What a TV station should ask an OTT vendor, what Revidd covers, where it is not the right fit, and how long a launch takes.
Updated October 2026 | By Sampath Mallidi, CEO of Revidd
Written by Revidd. We say plainly where another kind of vendor is the better fit.
An OTT platform for TV stations puts your live channel, newscasts and local programs into your own branded apps on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, phones and the web. The right one lets your current staff run it, with no developers to hire.
TL;DR: A station needs five things: branded TV apps, a live channel, on-demand newscasts, a 24/7 channel built from the archive, and ad breaks your ad partners can fill. Revidd covers all five in one platform. It does not place your channel on Pluto TV or Samsung TV Plus.
What should an OTT platform for TV stations include?
What a station needs | What to ask every vendor |
|---|---|
Apps under your brand | Which TV platforms do you build native apps for? |
Live channel | Can we stream our live feed and cut in for breaking news? |
On-demand | Can newscasts and local sports go on demand after they air? |
24/7 channel (FAST) | Is there a scheduler, a program guide and a backup playlist? |
Advertising | Do ad breaks carry SCTE-35 markers our ad partners can use? |
Regional rights | Can we limit viewing by location? |
Staffing | Can our programming team run it without engineers? |
What does Revidd give a TV station?
Native apps under your brand on Roku, Samsung, LG, Vizio, Apple TV, Fire TV and Android TV, plus web and mobile. See OTT apps.
On-demand, live and 24/7 FAST channels in one platform.
A FAST Program Manager with an EPG, an Ad Filler Playlist and a Rescue Playlist that plays backup content if a scheduled file fails. See FAST channels.
SCTE-35 markers for your ad partners.
Geo controls to help with regional rights.
Your choice of model: free with ads, subscription, pay-per-view or a mix.
Revidd powers streaming that reaches more than 38 million viewers and 5.2 million monthly active viewers across 15 countries. Regional operators such as Lake George TV run on Revidd.
Want to see it with your station's content? Request a demo.
When is Revidd not the right fit?
You want your channel on Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel or Tubi. Revidd does not place channels on those services. Distribution specialists such as Amagi and Wurl work on that.
You want a vendor to sell your ads. Ads run through your ad partners. Revidd has no in-house ad sales team.
You need master control for over-the-air, cable or satellite. Revidd is for streaming. It is not a pay-TV set-top box system either.
You have your own engineering team and want to build. Read build vs buy first.
Comparing vendors? See the best OTT platforms for broadcasters and TV stations, with trade-offs for each.
How long does it take a TV station to launch?
Branded apps can be ready in as little as 1 to 2 weeks, plus app store review, which Revidd does not control. Plan your on-air announcement around store approval, not the build.
Share your branding and content.
Connect your live feed and load your library.
Build your 24/7 schedule and set your ad breaks.
Apps go to store review. Announce once they are approved.
For the step-by-step version, read how local TV stations launch an OTT app and how to run a local TV FAST channel.
How much does an OTT platform for a TV station cost?
It depends on four things: how many apps you launch, how many live and 24/7 channels you run, how large your library is, and how many people watch. Ask every vendor for a written quote on your exact scope, and ask what changes as your audience grows.
Frequently asked questions
Can a TV station launch an OTT app without developers?
Yes. Revidd builds the apps. Your programming team loads content and builds the schedule in a dashboard.
Which devices should a station's app be on?
Start where your viewers watch TV: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, and Samsung, LG and Vizio smart TVs. Then add phones and the web. Revidd builds native apps for all of these.
Can we keep our own ad sales team and ad partners?
Yes. Your team keeps selling. Revidd adds SCTE-35 markers for your ad partners at each break, and an Ad Filler Playlist covers breaks that are empty.
Will Revidd get our channel on Pluto TV or Samsung TV Plus?
No. Revidd runs the channel inside your own apps. Placement on those services takes a separate deal with each one.
Can we stream network and syndicated shows?
Only if your contracts allow streaming. Start with what you own: news, local sports and community programs. Geo controls help keep viewing inside your market.
See it with your station's content
Bring a week of your schedule. We will show your live channel, newscasts and a 24/7 channel in branded apps. Request a demo. News-first? Read how a news broadcaster launches a 24/7 streaming channel.
