Plex Launches Live TV Support for Apple TV App

[MacRumors]

Two months after rolling out Plex Live TV to iOS and Android TV devices, Plex today announced that its live streaming TV feature is now available for users on Apple TV.

In addition, on any app where Plex Live TV is available, Plex Pass users will be able to use a new "Time Shift" feature, meaning they can scrub back and forth through any live broadcast, as well as pause it.

We're thrilled to bring Live TV to Apple TV and Live TV and DVR support to Android mobile, joining iOS, Android TV, and our lovely Plex Web app (DVR only).

We can't quite include a TARDIS with your Plex Pass yet, but we can do the next best thing, which is allowing you to time shift Live TV! That's right, with our latest enhancements, you can now time-travel (well, pause or skip around) when watching Live TV. No longer will you be forced to choose between getting more Cheetos and seeing who gets voted off the island. Life is hard enough.

To gain access to Plex Live TV, users must be a Plex Pass subscriber (beginning at $4.99/month), and then install a digital antenna, connect a digital tuner, and sync everything to their Plex Pass subscription account.

Plex Pass subscribers can watch live HD content on channels available over-the-air, including major US networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and CW, as well as local programming, news, and sports. For apps that support DVR, Plex also said that the feature is officially out of beta.

For a list of compatible tuners and antennas that enable Plex's live broadcasting and DVR features, check out the company's list here. The Plex app is available to download from the iOS App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Plex Launches Live TV Support for Apple TV App

 

[profets]

Been testing this out on the iOS apps, pretty cool. At home and office I've basically only been using Plex/Apple TV as well as OTA channels for the odd live event. Nice being able to catch any of the OTA channels within Plex now. Even nicer how well it ties into the UI with full metadata.

 

[LewisChapman]

Hopefully a Smart TV update is next - will be a game changer.

 

[Zorn]

I don't really understand what is meant by "although the app will lack DVR support". DVR has been supported in Plex for a long time, I'm able to watch shows recorded via Plex DVR on the existing Apple TV client. Do they just mean you can't schedule new recordings from the Apple TV app?

 

[d21mike]

I will try it later but does it still only work with the PLEX Owner Login ID? I have multi-user support where I can customize what I see so I seldom login with my owner id. Would be nice to have an option on the user profile to indicate Live TV yes/no.

Well, decided to check. Looks like still only for the PLEX Owner ID. So really only 1 user can use it. This makes no sense to me. I wonder why the restriction. I understand it is BETA but this limitation is kind of strange.

Also, when playing back recordings it starts instantly. But when playing Live TV I takes a very long time to start. My last test was 14 seconds. But others were maybe 6-10 seconds.

I am a long time uses of Channels and it has always started within 1-2 seconds if not instant for live TV and DVR.

 

[critter13]

lifetime plex pass was a great decision, its nice not needing to switch inputs now for live tv. love plex!
[doublepost=1501683730][/doublepost]

I don't really understand what is meant by "although the app will lack DVR support". DVR has been supported in Plex for a long time, I'm able to watch shows recorded via Plex DVR on the existing Apple TV client. Do they just mean you can't schedule new recordings from the Apple TV app?

I was thinking the same thing

 

[CarpalMac]

Bought a Lifetime Plex pass in their earlier days. Have not once regretted it and still think it was amazing value.

 

[earthTOmitchel]

I don't really understand what is meant by "although the app will lack DVR support". DVR has been supported in Plex for a long time, I'm able to watch shows recorded via Plex DVR on the existing Apple TV client. Do they just mean you can't schedule new recordings from the Apple TV app?

That's my misunderstanding. I misread the Plex PR as intentionally not mentioning DVR in the same line as Live TV. Nixed that line from the post.

 

[mwd25]

Oh yeah, lifetime Plex Pass was a no brainer. A lot of services say "adding new features all the time" or "Just keeps getting better"
Plex has consistently delivered and it was worth it before they added a lot of cool stuff.

I don't really understand what is meant by "although the app will lack DVR support". DVR has been supported in Plex for a long time, I'm able to watch shows recorded via Plex DVR on the existing Apple TV client. Do they just mean you can't schedule new recordings from the Apple TV app?

