What is Channels DVR used for?

Channels DVR is a self-hosted live TV and DVR server for antenna tuners and TV Everywhere logins, with apps for Apple TV, Fire TV, iOS and Android. It is a good fit for recording over-the-air broadcasts at home, and watching live TV and recordings from a phone while traveling.

How much does Channels DVR cost?

Channels DVR is a paid product with no free plan.

Is Channels DVR open source?

No. Channels DVR is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to Channels DVR include Jellyfin and Kodi.

Can I self-host Channels DVR?

Yes. Although Channels DVR is closed source, it can be self-hosted on your own servers.

What are some alternatives to Channels DVR?

Channels DVR competes with Emby and YouTube TV. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Channels DVR alternatives.

Channels DVR: features, pricing and alternatives

About Channels DVR

Channels is software for watching and recording live TV and for organizing personal media. The Channels DVR server runs on a computer or NAS at home, takes in live TV from an antenna and tuner or from a TV provider login, and lets people watch, record and schedule shows from apps on their streaming devices.

Features include live TV with multiview, a DVR with Series Pass recording, channel collections, an on-later guide, streaming while away from home, and offline downloads. A media library indexes personal videos with artwork and metadata, supports playlists and virtual channels, and adds kids, sports and news sections. Apps exist for Apple TV, iOS, Android and Fire TV, there is an in-car option for Tesla, and automation and APIs are documented.

Channels is proprietary software that users host on their own hardware. The site lists suggested hardware, downloads and a beta program, and the pricing for the service is explained on the vendor's site for anyone comparing options.

Key features

Self-hosted live TV and DVR server
Series Pass recording
Streaming of live TV while away
Personal media library with metadata
Apps for Apple TV, Fire TV and mobile
APIs and automation support

Good fit for

→Recording over-the-air broadcasts at home
→Watching live TV and recordings from a phone while traveling

Tags: dvr; live-tv; self-hosted; media-server; streaming; ota; apple-tv

Channels DVR: questions and answers

What is Channels DVR used for?: Channels DVR is a self-hosted live TV and DVR server for antenna tuners and TV Everywhere logins, with apps for Apple TV, Fire TV, iOS and Android. It is a good fit for recording over-the-air broadcasts at home, and watching live TV and recordings from a phone while traveling.
How much does Channels DVR cost?: Channels DVR is a paid product with no free plan.
Is Channels DVR open source?: No. Channels DVR is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to Channels DVR include Jellyfin and Kodi.
Can I self-host Channels DVR?: Yes. Although Channels DVR is closed source, it can be self-hosted on your own servers.
What are some alternatives to Channels DVR?: Channels DVR competes with Emby and YouTube TV. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Channels DVR alternatives.