Indian TV in the UK at a glance
- Official apps in the UK store
- Zee 5, Sony LIV, JioHotstar, Sun NXT and YuppTV
- On UK TV platforms
- Some UK pay-TV platforms offer South Asian channel packs as add-ons
- TV licence
- Needed in the UK to watch any channel live, including Indian channels
- Cricket
- Rights are sold by country; check that a service holds UK rights
- Time difference
- India is 5½ hours ahead of the UK in winter, 4½ in summer
App listings checked on the UK App Store in September 2026. A listing doesn’t guarantee that every channel, film or match is available in the UK.
Legal ways to watch Indian TV in the UK
Official Indian streaming apps
India’s biggest broadcasters and streaming services publish apps that are listed on the UK App Store:
| App | Publisher | Best known for |
|---|---|---|
| Zee 5 | Z5X Global FZ-LLC (Zee) | Zee’s series, films and channels, in several Indian languages |
| Sony LIV | Sony Pictures Networks India | Sony’s entertainment channels and originals |
| JioHotstar | JioStar India | Launched in February 2025 from the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar |
| Sun NXT | Sun TV Network | Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada channels and films |
| YuppTV | Yupptv USA, Inc. | Live Indian channels for viewers outside India |
International plans and catalogues differ from India’s. An app being listed in the UK doesn’t mean every channel, film or match is available here, so check the plan details inside the app before paying, and look for a free trial.
UK pay-TV add-ons
Some UK satellite, cable and IPTV platforms sell South Asian channel packs as add-ons to their main packages. If you already have pay-TV, check your provider’s current line-up; this is often the easiest way to get Indian channels on the main TV with a proper guide.
Regional languages
Indian TV is really many TV industries. We have separate guides for Punjabi, Tamil and Malayalam TV in the UK, and for Pakistani channels.
You still need a UK TV licence
According to TV Licensing, you need a UK licence to watch or record live TV on any channel, including channels from outside the UK, on any device. On-demand viewing (other than BBC iPlayer) doesn’t need one. See IPTV and the TV licence.
Setting up Indian channels in an IPTV player
- Guide times. India doesn’t use daylight saving, so it’s 5½ hours ahead of the UK in winter and 4½ in summer. A half-hour offset catches out some players; if listings are out by half an hour or more, set the time shift with our EPG offset calculator. For empty guides, see EPG not loading.
- Scripts. Channel names and guide text in Devanagari, Tamil, Gurmukhi or other scripts need fonts on your device. If they show as boxes, update the app or try another player; see editing an M3U playlist to rename channels.
- Audio tracks. Films are often available with more than one language track. Switch tracks from the player’s playback menu; if a channel is silent, see no sound on IPTV.
Before you pay for Indian channels
- Compare the official apps first; several have free tiers or trials.
- Check who you’re paying, with a business name, terms and a refund policy.
- Be wary of “every Indian channel plus all the cricket” for a few pounds. For the legal picture in India itself, see IPTV in India, and in the UK, is IPTV legal?.