The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today released a consultation paper on issues related to Radio Audience Measurement and ratings in the country. Presently, radio ratings in India are conducted by All India Radio (AIR) and one private rating agency. AIR carries out periodical large scale radio audience surveys on various AIR channels. Some stakeholders, especially the private FM Radio operators, have raised concerns about the inadequate coverage and panel size of the radio audience measurement conducted by this private rating agency. <br/><br/>TRAI in a release said that private FM Radio operators are also concerned about the methodology used for the measurement. It said, there is a need to prescribe a framework for Radio Audience Measurement in the country which is conducive, forward looking, growth oriented that protects the interests of the stakeholders. FM operators solely depend on advertising for their revenue which is directly linked to listenership of radio channels. Therefore, the advertisers and advertising agencies require radio audience measurement which indicates the popularity of a channel or a program and assists them in selecting the right channel or programme.