Delhi HC upholds TRAI’s 12-minute ad cap, dismisses TV broadcasters’ petitions

The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a batch of petitions filed by television broadcasters in 2013 challenging the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) 12-minute-per-clock-hour cap on television advertisements, bringing closure to a legal battle that had remained pending for nearly 13 years.

The ruling is expected to impact television broadcasters, particularly free-to-air channels that rely heavily on advertising revenue to sustain operations, as the dismissal of petitions clears the way for enforcement of advertising limits that had remained effectively stayed for years.