. The industry spends 0.4 t0 0.5 percent on research.

The industry has set up the Broadcast Audience Research Council ( BARC ) which aims at having an independent audience measurement system across all digital platforms. BARC expects to commission this work to vendors such as TAM.

Number of TV Homes 148 million

Number of cable & satellite homes (C&S homes ) 126 million

Number of digital homes ( including DTH ) 42 million

Number of peoplemeters 8,150

Source : TAM 2012 estimates.