TRAI wants only authorised live TV apps on smart TVs: What the new rules could mean for viewers

Imagine switching on your smart TV and opening a free app that brings together news channels, entertainment programmes and scheduled television shows. Under a new proposal from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the app may need government authorisation to continue operating in this category. The rules could also determine which such applications manufacturers can pre-install or offer through their app stores.

The recommendations, released on October 26, 2026, are intended to regulate internet-based services that aggregate and distribute scheduled television channels. They are proposals, not rules already in force.

Why TRAI wants to regulate live TV streaming apps

The proposal centres on Application-based Linear Television Distribution (ALTD) services, including Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST). Unlike conventional video-on-demand platforms, which let viewers choose individual films or episodes, these services offer scheduled channels over the internet.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting asked TRAI to examine the issue on December 15, 2025, citing the need for regulatory parity, content accountability and consumer protection. TRAI published a consultation paper on April 6, 2026, received 207 comments and 11 counter-comments, and held an open-house discussion on June 10 before finalising its recommendations.

Will smart TVs be allowed to offer only approved live TV apps?

Under the proposal, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would maintain a “Master ALTD App Repository”. Television manufacturers, other device makers and operating system providers would have to ensure that only authorised ALTD applications are available through their devices and app stores. They would also need to submit annual compliance reports to the ministry.

This could affect app developers seeking distribution through smart TV platforms, while giving viewers a more clearly regulated set of live-TV services. However, the proposal does not mean every streaming app, such as a conventional video-on-demand service, would automatically require ALTD authorisation. Broadcaster-owned platforms carrying only their own channels or those of their parent or subsidiary companies, as well as live streams on social media platforms, are excluded from the proposed framework.

What will live TV streaming apps have to pay?

TRAI has recommended a one-time entry fee of ₹1 lakh and an application processing fee of ₹10,000. Authorisation would initially last 20 years, with renewals for successive 10-year periods. There would be no recurring authorisation fee, bank guarantee or security deposit under the proposed framework.

The application provider would be responsible for obtaining authorisation and complying with the rules. The regulator has also proposed a simplified registration system for internet-native linear television channels, while requiring authorised apps to carry only channels with valid government permission, authorisation or registration.

How could the rules affect viewers, complaints and TV ratings?

The proposal would make the application provider the primary contact for consumer complaints and grievance redressal. It would also bring viewership of channels watched through ALTD apps into the broader television audience measurement framework. Registered rating agencies would develop a methodology to measure these audiences, helping reflect internet-based viewing alongside traditional television consumption.

In another significant decision, TRAI has recommended that ALTD services should not be required to share live sports signals with Prasar Bharati or follow certain compulsory channel-carriage obligations that apply to traditional distribution platforms. The regulator argues that internet viewers can choose from multiple apps, unlike customers tied to a particular television distribution service.

When could the new live TV app rules take effect?

The recommendations must now be considered by the government. TRAI has proposed that the authorisation conditions be notified as rules under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, with online systems for applications, channel registration and reporting. Until the government takes the necessary steps, viewers should not assume that unauthorised apps are already being removed under this proposal.

The broader shift is clear: as scheduled television moves beyond cable and set-top boxes into smart TVs and internet apps, the government wants a formal framework governing who can distribute channels, how viewers can raise complaints and how audiences are measured. The challenge will be to improve accountability without unnecessarily restricting choice or innovation.

(With inputs from ANI)