Plex Launches Free Live TV Feature That Offers 80+ Channels

[MacRumors]

Streaming media platform Plex today announced the launch of a free Live TV feature, which will let Plex users access and watch 80+ live television channels at no cost and with no hardware required.

Live TV options range from live news like Reuters TV and Yahoo finance to children's shows and live sports. Movies, documentaries, gaming, esports, comedy, game shows, anime, and more are also available.

Plex's new Live TV option is different from its already available over-the-air TV and DVR feature that takes advantage of a digital antenna and tuner. This existing feature will continue to be available, providing over-the-air free access to local channels and networks like NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, the CW, and PBS.

Along with live television options, Plex also offers podcasts, music access, news clips, web shows, and free on-demand movies and TV shows through partnerships with a number of media companies, plus it works with personal media collections.

Plex's new Live TV feature is available on Apple TV and iOS devices, Roku, Android devices, Amazon Fire, smart TVs, and the web.

Article Link: Plex Launches Free Live TV Feature That Offers 80+ Channels

 

[EugW]

Interesting...

Are the live channels available in my country?
Pretty much, yes! Over 80% of our channels are available worldwide, with a minority of channels licensed only in the United States. There’s lots of awesome content for everyone!

Hopefully it's not like other services that provide a bazillion useless channels and a couple of OK but restricted channels.

 

[adamw]

Always great to see more channels...

 

[badatusernames]

That’s pretty neat I’ll try it out.

 

[Stevez67]

Interesting...

Are the live channels available in my country?
Pretty much, yes! Over 80% of our channels are available worldwide, with a minority of channels licensed only in the United States. There’s lots of awesome content for everyone!

Hopefully it's not like other services that provide a bazillion useless channels and a couple of OK but restricted channels.

Of course it's bundled bag of garbage with a couple useful channels of content. That's what bundling is all about, and the reason I cut the cord (along with the plethora of ads). So, no thanks.

 

[RobNYC]

Just to confirm, if you want over the air broadcast channels in your area you have to have an antenna correct?

 

[badatusernames]

Just to confirm, if you want over the air broadcast channels in your area you have to have an antenna correct?

Correct

 

[dugbug]

Does plex work with hdhomeruns like channels app does? I must have missed the plex update where it picks up local tuners

 

[BGPL]

I have used Plex for many years, so this was new to me. I just checked it out and I have 70-80 channels that I've never heard of, some are basically YouTube channels on TV (like FailArmy). Not a single major network.

I'll stick to my HD antenna and my Amazon Recast, which is a one time cost that works with all of my FireTVs and gives me a channel guide for free. I can record two channels simultaneous and I think it has 64GB of internal memory with a USB port for an external hard drive.

 

[macaddict06]

Cool, but not much utility. I hate to say it but they won’t compete with YouTubeTV or Cable until they have ESPN and other sports channels.

 

[sracer]

This seems to be a subset of the bundled "channels" and content that appear on Pluto TV and Tubi. I'm a big fan of Plex but I don't see this adding any value at this time.

Should they expand this section to include the rest of Pluto TV/Tubi bundle, or content that is exclusive to Plex, THEN it'll be something noteworthy.

 

[k1121j]

i got this notification a while ago and still nee no live option in my plex

 

[JosephAW]

Was wondering what they meant by no hardware required. Does require hardware.

 

[lederermc]

Correct

And presumably a network tuner.

 

[Drogba11]

I use Locast for $5 a month and get all the OTA channels streamed digitally without the need for an antenna (ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS etc) total 47 channels in New York area. I cancelled my Sling subscription once Peacock came out. With Locast, Peacock for free and Prime video, i've pretty much got all I need.

 

[scottct1]

Does plex work with hdhomeruns like channels app does? I must have missed the plex update where it picks up local tuners

Yes. Works well

 

[centauratlas]

I use Locast for $5 a month and get all the OTA channels streamed digitally without the need for an antenna (ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS etc) total 47 channels in New York area. I cancelled my Sling subscription once Peacock came out. With Locast, Peacock for free and Prime video, i've pretty much got all I need.

What I'd like to see is something like locast and then just be able to subscribe to:
1. Two business channels (the ones I'd want, not junk)
2. One or two news channels (the ones I'd want, not junk)
3. Local stations

That's about all I need, maybe $5-$10/month not some $60-$70/month package.

I would also like to be able to pick one of the Locast cities that is near, but apparently not near enough to be in the "location they serve."

 

[Drogba11]

What I'd like to see is something like locast and then just be able to subscribe to:
1. Two business channels
2. One or two news channels
3. Local stations

That's about all I need, maybe $5-$10/month not some $60-$70/month package.

I would also like to be able to pick one of the Locast cities that is near, but apparently not near enough to be in the "location they serve."

I wouldn't mind being able to pick up a couple of news channels and NBCSN, it sucks that you have to pay a starting price of $30 just to even get that with a bunch of bundled channels you don't want. And that's as cheap as you can get it anywhere (Sling) as Youtube TV and the others start at $65

 

[GaryMumford]

80+ channels... all crap

 

[satchmo]

I've been using a cheap $30 antenna for the past 10 years. I pick up all the major US networks along with Canadian ones for free and in HD.

 

[Juicy Box]

I probably won't use it much, but I guess it is nice that it is there.

 

[aaronhead14]

They’re just a bunch of garbage channels that nobody on earth has ever heard of before, playing content that nobody cares about.

It’s best to just stick with OTA channels, using a TV tuner like the HDHomeRun.

 

[lederermc]

They’re just a bunch of garbage channels that nobody on earth has ever heard of before, playing content that nobody cares about.

It’s best to just stick with OTA channels, using a TV tuner like the HDHomeRun.

Apparently some people do care about channels that you do not.

 

[techmuscle]

Yes. Works well

View attachment 936688

There are some limitations with Plex, a cablecard and a SiliconDust HomeRun Prime. Because of DRM, You cannot watch or record any protected channels (like HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc.). You can do both with Windows Media Center, if you have a license on XP, Windows 7, or Windows 8.1. But you cannot watch these recordings on another computer or platform. They are locked to the hardware of the recording system.

SiliconDust's HDHomeRun software allows you to watch DRM protected channels live but you cannot record them the last time I checked.

Or you can buy a Tivo which I may end up doing in 2023 when Windows 8.1 is no longer supported and I still have a cable subscription with protected channels.

Another long time request with Plex is the ability to record content based on a keyword, but I've droned on long enough . . .

Plex forum on DRM

 

[scottct1]

I dont worry about the DRM channels as I don't subscribe to them.

I mainly use it for my father who has been in the hospital, he watches TV on his ipad. As the Hospital TV only has 20 channels.

I also use it to record shows I like here at my office as sometimes my DVR at home does not record everything correctly.