Quick answer
You can watch South Indian TV in the USA with an official pack such as Sling TV's South Indian (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam) packages or YuppTV, or with an IPTV plan like TarakTV that includes channels in all four languages in one app. Official packs work well if your home watches only one language. TarakTV starts at $15 a month and covers Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada along with Hindi, news and cricket, with a free 24-hour trial.
- Sling TV sells packs for Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam viewers in the US.
- YuppTV is another official service for Indian live channels, including South Indian languages.
- India is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of US Eastern time in winter, 9 hours 30 minutes in summer.
- Dallas and the San Francisco Bay Area are two of the three largest Indian American metro areas (Pew Research Center).
- TarakTV plans: $15 a month, $130 a year, $220 for 3 years, $300 for 5 years.
South Indian families in the US
A large share of Indian Americans come from the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Karnataka, many through technology and healthcare jobs. Pew Research Center lists New York, Dallas and San Francisco as the three largest Indian American metro areas, and areas such as Dallas, the Bay Area, Seattle, Atlanta, Houston and New Jersey have large Tamil and Telugu communities.
For these families, Hindi channels are often not enough. Grandparents want their own serials, parents want local-language news from home, and big movie releases are a family event. The good news is that all four major South Indian languages have strong satellite channels that are easy to find in the US.
Tamil channels people look for
Sun TV is the most-watched Tamil entertainment channel, known for evening serials and film-based shows. Star Vijay carries popular reality shows and serials, and Zee Tamil and Colors Tamil add more drama. KTV focuses on Tamil movies. For news, households often ask for Puthiya Thalaimurai, Thanthi TV, Polimer News and Sun News.
- Entertainment: Sun TV, Star Vijay, Zee Tamil, Colors Tamil, Kalaignar TV
- Movies and music: KTV, Sun Music
- News: Sun News, Puthiya Thalaimurai, Thanthi TV, Polimer News
Telugu channels people look for
Telugu viewers in the US are some of the most active streamers of Indian TV. Star Maa is the main entertainment channel for serials and reality shows. Zee Telugu, ETV Telugu and Gemini TV are also widely watched, and Gemini Movies is a favourite for films. Telugu news has many channels, with TV9 Telugu, NTV, ABN Andhra Jyothy and Sakshi TV among the most requested.
- Entertainment: Star Maa, Zee Telugu, ETV Telugu, Gemini TV
- Movies: Gemini Movies, Star Maa Movies, Zee Cinemalu
- News: TV9 Telugu, NTV, ABN Andhra Jyothy, Sakshi TV, ETV Andhra Pradesh
Malayalam and Kannada channels
Malayalam families usually start with Asianet, the leading entertainment channel, plus Mazhavil Manorama, Surya TV, Flowers and Zee Keralam. For news, Asianet News, Manorama News and Mathrubhumi News are the usual choices.
Kannada viewers look for Colors Kannada, Zee Kannada, Star Suvarna and Udaya TV for serials and shows, and TV9 Kannada and Public TV for news. Line-ups change, so check your exact channels during the free trial.
Official options and TarakTV
Sling TV sells South Indian packs in the US, with channels such as Sun TV, Star Vijay, Star Maa, Asianet, Star Suvarna and Colors Kannada listed on its pages. YuppTV is another established service for Indian live TV in several languages. Both are official services and a sensible choice if your home watches one language.
TarakTV is different: one IPTV plan that includes Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada channels together, plus Hindi, Indian news, cricket and international channels. That suits mixed households, for example a Tamil and Telugu couple, or families who also want Hindi serials for visiting relatives. Plans cost $15 for one month, $130 for one year, $220 for three years and $300 for five years.
Setup, internet speed and air times
TarakTV runs on Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android smart TVs, Android TV boxes, phones and the Cast4K player app. We also sell ready-to-use TVIP and Yoka TV boxes, shipped within the US and Canada, which are the easiest choice for elderly parents. For a smooth picture, plan on about 15 Mbps per screen for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K, and use a wired connection if you can.
Evening serials in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Kerala and Karnataka air in the morning US time: a 7pm show in India is 8:30am Eastern or 5:30am Pacific in winter. Use the TV guide and catch-up, where the channel offers it, to watch at a normal evening hour. Start with the free 24-hour trial over WhatsApp to check your channels and your internet.
Choosing the right setup and fixing buffering
If your home watches one South Indian language, an official single-language pack is a simple choice. If you have relatives visiting from different states, or a household that mixes Tamil and Telugu, or Malayalam and Hindi, one plan with all languages is usually easier and cheaper than several packs.
Big movie premieres and festival specials, such as Pongal, Sankranti, Onam or Ugadi programming, are when everyone in the community is watching at once. Plan ahead: test your connection the day before and keep the device updated.
If a channel freezes or buffers, start with the simple fixes: restart the Fire TV Stick or box, check that nothing else in the house is downloading, and move the router closer or use an Ethernet cable. Running a speed test on the TV itself, not your phone, gives the most accurate picture.
If only one channel has a problem while others play fine, it is usually on the channel side rather than your internet. Message TarakTV on WhatsApp with the channel name and the time, and we will check it.
Channels people look for
Line-ups change; ask for the current list or check during your free trial.
| Channel | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sun TV | Tamil entertainment | |
| Star Vijay | Tamil entertainment | |
| Zee Tamil | Tamil entertainment | |
| KTV | Tamil movies | |
| Thanthi TV | Tamil news | |
| Star Maa | Telugu entertainment | |
| Zee Telugu | Telugu entertainment | |
| ETV Telugu | Telugu entertainment | |
| Gemini TV | Telugu entertainment | |
| TV9 Telugu | Telugu news | |
| Asianet | Malayalam entertainment | |
| Mazhavil Manorama | Malayalam entertainment | |
| Asianet News | Malayalam news | |
| Colors Kannada | Kannada entertainment | |
| Zee Kannada | Kannada entertainment |
Frequently asked questions
How can I watch Tamil channels in the USA?
Official options include Sling TV's South Indian packs and YuppTV. TarakTV includes Tamil channels such as Sun TV and Star Vijay along with other languages in one plan, with a free 24-hour trial.
How do I watch Telugu TV live in America?
Sling TV sells South Indian packs that include Telugu channels, and TarakTV includes Telugu entertainment and news channels such as Star Maa, Zee Telugu and TV9 Telugu. For a live show, subtract 10 hours 30 minutes from India time to get Eastern time in winter.
Can I get Malayalam channels like Asianet in the US?
Yes. Asianet is listed in Sling TV's South Indian pack. It is also one of the Malayalam channels commonly included with TarakTV.
Is there one plan with Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada?
TarakTV includes all four languages, plus Hindi and sports, in one plan from $15 a month. Official services usually sell each language or region as a separate pack.
Can I watch yesterday's serial episode?
Many channels on TarakTV have a TV guide and some offer catch-up, so you can watch an episode after it airs in India. Check your serials during the trial, since catch-up varies by channel.
What internet speed do I need?
About 15 Mbps per screen for HD and about 25 Mbps for 4K. If two TVs are on at once, you need roughly double.
Sources
TarakTV is an independent reseller and is not affiliated with the channels, leagues or broadcasters named on this page. Names are used only to describe what viewers look for. Check the rules where you live.