IPTV.bundle-master.zip_iptv

## Plex Media Server plugin that plays live streams (a.k.a. IPTV) from a M3U playlist ## by [Valdas Vaitiekaitis], also known as [Cigaras], version [1.2][Changelog] 1. [Introduction][1] 2. [Installation][2] 3. [Playlist structure and examples][3] 4. [Program guide][4] 4. [Compatible devices and limitations][5] 5. [Supported protocols][6] 6. [Troubleshooting][7] 7. [To do list][8] 8. [Credits and contacts][9] 10. [License][10] ### Introduction ### Some [ISP] provide their users [IPTV] services, that can be watched over [VLC] on PC or on TV sets, but for TV a [Set-top box] is usually required that is both expensive and inconvenient because of separate remote. [MediaLink], that is pre-installed on most LG TVs, is able to play [IPTV] streams with the help of [Plex Media Server][GetPlex], but it does not has native support for it. One simple solution is to put every single stream url into a separate \*.strm file, load them into Plex library as Home Videos and assign logos and descriptions manually. Or, if You are lucky, You might find a Channel with predefined playlist that suits Your needs or even broadcasts [IPTV] from Your [ISP], but as I was not lucky enough, I decided to take matters into my own hands and created this Channel plugin, that allows to watch network streams from a customisable playlist, thus allowing You to **watch [IPTV] without a [Set-top box]!** Please read further for instructions on how to [install][2] and [configure][3] this plugin, check [compatible devices][5] and [supported protocols][6], and, if You find my work useful, please consider a small [donation](https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=Cigaras%40gmail%2ecom&lc=LT&currency_code=EUR&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF%3abtn_donate_LG%2egif%3aNonHosted) as a sign of gratitude and support. ### Installation ### Please refer to ofificial Plex support page [How do I manually install a channel?](https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201187656-How-do-I-manually-install-a-channel-) ### Playlist structure and examples ### Sample playlist is located in *IPTV.bundle\Content\Resources\playlist.m3u*, you can specify other filename in preferences, but You can not specifify a path outside resources forder because Plex prohibits it. Online playlist is also supported, You just need to specify a direct link to it, with http part included. Playlist should be encoded in **[UTF-8](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTF-8) without [BOM](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byte_order_mark)**, I recomend using [Notepad++](http://notepad-plus-plus.org/) to check and convert if needed. Included sample playlist is for testing purposes only, some streams might be dead by now, here is a short list of resources to get started, however please keep in mind, I am not associated with them and not responsible for their content, try it at Your own risk: * [FreeTuxTv.net](http://database.freetuxtv.net) * [IPTV-Player.com](http://iptv-player.com/?id=database) * [HasBahCaIPTV.com](http://hasbahcaiptv.com/index.php?dir=m3u) * [IPTV-Tv.blogspot.com](http://iptv-tv.blogspot.com) * [TvOnlineStreams.com](http://www.tvonlinestreams.com) * [Plex forums](http://forums.plex.tv/discussion/83083/rel-iptv-bundle-plugin-that-plays-iptv-streams-from-a-m3u-playlist/p1) * [Google.com](http://lmgtfy.com/?q=iptv+m3u) Playlist supports additional attributes that can be optionally defined inline after #EXTINF:0 and before the name of the media: * **tvg-id**, **tvg-name** - used to identify channel in [XMLTV][4]; * **tvg-logo**, **logo** - stream logo or icon, can use remote media (url must include http part) or stored images from *\IPTV.bundle\Content\Resources* folder (filename must include extension); * **group-title** - category name; * **group-logo** - category logo, only usable in first line where specific category is defined, in example if You have two channels with same category name, logo supplied in first line of those two will be used. A simple example (see included sample playlist for more): ``` #EXTM3U #EXTINF:0 tvg-id="Cartoon Network" tvg-logo="icon-default.png" group-title="Cartoons" group-logo="icon-folder.png",Cartoon Network http://80.87.146.133:1111/udp/230.3.3.112:5678 #EXTINF:-1 tvg-logo="http://www.lyngsat-logo.com/hires/mm/mtv_dance_us.png" group-title="Music",MTV Dance http://80.87.146.133:1111/udp/230.3.3.115:5678 ``` At the moment this plugin is [unable to handle multiple playlists][8], but it is possible to have [multiple instances of this plugin](https://github.com/Cigaras/IPTV.bundle/issues/21#issuecomment-159568329) and use different playlist for each, not the prettiest way but it is a solution. Read further for more information about [supported protocols and required configurations][6]. ### Program guide ### As of version 1.2 and further this plugin supports [program guide](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_program_guide) in [XMLTV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XMLTV) format, there is a sample located in *IPTV.bundle\Content\Resources\guide.xml*, you can specify other filename in preferences, but You can not specifify a path outside resources forder because Plex prohibits it. Online guide is also supported (as long as it matches the [XMLTV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XMLTV) format), You just need to specify a direct link to it, with http part included. Plugin will try to match the program guide with playlist streams by the stream title, but to make things easier **tvg-id** atribute might be used to represent the exact XMLTV channel, for example if XMLTV looks something like this: ``` <tv> ... <programme start="20160321031000 +0200" stop="20160321040100 +0200" channel="Cartoon Network RSE"> ... </programme> ... </tv> ``` then previously [mentioned][3] playlist should look like this: ``` #EXTM3U #EXTINF:0 tvg-id="Cartoon Network RSE" tvg-logo="icon-default.png" group-title="Cartoons",Cartoon Network http://80.87.146.133:1111/udp/230.3.3.112:5678 ... ``` Recomended software for XMLTV generation would be [**WebGrab+Plus**](http://www.webgrabplus.com/), please refer to its [documentation](http://www.webgrabplus.com/documentation/quick-start) on how to set it up. Please note, program guide is quite demanding on resources and I do not recomend using XMLTV file that has more channels than You actualy need and the shorter the period its generated for the better. ### Compatible devices and limitations ### By default Plex Media Server [does](http://forums.plex.tv/discussion/84637/problems-getting-live-http-stream-into-channel) [not](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/475261#Comment_475261) transcode live streams and leaves this job to clients. In some clients it is possible to **switch [Direct Play and Direct Streaming](https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200250387-Streaming-Media-Direct-Play-and-Direct-Stream) off** and then server will do the heavy lifting, but some clients are out of luck and will only play streams they are able to handle natively. Here is a bunch of Plex clients and some testing results, keep in mind that apps are beeing updated constantly and folowing list might (and usualy will) be outdated: * **Desktop apps**: * **[Plex Media Center]** - no longer in production but you can get one from ~~[old Plex Wiki page](https://oldwiki.plexapp.com/index.php?title=Downloads#Plex_Media_Center_.28PMC_-_standalone_client.29)~~ [Plex Downloads Archive][Plex Media Center] or [cnet.com](http://download.cnet.com/Plex-Media-Center/3000-2139_4-75754342.html), plays [most streams][6] without problems, latest known version 0.9.5.4; * **[Plex Home Theater][GetPlex]** - [HTTP][6] streams work, tested on version 1.4.1, not sure about other [protocols][6]; * **[Plex Media Player](https://blog.plex.tv/2015/10/20/introducing-the-plex-media-player/)** - [HTTP][6] streams [work](https://github.com/Cigaras/IPTV.bundle/issues/41), tested by [Codehhh](https://github.com/Codehhh), not sure about other [protocols][6]; * **[Plex Web]** - most s