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 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 across 15 countries.

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.

Your team will spend most of its time in the CMS, so see how to choose an OTT CMS for broadcasters before you sign.

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.

1. Share your branding and content.

2. Connect your live feed and load your library.

3. Build your 24/7 schedule and set your ad breaks.

4. 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. Starting a network from scratch? Read how to start a TV network online.

What should a station sort out before launching?

The apps are the quick part. The slow part is usually rights and approvals, so start those first.

1. List what you own. Local news, community shows, local sports and archive you produced are usually the safest start.

2. Read your network contract. If you carry network or syndicated shows, check whether the deal lets you stream them online, in your own app, and in your market.

3. Check your sports and music rights. Rights for broadcast are not always rights for streaming.

4. Decide what is live and what is on demand. Some shows may be fine live but not on demand, or the other way round.

5. Ask your own lawyer. Revidd is not a law firm. Have counsel confirm what you can stream before you announce a date.

A platform can limit viewing by location with geo controls. It cannot decide what you are allowed to stream. That part is yours.

Once the rights list is clear, the build is the easy part: branded apps in as little as 1 to 2 weeks, plus app store review.

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. To keep every quote comparable, send each vendor the same questions from our free OTT platform RFP template.

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.

What does a TV station need to do before launching an OTT service?

Sort out rights first. List the shows you own, read what your network and syndication contracts say about streaming, and check sports and music rights. Then pick a platform and build the apps. Revidd can have apps ready in as little as 1 to 2 weeks plus store review, but it cannot clear rights for you.

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.