SARFT: IPTV Must Boot to Full-Screen Live Broadcast; No Boot Ads Allowed
The National Radio and Television Administration has issued the "Provisional Regulations on the Administration of Interactive Internet Television Services," effective November 27, 2026. The new rules require IPTV services to prioritize live broadcasting, enabling full-screen live viewing upon startup, providing access to channel replay, prohibiting startup ads, and offering convenient settings. The homepage must feature a free section, reduce paid content, clearly display pricing, and…
SARFT: IPTV Services Must Boot to Full-Screen Live TV, Prohibiting Boot-up Ads
The National Radio and Television Administration (SARFT) has issued the Provisional Regulations on the Administration of Interactive Internet Television Operation Services, which will take effect on November 27, 2026. The new rules require IPTV integrated broadcasting and control service providers to adhere to the principle of prioritizing live TV, enabling a full-screen live TV view upon startup, and providing an entry for channel catch-up viewing. They are prohibited from playing boot-up ads. Providers must also offer users a convenient settings entry to allow them to choose whether to boot directly into live TV or the interactive TV home page.
Furthermore, the regulations mandate that the IPTV home page establish a free section to prominently feature high-quality free content, reduce the number of paid sections, clearly display program pricing information, and standardize the operation of app sections and subscription payment management. Smart TVs must support the function of prioritizing the display of live TV channels and provide a convenient settings entry. Remote control operations must also be simplified to allow users to switch to the live TV source with a single button press.