The National Radio and Television Administration has issued new regulations for IPTV services, which will come into effect on November 27, 2026. These rules were officially approved during a meeting held on October 23, 2026.
Under the new mandate, IPTV providers must prioritize live broadcasts. Devices are required to enable a full-screen live viewing mode upon startup, and the display of startup advertisements is strictly prohibited.
Providers must also display the official 'China IPTV-Province' call sign in a prominent location. Furthermore, users must be given the option to choose between launching directly into live TV or the interactive home page.
The regulations require the inclusion of a free content section on the home page, while also simplifying the number of paid categories. All subscription information must be clearly disclosed to the user.
To improve usability, providers are tasked with simplifying remote control operations. Specifically, the system must support a one-button function to switch between live broadcast sources, and smart TVs must provide easy access to these settings.
