TV over the Internet with IPTVnator
Groups and Favorites
IPTVnator lets you select programs by genre. This option is especially useful for channel lists with a large number of channels. To select a program by genre, open the group selection by clicking the Groups button in the program window. The software now shows you a table with the individual genres and the number of channels available in each of them. Clicking on the desired genre opens the list of stations below it (Figure 4). Clicking on the group name again closes the selection.
For quick access to your favorite channels, IPTVnator offers a favorites function. To mark a channel as a favorite, just click on the star next to the name of the channel currently streaming above the playback window. To recall a saved channel, click Favorites. The selected channel then appears on the left. To remove a channel from the favorites list, click on the star next to the channel name again.
IPTV and VPN
Some streaming providers restrict their offerings to the country of origin and determine the approximate location of the receiving device based on the IP address. This is known as geoblocking. If the device is outside the intended distribution area, an error message appears in the playback window.
You can use a VPN to get around geoblocking. You first need to register with a VPN provider and download and install their software. Unlimited data volumes and access to all available servers of the provider are usually only available with a paid subscription. However, some providers also offer their service as a free subscription with limited data volume and restricted access to the servers.
After installing the VPN provider's client application, open it and connect to a server in the target country, (i.e., the country in which the streaming service is located). As soon as the tunneled connection is established via the VPN, you can view what are normally blocked broadcasts (Figure 5).
Conclusions
Thanks to IPTVnator, Linux now has an easy-to-use application for streaming IPTV broadcasts. Despite the low version number, the software is already stable on several platforms, and it is suitable for users without in-depth knowledge of the underlying technology, thanks to the built-in playback software. Thanks to IPTVnator, Linux users now have an option for picking up their favorite broadcasts from the road.
Infos
- IPTVnator: https://github.com/4gray/iptvnator
- IPTV: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Protocol_television
- FreetuxTV: https://github.com/freetuxtv/freetuxtv
- Zapping: https://zapping.sourceforge.net/Zapping/index.html
- Hypnotix: https://github.com/linuxmint/hypnotix
- IPTV playlists: https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv
« Previous 1 2
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
So Long Neofetch and Thanks for the Info
Today is a day that every Linux user who enjoys bragging about their system(s) will mourn, as Neofetch has come to an end.
-
Ubuntu 24.04 Comes with a “Flaw"
If you're thinking you might want to upgrade from your current Ubuntu release to the latest, there's something you might want to consider before doing so.
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.