India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended mandatory government authorisation for internet-based live television applications, including free, ad-supported services such as Samsung TV Plus and LG Channels. The proposed framework would regulate these services under a new category called Application-based Linear Television Distribution (ALTD), bringing them within a formal authorisation system similar in principle to the regulatory framework governing traditional television distribution.
The recommendations, released on October 26, 2026, follow a request from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to examine how free ad-supported streaming television services should be regulated. TRAI has proposed a one-time entry fee of ₹1 lakh and an application processing fee of ₹10,000, with no recurring authorisation fee or bank guarantee. The recommendations are not yet binding, and the government must decide whether and how to implement them.
Key Takeaways
- Government authorisation: Internet-based apps distributing scheduled live-TV channels would need authorisation under TRAI’s proposed ALTD framework.
- Entry fee: The proposed one-time fee is ₹1 lakh, plus a ₹10,000 application processing fee.
- Smart-TV restrictions: Manufacturers and operating-system providers would need to ensure that only authorised covered apps are available through their devices and app stores.
- Channel registration: Apps could distribute existing government-authorised channels and, under specified conditions, internet-native channels registered through a proposed process.
- Consumer protection: App providers would be responsible for complaints and grievance redressal.
- Not yet law: The recommendations must be considered by the government before the proposed requirements take effect.
- Limited scope: The framework targets scheduled linear television distribution, not every OTT platform or on-demand streaming service.
What Is TRAI Proposing?
TRAI wants internet-based live-TV distribution services to operate under a dedicated authorisation framework. These services offer scheduled television channels over internet connections, often through pre-installed smart-TV apps, downloadable applications or websites.
The regulator calls this category Application-based Linear Television Distribution, or ALTD. It includes free ad-supported streaming television, commonly known as FAST.
The distinction is important because these platforms can provide a television-like experience without using the conventional cable or direct-to-home (DTH) distribution model. Viewers can open an app, select a channel and watch scheduled programming, with advertising supporting the service.
Under TRAI’s recommendations, the application provider would be primarily responsible for obtaining authorisation and meeting the framework’s requirements. The proposed rules would be introduced under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
The government asked TRAI to examine this issue in December 2025, with objectives including regulatory parity, content accountability and consumer protection. Following a consultation process, the regulator released its recommendations on October 26, 2026.
Which Apps Could Be Affected?
The proposed framework covers applications that aggregate and distribute scheduled linear television channels over the internet. Such services may be built into smart TVs or made available through app stores and web browsers.
Examples of services that could fall within the category, depending on their operations, include:
| Service or platform | Potential relevance |
|---|---|
| Samsung TV Plus | Offers free, ad-supported scheduled television channels |
| LG Channels | Provides internet-delivered linear TV channels on supported devices |
| Other FAST applications | Could fall within the framework if they meet the ALTD definition |
| Conventional cable and DTH services | Already operate under their respective regulatory arrangements |
| On-demand streaming platforms | Not automatically covered merely because they stream video |
TRAI’s recommendations do not name individual companies. Whether a particular service falls within the framework would depend on how it operates and the final rules adopted by the government.
The proposed scope also excludes broadcaster-owned platforms that distribute only their own channels or channels belonging to their holding or subsidiary companies. Live streams on social media intermediaries are excluded as well.
Therefore, the proposal should not be interpreted as a blanket licensing requirement for every video application available in India.
How Much Would the Government Authorisation Cost?
TRAI has recommended a relatively light-touch fee structure for ALTD application providers.
| Proposed requirement | Amount or duration |
|---|---|
| Application processing fee | ₹10,000 |
| One-time entry fee | ₹1 lakh |
| Initial authorisation period | 20 years |
| Renewal period | Successive 10-year terms |
| Recurring authorisation fee | None proposed |
| Bank guarantee or security deposit | None proposed |
These figures are part of TRAI’s recommendations and could be affected by the final government framework.
The proposed fee structure is designed to establish a formal authorisation system without imposing the same financial requirements used for some conventional distribution businesses.
However, the entry fee is only one aspect of the proposal. Application providers would also need to meet the relevant conditions for distributing channels, handling complaints and reporting compliance.
Why Does TRAI Want to Regulate Free Live-TV Apps?
The central issue is the difference between internet-based television distribution and conventional cable or DTH services.
Traditional television distributors operate under established rules governing authorisation and channel distribution. FAST applications, meanwhile, can offer scheduled channels through connected devices and internet connections.
This has raised questions about whether services delivering a similar television experience should face different regulatory requirements simply because they use different distribution technologies.
TRAI’s proposed framework attempts to address that difference by establishing a separate category for internet-based linear television distribution.
The regulator’s recommendations also address content accountability and consumer protection. A formal authorisation process would identify the responsible application provider and establish requirements for channel distribution and complaint handling.
