Connect Channels DVR to Multiview

Choose what to export from Channels DVR

Channels DVR can export live channels from its configured sources for use in other software. This can include supported tuner, custom channel, and TV Everywhere sources that are present and authorized in your Channels lineup.

1. 1Open the Channels DVR Server web admin and go to Settings, then Sources.
2. 2To export one source, open its management menu. To export the combined lineup, use the top-level management menu in Sources. You can also export a single Channel Collection from its management menu.
3. 3Copy both the M3U playlist URL and the XMLTV guide URL supplied by Channels DVR.

Add the export to Multiview

1. 1In Multiview, open Settings, Manage Sources, then Add Source.
2. 2Choose IPTV, select M3U Playlist, and give the source a recognizable name such as Channels DVR.
3. 3Paste the Channels M3U URL into M3U Playlist URL and its XMLTV URL into XMLTV Guide URL.
4. 4Leave HTTP Basic Authentication empty unless you separately placed the export behind a server that requires it.
5. 5Choose Validate & Add Source and wait for Multiview to load the channel catalog.

Build the Multiview lineup

1. 1Open the new source and choose Manage Channels.
2. 2In Available channels, select the live channels you want and add them to My channels.
3. 3Confirm that channel names and guide listings appear, then test one channel by itself.
4. 4Add the Channels DVR streams to a new or saved multiview alongside channels from your other sources.

Understand authentication and availability

Channels DVR remains responsible for source access. Multiview reads the exported playlist and guide; it does not receive or store the credentials used to configure HDHomeRun, TV Everywhere, or another Channels source.

1. 1Keep Channels DVR Server running while watching its exported channels in Multiview.
2. 2For TV Everywhere, sign in to the supported provider inside Channels DVR and confirm that the desired channel is authorized there before refreshing the Multiview source.
3. 3If a source or channel changes in Channels, refresh the IPTV source in Multiview and review its Available and Unavailable channels.

Keep the connection reachable

1. 1Use the Channels DVR Server IP address or hostname in the exported URLs. Do not use localhost unless Multiview is running on the same computer as the server.
2. 2Start with the URLs copied from Channels. If playback compatibility requires it, Channels supports HLS or MPEG-TS output and optional codec or bitrate parameters.
3. 3For viewing away from home, use a secure private connection such as Tailscale so the Multiview device can reach the DVR address. Avoid exposing an unauthenticated playlist URL publicly.