Regulators
Industry flags regulatory blind spot as TRAI reviews FAST TV boom
Consultation flags regulatory gaps as free streaming channels redraw TV rules
NEW DELHI: India’s broadcast regulator has kicked off a fresh debate on the future of television, as Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released a consultation paper proposing a regulatory framework for Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television and app-based linear TV services.
The move follows a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which has been weighing industry concerns around the rapid rise of FAST platforms. These services, typically preloaded on smart TVs or available via apps, stream linear channels for free, funded entirely by advertising, but operate outside the traditional licensing system.
At the heart of the issue is a growing mismatch between legacy broadcasters and new-age streaming platforms. While cable, DTH and IPTV operators function under strict regulatory oversight, FAST platforms have so far slipped through the cracks, raising questions around content accountability, consumer protection and fair competition.
The consultation paper lays out how FAST services bundle live television channels with on-demand content and deliver them across devices, from smart TVs to smartphones. It also identifies a complex ecosystem involving TV manufacturers, operating system providers, content aggregators and app developers, each playing a role in getting channels to viewers.
Industry responses submitted to the ministry reveal three dominant business models. In one, TV manufacturers run their own FAST platforms with preloaded apps and share ad revenues with content partners. In another, Indian distributors rely on overseas entities and third-party aggregators to deliver content, often distancing themselves from direct responsibility. A third model sees operating system providers acting as intermediaries, hosting channels via proprietary app stores with limited control over content.
Across these models, a common thread emerges: minimal regulation. Stakeholders noted that most platforms do not maintain content archives, rely on partner verification for compliance, and collect only anonymised viewer data. Grievance redressal mechanisms exist, but often route complaints across multiple entities, sometimes even overseas.
This regulatory grey zone has drawn sharp criticism from traditional distribution players. The All India Digital Cable Federation has argued that FAST services may be bypassing existing uplinking and downlinking norms, effectively distributing television channels without mandatory permissions. It has also flagged concerns over pay channels being offered free on such platforms, potentially undermining established revenue models.
TRAI itself has previously acknowledged the gap. In earlier recommendations, it noted that FAST services mimic traditional broadcasting functions without equivalent oversight, creating what it described as a regulatory imbalance that could tilt the market in favour of free streaming platforms.
The consultation also highlights the broader shift in viewing habits. With connected TV usage rising, internet-based viewing is fast catching up with traditional pay TV. Industry estimates suggest India now has over 100 million connected TV households, signalling a decisive move towards streaming-led consumption.
Against this backdrop, the regulator is now seeking stakeholder inputs on key issues, including defining ALTD services, setting authorisation norms, ensuring compliance with programme and advertising codes, and establishing consumer safeguards.
As television continues its pivot from satellite dishes to smart screens, the question is no longer whether FAST will grow, but how it will be governed. TRAI’s next steps could well determine whether the streaming boom plays by the same rules as the broadcast era, or rewrites them altogether.
Regulators
TRAI moves to regulate free streaming TV apps
India’s telecom watchdog wants app-based linear TV services brought to heel on content accountability and consumer protection
NEW DELHI: India’s telecom regulator has trained its sights on a fast-growing corner of the broadcasting market that has so far operated in a regulatory grey zone. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper on Monday seeking to build a formal regulatory framework for application-based linear television distribution (ALTD) services, a category that includes free ad-supported streaming television, better known as FAST services.
The move follows a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, made on 15th December 2025 under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act 1997, asking the regulator to examine and recommend rules for FAST services with a focus on three things: parity with existing broadcasting platforms, content accountability and consumer protection.
ALTD services cover a broad and booming segment: apps that deliver live, linear TV channels to viewers, whether pre-installed on smart television sets and other devices, downloaded as mobile or smart TV applications, or accessed through web browsers. As these platforms have multiplied, they have done so largely without the licensing and content obligations that govern traditional cable and satellite broadcasters, a gap that regulators are now keen to close.
The consultation paper puts two sets of questions on the table. The first concerns the terms and conditions under which application providers should be authorised to offer ALTD services. The second addresses the obligations that broadcasters, content providers and aggregators must meet when placing linear TV channels on these platforms.
Stakeholders have until 4th May 2026 to submit written comments and until May 18th to file counter-comments, preferably by email to advbcs-2@trai.gov.in and jtadvisor-bcs@trai.gov.in. The full text of the consultation paper is available on TRAI’s website at www.trai.gov.in. For clarifications, Deepali Sharma, advisor (B&CS) at TRAI, can be reached at +91-11-20907774.
India’s streaming market has exploded in recent years, and FAST channels, which cost viewers nothing and are funded by advertising, have emerged as a potent vehicle for reaching mass audiences on connected televisions. Regulators the world over are scrambling to catch up. TRAI has now made clear it does not intend to be left behind.
