The world is modernizing and the old TV broadcasting ways are starting to disappear in the face of new technologies. IPTV is one of these technologies that are changing how people access TV livestreams in our times.
As a Linux user, though, you may need a good IPTV program to facilitate your access to these IPTV livestreams just like any Windows user would be as well.
In this article, we are going to explore how the Open TV program will help us to achieve this.
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What is IPTV?
IPTV, or Internet Protocol Television, is a technology that delivers television data and other video content through Internet protocols rather than traditional methods such as satellite or cable. This shift allows users to stream their favorite shows, movies, and live broadcasts on any device they own, making this content more accessible.
IPTV works by sending video content over the Internet using a set of protocols that ensure smooth delivery. When a user selects a program, their device sends a request to the IPTV server. The server then transmits the requested video data in small packets to the user’s device. The device reassembles these packets, allowing the video to play almost instantly.
This method means that viewers can watch shows in real-time or choose on-demand content without the delays often seen with traditional broadcasting. Additionally, IPTV can offer features like pause, rewind, and fast-forward, making it a convenient way to enjoy television.
Open TV Features
Open TV is an open source software licensed under GPL 2 that allows you to watch IPTV livestreams on Windows, macOS or Linux.
It comes with the following features as of this moment:
- A simple user interface to use and navigate.
- Ability to add M3U files locally or remotely.
- Ability to favorite channels and save them.
- Uses a minimalist video player to play the live streams.
- Has minimal resource usage.
- Small in size compared to other programs.
- Free and open source!
The program is also available on the Microsoft Store for Windows and the Flathub Store for Linux.
Its development started less than a year ago, and we are eager to see how it attracts users in the open source community.
How do you watch IPTV on Linux with Open TV?
First, install the program from its releases page on GitHub. Just download the version that is suitable for your current operating system and install it like any ordinary program you install.
Then, once you open the program, you will be asked to upload the M3U file or enter the URL of the M3U file for the IPTV channels that you want to watch:
An M3U file for IPTV is a playlist file that contains URLs of video streams, allowing users to access multiple channels by combining them in a single file.
You can either use the M3U file by your favorite TV channel – if it provides one – or use some already aggregated files by people that are published all over the Internet. Here are some of them.
Once you enter the URL of the file, the channels will be added:
Click on any of these channels or search for a specific one you desire, and its live stream will start working:
The software implements the open source MPV video player in its workings.
If you would like to add more channels in the future or change the default options for the mpv player, then you can do so from the settings icon:
That’s all there to see in this program, it is a very simple one that just gets the job done.
Conclusion
Using a program like Open TV is the fastest way out there to watch IPTV livestreams on Linux without a hassle. The program is quite straightforward to use and does not require a learning curve to navigate it. Additionally, its implementation of the MPV video player makes it as lightweight as it can be.
If you are wondering about the programming language used in the program, then you should know that it is TypeScript.
Feel free to learn more information about the software from its GitHub page.
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