Channels Comes to Android TV

by gigem9000

Before getting my current Shield TV, I've been using an Apple TV 4th-gen and using the "Channels" app to watch live tv from my HDHomeRun networked tuner. This app runs well on Apple TV and performs better than Google's Live Channels when it comes to viewing networked tuners like the HDHomeRun (only use case for me on Live Channels), mainly due to this bug . The developers behind "Channels" just released an Android TV app !

It's a bit pricey to start with (the tvOS version is $24.99 as well) but I'm excited to see how good this app gets and hope it gets the same attention as the tvOS version does.

I've installed it and tested it out very briefly but am excited to try it out even more. Watching live tv from my HDHomeRun has been the main sore spot for me when I came to the Shield TV from my Apple TV so I'm excited they just released this.

And if you are interested, they also have a very good DVR that is $8/month and you use your computer/NAS/etc to download and stream your recordings to your compatible devices. Check out more here on their website . I promise I'm just a fan of channels and am in no way connected to them. I'm just excited to finally get this app on Android TV.

https://imgur.com/et2FHkq

https://imgur.com/Cd9eEH4

edit: Announcement from Channels dev

edit2: looks like DVR is coming for Android TV and Fire TV later in the year but this feature works great on Apple TV. "Channels for Android TV and Fire TV do not yet have support for Channels DVR, but they're guaranteed to get it later in the year."

edit3: a bit more clarity on my excitement ;)

rhpot1991

Am I missing something here? $25 for an app that duplicates functionality that I already have built into my Android TV devices?

ifixpedals

Wait a sec... let's forget the outrageous $25 upfront cost a sec... if it works well, I can stomach the one-time payment. Here's my biggest gripe...

Flat fees are generally for features that the use of does not cost the developer after the initial sale, while subscriptions are for services that do cost the developer after initial sale. (Server load, ongoing manpower and maintenance, etc.) So if I'm using my own hardware to store and stream DVR content, then what exactly is the "service" am I paying an ongoing $8/month DVR fee for?

aquanutz

If I could find an app this nice for iptv I would be all over it. Perfect Player is nice but not this nice.

serpentxx

Could be wrong but it looks like it wont support IPTV or m3u list importing, so i cant say im keen to drop $25 on a replacement for the AndroidTV default.

arrowrand

I tried this and it’s really not appealing to me compared to Plex.

It’s a $25 app for the TV, and a $15 app for phone/tablet, but that’s not it. In addition to top dollar for the apps, the DVR is an $8 a month subscription. I don’t recall if there was an annual option or not.

So, if you want this for your phone/tablet and your TV, and you plan on using it for a year it’s going to cost you more than a lifetime subscription to Emby and just about the same as lifetime Plex Pass. Once year two starts, you’re paying a serious premium over Plex and Emby but I don’t think it’s worth it.

I was using a beta so I won’t talk about any issues related to that, but beta or not there was nothing about it that screamed “BUY IT!”.

Regardless what the diehards say, this app isn’t perfect. I wouldn’t even say that it is MORE reliable than Plex. I feel like Plex has fewer issues but that may just be my own opinion.

I would think long and hard before I bought this app or signed up for their DVR service.

LiquidPoint

What I like about ATV's Live Channels is that I can mix them.

How does it play along with other feed providing apps like PuppetMaster.TV and Cumulus TV? If it doesn't, do I have to enter (and maintain) the URL's of the Danish TV streams myself?

I'm also considering adding a satellite box to my setup, an Enigma 2, so I can get those german channels into my Live Channels, how would Channels handle that?

Deeco7

What's the difference between this and Google Live Channels app?

GazaIan

What does this offer over the built in Live Channels app? This seems to be the same thing, just with beefy price tags attached.

timefortest

Does it support USB over the air tuners?

Would buy instantly if it worked with DVB-T2.

hovee

I’m currently using the Live Channels app with the silicon dust plugin. I’ve noticed there is a few ms delay between the audio and video. Do you notice any audio delay when using the channels app?

th3suffering

Without DRM its absolutely useless for me. My provider DRMs everything but locals

elister

Seems like a slightly prettier version of the HDHomerun video add on for Kodi, which is free.