New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday, October 26, recommended mandatory government authorisation for internet-based live television streaming applications, while proposing that smart TV manufacturers and operating system providers allow only authorised applications on their devices and app stores, ANI reported.

Source: ANI via LatestLY

The recommendations, released under the 'Authorisation Framework for Application-based Linear Television Distribution (ALTD) Services', aim to bring internet-based television distribution, including Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) services, under a formal regulatory framework. TRAI has proposed ALTD as a distinct sub-category under 'Television Channel Distribution Services' within the broadcasting authorisation framework under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, IANS reported.

Source: IANS via NewKerala

20 yearsInitial validity of the proposed authorisation, renewable for 10-year periods
Rs 1 lakhProposed one-time entry fee (plus Rs 10,000 processing fee)
207Stakeholder comments received in the consultation, plus 11 counter-comments

Under the proposed framework, the application provider would be the primary entity responsible for obtaining authorisation and complying with the rules. TRAI has recommended no authorisation fee, bank guarantee or security deposit. Authorised apps would distribute only television channels holding valid government permission, authorisation or registration, and viewership through these apps would be integrated into the television audience measurement framework, ANI reported.

Source: ANI via LatestLY

MediaNama, which analysed the recommendations, reported that TV makers and app stores would have to remove unlicensed apps, that channels made only for the internet would need to register — and could not be news channels — and that apps would have to store user data, including viewing history, in India. Broadcaster-owned apps carrying only their own or group channels, social media live streams and on-demand services such as Netflix fall outside the framework.

Source: MediaNama

The recommendations follow a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in December 2025, which sought a framework to ensure parity, content accountability and consumer protection. TRAI consulted on the framework from April 2026. The proposals have not yet come into force and would require government action to establish the authorisation framework.

Source: ANI via LatestLY