However, the framework would not make every online video service equivalent to a cable operator. Its proposed scope is limited to the defined category of application-based linear television distribution.
What Happens to Television Channels on These Apps?
Under TRAI’s recommendations, authorised ALTD applications would be permitted to distribute television channels that already hold valid government permission, authorisation or registration.
The regulator has also proposed a registration route for internet-native linear television channels—channels created specifically for distribution through these applications.
The proposed conditions distinguish between news and non-news content. The simplified registration route for internet-native channels would be available only to non-news channels, while news and current-affairs programming would remain subject to the applicable government permission requirements.
For internet-native channels, TRAI has recommended an annual registration fee of ₹1 lakh per channel, in addition to the proposed application processing fee. This is separate from the one-time ₹1 lakh entry fee proposed for an ALTD application provider.
These are proposed requirements, not charges that all live-TV apps or their viewers must currently pay.
Smart-TV Manufacturers and App Stores Could Face New Duties
One of the most consequential parts of the recommendations concerns the companies that control smart-TV operating systems and application stores.
TRAI has recommended that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting maintain a central database called the Master ALTD App Repository. It would list applications authorised under the proposed framework.
Television manufacturers and operating-system providers would then be expected to ensure that only authorised ALTD apps are available through their devices and app stores. They would also need to submit annual compliance reports to the ministry.
This could change how live-TV applications are distributed on connected televisions. Manufacturers and platform operators would need a process for checking an application’s authorisation status and complying with the final rules.
The proposal does not mean that the government would control every application or programme on a smart TV. The obligations would apply to applications covered by the ALTD framework.
What Would Change for Consumers?
For viewers, the immediate effect is uncertain because the recommendations have not yet become binding.
If the government adopts the framework, covered services would have to obtain the required authorisation and comply with channel-distribution and consumer-protection conditions. The proposed repository could also affect which live-TV apps manufacturers make available through their devices and app stores.
TRAI has recommended that application providers serve as the primary point of contact for consumer complaints and grievance redressal relating to their services.
The proposal does not introduce a mandatory subscription fee for viewers. Since the services are often supported by advertising, any future changes to availability, advertising or commercial arrangements would depend on how providers respond to the final framework.
It is also too early to conclude that Samsung TV Plus or LG Channels will disappear from Indian smart TVs. Their obligations would depend on the final rules and how those services are classified.
The Bigger Picture
TRAI’s recommendations reflect a broader regulatory question: how should India treat television delivered through internet applications when it offers a scheduled-channel experience similar to cable and DTH services?
The proposed ALTD framework would establish a formal authorisation system while recognising that application-based distribution differs from conventional television infrastructure. It would also extend compliance responsibilities to the manufacturers and operating-system providers that determine which covered apps are available on connected devices.
The outcome could affect the business models of FAST platforms, broadcasters and smart-TV companies. But the final impact will depend on the government’s decision, the detailed rules and how the requirements are implemented. For now, the recommendations mark a proposed change in the regulation of internet-based live television, not an immediate ban or licensing deadline for existing apps.
FAQs
1. Is TRAI making Samsung TV Plus obtain a government licence?
TRAI has recommended a government authorisation framework for applications that distribute scheduled linear television channels over the internet. Samsung TV Plus could fall within the framework depending on its operations and the final rules. The recommendations are not yet binding.
2. How much would a live-TV app have to pay?
The proposed structure includes a ₹10,000 application processing fee and a one-time entry fee of ₹1 lakh. TRAI has not proposed a recurring authorisation fee or bank guarantee for ALTD applications.
3. Will free live-TV apps stop working in India?
There is no immediate shutdown requirement established by the recommendations. If the government adopts the framework, covered applications would need to comply with the resulting authorisation requirements. The effect on individual services will depend on the final rules and implementation.
4. Does the proposal cover Netflix and other OTT platforms?
Not automatically. The proposed framework focuses on applications that distribute scheduled linear television channels. An on-demand streaming service does not fall within the category merely because it delivers video over the internet.
5. Will viewers have to pay for free live-TV apps?
TRAI has not proposed a mandatory subscription fee for viewers. The recommendations focus on authorisation, channel distribution, platform compliance and consumer protection. Any changes to a particular service’s pricing would depend on its business decisions and the final regulatory framework.
Looking Ahead
The next step is for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the government to consider TRAI’s recommendations and determine the final framework. Until the relevant rules are issued, the proposed authorisation fees and smart-TV app restrictions should not be treated as requirements already in force.
For Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels and other services offering scheduled internet-based television, the key questions will be how the government defines covered applications, how existing services transition to the new system and how the requirements affect channel partnerships and app availability. Those details will determine the practical impact on both the streaming industry and viewers.
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