Need to organize live TV, movies, or series from an IPTV provider on a Windows PC? Open TV imports M3U playlists and Xtream sources, then brings channels, program guides, and playback controls together in one app. The project is also referred to as Fred TV.
IPTV sources and channel lists
Add channels from an M3U file or link, or connect through Xtream. Open TV can keep multiple IPTV sources and refresh them when their contents change. An EPG guide provides program information for supported listings.
Favorites give quick access to selected channels, while custom channels let you assemble a list of your own. Custom channel lists can also be shared with other people.
Search, categories, and navigation
Find a channel with search or browse by category. Keyboard shortcuts switch between the full channel list, categories, favorites, and search; the interface also supports navigation with a TV remote or air mouse.
- Ctrl+A shows all channels; Ctrl+S opens categories.
- Ctrl+D opens favorites; Ctrl+F starts a search.
- Ctrl+Q, Ctrl+W, and Ctrl+E toggle live TV, movies, and series.
Playback, recording, and stream settings
Watch a channel while recording it, or re-stream channels to another device or person. Stream caching is adjustable: enabling it may reduce pauses on a slow connection, while disabling it can reduce latency or keep playback from jumping too far ahead or behind.
The Windows build includes mpv for playback. Open TV also uses ffmpeg and yt-dlp as part of its media setup.
Keyboard and remote controls
Arrow keys, Tab, and Shift+Tab move through the interface; Backspace or Esc returns to the previous view. Press F1 for shortcut help. These controls suit channel browsing from a keyboard, while compatible TV remotes provide an alternative for navigating the app.
Pros
- Imports M3U files, M3U links, and Xtream sources
- Shows EPG guides alongside IPTV content
- Supports favorites, custom channels, and multiple sources
- Records while watching and can re-stream channels
Cons
- The app depends on ffmpeg and yt-dlp in addition to mpv
Which IPTV sources can Open TV import?
It supports M3U playlist files, M3U links, and Xtream sources. Multiple IPTV sources can be added.
Can Open TV record a program while it is playing?
Yes. It supports recording while watching a channel.
Can I browse favorites or program information?
Yes. You can save channels to favorites, browse categories, search, and view EPG guide information.
