A free, open-source desktop IPTV player with a retro CRT interface. Bring your own streams and playlists — M3U, M3U8, XSPF, or local folders. Watch live with EPG schedules, record with DVR, shuffle your own media with commercial breaks, and enjoy authentic channel-surfing vibes. No subscription. No login. No tracking.
RetroTV is a free, open-source desktop IPTV player and media centre. Add any live stream URL, import M3U/M3U8 playlists, load XSPF files, or point it at a folder of videos. Built on VLC, it plays every modern format without fuss — wrapped in a phosphor-amber CRT interface with EPG guide, DVR recording, commercial break simulation, and more.
Hit ● REC (or press R) to record any live stream in real time. Recordings are saved as .ts files you can play back inside RetroTV or in any video player. ffmpeg is included with the Windows installer.
Click any programme in the EPG guide to schedule a recording — RetroTV will start and stop ffmpeg automatically at the right times. Or set up manual time-based schedules.
Browse, play, and delete your DVR recordings from the built-in library manager. Play recordings directly inside RetroTV with full pause and seek support.
Powered by XMLTV data, Channel 00 displays a full-screen electronic program guide with channel icons, now/next indicators, and progress bars. See what's on and what's coming up at a glance.
Recreate the authentic broadcast experience. Place video files in your commercials/ folder or use a commercials.xspf playlist, and RetroTV will automatically insert nostalgic ad breaks between your local tracks.
Add any live stream URL (HLS, DASH, etc.) or load local XSPF and M3U playlists. Import entire channel lineups from M3U files with EPG channel IDs. Mix live streams with your personal media library.
Stay informed with software updates and network announcements via the built-in news modal that checks for new messages on startup.
Instantly find any channel with the built-in search box. Type a name or number and the sidebar filters in real time — no more scrolling through a long lineup.
Press F to star any channel. Favorites appear highlighted with ★ in the sidebar and channel guide, so your go-to stations are always easy to spot.
Press G to pull up a live schedule strip for the current channel — showing now-playing and upcoming programmes for live channels, or now/next track cards with progress bars for local playlists.
Add your own XMLTV guide data URLs or local .xml files via the built-in EPG Sources Editor. Your custom sources are merged with the default guide on every refresh.
Add, remove, reorder, and duplicate channels directly in the app. Import M3U playlists with one click. Configure names, URLs, playlists, watermarks, EPG IDs, and shuffle settings — no manual JSON editing required.
Assign transparent PNG watermarks to your channels. Display a logo in the corner of the video for that authentic network broadcast look.
Phosphor-amber UI, scanline overlays, channel static transitions, a resizable sidebar, and a rotary knob dial for an authentic vintage television feel.
Local files automatically retry on error with exponential backoff. Live streams detect freezes and reconnect automatically — so you spend less time staring at static.
Automatically remembers where you left off for local files. Close the app, come back tomorrow, and continue exactly where you stopped.
Channel lists sync automatically in the background. Hit the ↺ LINEUP button to manually check for updates, or let it happen on its own. Software update notifications keep you on the latest version.
Turn closed captions on or off with the CC button. Subtitle state persists across channel changes so you don't have to re-enable it every time.
Works seamlessly with keyboard media keys and remotes. Change channels, control volume, play and pause without touching the mouse.
Multi-monitor aware fullscreen mode with display sleep suppression and double-click to toggle — perfect for a dedicated living room or lounge setup.
No subscription fees, no account creation, no hidden charges, no tracking. RetroTV is free and open-source software, plain and simple.
Download RetroTV — the Windows installer includes ffmpeg for DVR recording. Just make sure VLC Media Player is also installed.
Paste live stream URLs into the channel editor, import an M3U playlist, or drop video files into a folder and point a channel at it.
Flip channels with arrow keys, check the EPG guide on CH 00, record with ● REC, and enjoy the retro TV experience.
Download the installer for your platform, add your streams, and you're watching in under a minute. No account. No credit card. No catch.
* Requires VLC Media Player installed on your system. ffmpeg for DVR recording is included in the Windows installer.
RetroTV is built and maintained as a passion project — free for everyone, forever. If you enjoy it, consider buying the developer a coffee. Every contribution helps keep the signal alive and the lights blinking.
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