I’m doing all of this for the first time, and I’m trying to figure things out on my own as much as I can, but every now and then I need to ask a question. So here goes.
Is it possible to configure Live TV & DVR to include the channels from a streaming service/app, like Philo, so they are displayed in the guide, can be played, and even recorded? Just like the Live Channels app can do, for example (although I don’t know if it will record those channels). And if not, then what is the reason for including these services/apps in the lists for selecting the source of channels to be displayed in the guide during DVR setup? If they can’t be played and/or recorded through Live TV & DVR, why can you select them as the source of channels for the guide? Thanks.
It’s been a while since I’ve set up my DVR but if you pick Cable, then it should be listing Cable services; I’m not aware of any streaming services being included.
If you’re seeing those, could you either post a screen shot or post a list of what you’re seeing?
I am not at home now but when I added my HDHomeRun Quatro and setup my TV Source there are other sources that like Directv Now. Maybe Philo but not sure. This is same place where the HDHomeRun PTV Guide Data is (which is being dropped).
If I read the instructions correctly, I’ll need to delete my current DVR settings, and recreate it all over again to be able to see the list. But since I’m just now starting this, I can do that, and it shouldn’t be a big deal. I’ll try to do that in a little bit, and post the list here.
OK, never mind, as you just posted it. Yes, that’s the list I saw.
Does anyone know what the Vmvpd listed after each of those services means?
virtual MVPD
A virtual MVPD ( vMVPD ) is a service that provides multiple television channels through the internet without supplying its own data transport infrastructure (i.e. coaxial cable, fiber, or satellite technology).
Hmmm… But you’re sure we can’t stream those channels through the Plex Live TV & DVR service? It sure would be nice if we could. We wouldn’t have to switch between multiple apps for everything then.
When I was recently looking at this list I was hoping I could have a GUIDE (other UI) in PLEX that showed what was on Directv Now, Hulu Live and Philo without having to leave Plex to look at them. I assume unlikely Plex would be able to stream from them much like Apple TV App can not. But like Apple TV App and others it might be nice to initiate the streaming app from plex to watch the show and then return to plex after. I use WatchAid for that now and works well. Just looking for other options. I am not a fan of Apple TV App UI.
Yes, even switching into the other app for you would be a good first step. As far as playing them all right inside the Plex app, like I said above, the Live Channels app currently does that, which is why I’m using it for just live TV watching (that and the fact that I have a Shield TV - which is great, by the way - and unfortunately its Plex updates always lag months behind the same updates on other devices, so the Guide integration in the Plex app there right now is very clunky). I am using the Plex DVR for recording, but it would be great to get the Guide integration on the Shield TV up to par with where it is on other devices, like my Roku, so I could do everything inside just the Plex app.
I had heard of Live Channels App but since I am pretty much only Apple TV have not paid attention. I just did a google search and found this from OCT 2018.
Is this still true? If I could combine my HDHomeRun OTA with Philo I might add a box for my wife who I think would like this if the UI was good. She really likes the Channels App on Apple TV UI.
The question then becomes which third-party apps take advantage of Android TV’s Live Channels interface. The answer is “Too few.” (And there’s a pretty good chance you’ve never heard of the ones that do.) Google Play Movies & Music uses it as a preview channel, which is kind of cool. The only other service I’ve used that uses Live Channels is PlutoTV.
I haven’t tested it with anything but OTA channels direct from my antenna (which the Live Channels app somehow detects in its own scan of my HDHomeRun tuner), Google Play Movies and the same antenna channels filtered in through the HDHR app. But the concept is great, because it lists each source in its own section in the guide. So I had 3 sections - Google Play Movies, HDHR and Antenna, with the channels from each source listed in the grid inside each section (the last two sections being the same list, though, since they were the same channels). And when I selected a channel from any section, it played right there inside the Live Channels app.
So I don’t know what would happen with any other streaming service/app, but according to its description, supposedly a new service/app like Philo, SlingTV, YouTubeTV, etc. would just be another source, with its own section in the guide listing its channels, and selecting one of those channels would play it right there in the Live Channels app. That’s the concept, anyway, but like I said, I haven’t tested it with much.
One caveat, though, is that it will record (with its own DVR service to whatever storage is mounted to your device) channels from only the direct antenna feed, not from the Google Play Movies or HDHR app.
The idea was to have an integrated On Now (or guide) of what is currently on from multiple source in 1 UI. We had that when we used the HDHomeRun Prime Cable Card and Channels App on Apple TV. But the cost has increased to > $100 for their cheapest “Custom” TV package on top of the Internet Cost. So I switched to OTA + Premium TV from Silicondust but PTV is not gone. So, looking for alternative. I did get Philo for $20 which has all of the other channels (not OTA) that she likes but it is a separate app with a different UI and not integrated.
Stinks that these providers won’t commit to using the same standard for delivery of their services, so apps could be written to combine them in whatever collection of services we consumers choose for ourselves. The service providers would still get paid what they do now (or whatever they choose to charge in the future). We’re not talking about changing WHAT they offer. Just HOW they deliver it, so the experience is sensible for us end users.
Incredible that these providers can’t understand that.
I posted about this months ago when I found out about an app called FitzyTV (https://fitzytv.com/) now that channels is also in this racket I would love to see plex add this ability to plex pass. But with today’s warner media news it looks like they may be going a different direction that gets plex more money. so can’t blame them there. However, this would be more convenient than me getting a cablecard and an hdhomerun prime. cmon plex.
I might try testing one of those services tonight but I can’t just now…