I think they are referring to the fact that you cant watch,pause,rewind live tv on some apps. Using plex in windows for example or on Roku. You only have access to content you have already recorded, where as on ios app you can watch live tv as well as use dvr. Also what isnt mentioned is its not just OTA channels you can also watch live cable. Ive always kind of dreamnt of being able to go into Roku and just stay there for everything. I got my collection of tv shows and movies, all organized in Plex, had to leave Plex for tv and either buy something like Sling tv, or go into individual channel apps, some of which dont have live tv just already aired shows. Now I can not only stay in Roku but I dont even need to leave Plex app.

 

[Christoffee]

Bought a Lifetime Plex pass in their earlier days. Have not once regretted it and still think it was amazing value.

For once I can be one of those people!
"I got me a Lifetime Plex Pass before they were famous"

 

[jmcgeejr]

I will try it later but does it still only work with the PLEX Owner Login ID? I have multi-user support where I can customize what I see so I seldom login with my owner id. Would be nice to have an option on the user profile to indicate Live TV yes/no.

Well, decided to check. Looks like still only for the PLEX Owner ID. So really only 1 user can use it. This makes no sense to me. I wonder why the restriction. I understand it is BETA but this limitation is kind of strange.

Also, when playing back recordings it starts instantly. But when playing Live TV I takes a very long time to start. My last test was 14 seconds. But others were maybe 6-10 seconds.

I am a long time uses of Channels and it has always started within 1-2 seconds if not instant for live TV and DVR.

This would be because of getting around the same legal issues Aero battled with and lost.

 

[d21mike]

This would be because of getting around the same legal issues Aero battled with and lost.

That is not the case. I use the Channels App on any of my 8 Apple TV's at the same time. I have 2 HDHomeRun Prime Tuners with Cable Cards so I have 6 Turners. So technically I am limited to 6 Turners for unique channels. But they do have Tuner Sharing so multiple TV's can share the same Turner in watching the same Channel. Also, Channels will decode the MPEG 2 on the Apple TV's instead of on the Server. I have a Mac Mini i7 quad and PLEX is using 200% of the CPU to Transcode. Apparently not using the hardware on the Mac. So maybe the real problem is going to be server load with the way it is designed. I think they need to have the ability to transcode on each device that can support it and just use Direct Play on the Server for this to work long term.

 

[jmcgeejr]

That is not the case. I use the Channels App on any of my 8 Apple TV's at the same time. I have 2 HDHomeRun Prime Tuners with Cable Cards so I have 6 Turners. So technically I am limited to 6 Turners for unique channels. But they do have Tuner Sharing so multiple TV's can share the same Turner in watching the same Channel. Also, Channels will decode the MPEG 2 on the Apple TV's instead of on the Server. I have a Mac Mini i7 quad and PLEX is using 200% of the CPU to Transcode. Apparently not using the hardware on the Mac. So maybe the real problem is going to be server load with the way it is designed. I think they need to have the ability to transcode on each device that can support it and just use Direct Play on the Server for this to work long term.

I am sure you know better than I do, I dont have any presence or ties to plex...

 

[d21mike]

I am sure you know better than I do, I dont have any presence or ties to plex...

Same here. Just a user of both. I am now using PLEX more and more. It is very nice for what I use it for. The occasional DVR works well except for the transcoding. The Live TV needs improvement. And I paid for a lifetime pass. The Channels which is far superior for Live tv and DVR also has a monthly subscription for the DVR which at least at this point is well worth it. I also use DIRECT Now so just keeping my options open.

 

[nathanjbrown]

That is not the case. I use the Channels App on any of my 8 Apple TV's at the same time. I have 2 HDHomeRun Prime Tuners with Cable Cards so I have 6 Turners. So technically I am limited to 6 Turners for unique channels. But they do have Tuner Sharing so multiple TV's can share the same Turner in watching the same Channel. Also, Channels will decode the MPEG 2 on the Apple TV's instead of on the Server. I have a Mac Mini i7 quad and PLEX is using 200% of the CPU to Transcode. Apparently not using the hardware on the Mac. So maybe the real problem is going to be server load with the way it is designed. I think they need to have the ability to transcode on each device that can support it and just use Direct Play on the Server for this to work long term.

I'm very jealous. I had the exact same setup in Boston and it worked flawlessly. I moved to Santa Barbara recently and found that Cox (the only cable provider available to me) slaps DRM on all channels but locals. The result: Channels won't work on anything but local channels. I was forced to sell off all my HDHomeRun Prime tuners and return to TiVo (of which I am NOT a fan). Apple TV + Channels + HDHR Prime is a flawless solution...provided DRM doesn't get in the way.

I'm assuming Plex has the same issues with DRM'd content, but I don't know that for sure. Can anyone confirm?

 

[cargoplex]

FWIW I was able to accomplish watching live OTA HD channels on my Apple TV by purchasing an HDHomeRun and the Channels app. The HDHomeRun also allows me to watch live TV on my iPhone and the Apple TV simultaneously (great for bathroom breaks).

I already had an HD antenna, but I bought an HDHomeRun used on eBay for $80 and paid $25 for the Channels app in the Apple TV App Store. No subscription needed!

 

[d21mike]

FWIW I was able to accomplish watching live OTA HD channels on my Apple TV by purchasing an HDHomeRun and the Channels app. The HDHomeRun also allows me to watch live TV on my iPhone and the Apple TV simultaneously (great for bathroom breaks).

I already had an HD antenna, but I bought an HDHomeRun used on eBay for $80 and paid $25 for the Channels app in the Apple TV App Store. No subscription needed!

Right. Subscription only needed for the Channels DVR.
[doublepost=1501698548][/doublepost]

I'm very jealous. I had the exact same setup in Boston and it worked flawlessly. I moved to Santa Barbara recently and found that Cox (the only cable provider available to me) slaps DRM on all channels but locals. The result: Channels won't work on anything but local channels. I was forced to sell off all my HDHomeRun Prime tuners and return to TiVo (of which I am NOT a fan). Apple TV + Channels + HDHR Prime is a flawless solution...provided DRM doesn't get in the way.

I'm assuming Plex has the same issues with DRM'd content, but I don't know that for sure. Can anyone confirm?

I can't test DRM since all of my FIOS Channels do not have DRM. But 99.99% sure PLEX does not support DRM.

 

[iMerik]

Bought a Lifetime Plex pass in their earlier days. Have not once regretted it and still think it was amazing value.

Same here. I bought it back when spending $74.99 on something like Plex seemed steep, but I've never regretted it.

 

[mmomega]

Seems like it was longer than 3 1/2 years ago.

 

[dude-x]

Isn't this similar to that company Aereo or whatever that tried to offer live TV over an app via using a regular antenna?

 

[reallynotnick]

Isn't this similar to that company Aereo or whatever that tried to offer live TV over an app via using a regular antenna?

No this is your own antenna, Aereo owned all the antennas and rebroadcasted it to you. This is basically just TiVo and Sling combined.

 

[Drzed]

Before people waste their money on the Plex Pass expecting a great DVR experience on their Apple TV.

-it's currently so buggy that watching Live TV will crash out within 10-15min
- skipping back and forth using the remote barely works.
-you can't see a program guide
-you can't start a recording
-you can't watch a recording in progress
-you can't check the recording schedule

Among many other missing features...

DON'T BOTHER!

 

[dotnet]

Bought a Lifetime Plex pass in their earlier days. Have not once regretted it and still think it was amazing value.

Can you expand on this a little? I'm having trouble seeing what exactly it is that would be of value for me. I'm not opposed at all to subscribing to something I like and use, but try as I may, I just can't see it with the Plex Pass. What are the most valuable aspects for you?

I'm running a Plex server on a Synology NAS and use it as the gateway to my entire collection of movies, shows and documentaries. The automatic attaching of programme info and posters (which gets it right at least 8/10 times) is a great feature, compared to the plain DLNA viewing via PS3 that I used to use before.

Seeing that the live TV feature requires external hardware (tuner), would this even work with a NAS?

 

[MDiddy]

For once I can be one of those people!
"I got me a Lifetime Plex Pass before they were famous"

"Those people" are called hipsters. Don't be a hipster.

 

[mpainesyd]

Before people waste their money on the Plex Pass expecting a great DVR experience on their Apple TV.

-it's currently so buggy that watching Live TV will crash out within 10-15min
- skipping back and forth using the remote barely works.
-you can't see a program guide
-you can't start a recording
-you can't watch a recording in progress
-you can't check the recording schedule

Among many other missing features...

DON'T BOTHER!

A possible alternative is an EyeTV app for ATV4. Several people have been discussing this here:
https://eyetvforum.com/index.php?/topic/102-is-an-atv4-app-ever-going-to-be-released/#comment-102
It does not look too hopeful at this stage.