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XDA Developers writer Brian Burgess describes setting up custom, guide-based TV channels from media stored on his home servers. He says his family now turns to those channels more often than Netflix, though that is a personal account rather than a measured comparison. Tunarr and ErsatzTV offer ways to schedule or shuffle content, while setup and device compatibility vary.
Brian Burgess says his family now watches custom TV channels built from his home media library more often than Netflix, after he used channel-management software to organize movies, shows and other content into a browsable, live-TV-style guide. The XDA Developers writer’s account describes a personal home setup, not a measured finding about viewing habits more broadly.
Burgess says he created channels from media stored on his Plex, Jellyfin or Emby servers, giving household members a guide they can browse on streaming devices around the home. The channels can be organized around subjects such as children’s programming, particular franchises, genres or favorites, and can include custom names, numbers and icons. He also describes combining movies, television and music into themed lineups.
For custom channel building, Burgess highlights Tunarr and ErsatzTV. Both can be installed as software or Docker images and managed through a web interface, according to his account. Tunarr supports channel lineups with scheduled time slots or shuffled programming; ErsatzTV uses a more modular setup involving channels and media collections. Burgess says he finds Tunarr easier to use, while noting that the choice depends on a user’s setup and preferences.
The channels can be shown alongside free live stations from a network tuner, Burgess writes. A host computer needs to run for other devices to watch the custom channels, so an always-on machine can make access more convenient in a busy home. The article also notes that Plex Pass is needed for ErsatzTV channels to appear in Plex’s live-TV guide, but not simply to add content from ErsatzTV.
HOME MEDIA • PERSONAL VIEWING
His Movie Library Became the Family TV Guide
XDA Developers writer Brian Burgess built custom, guide-based channels from media on his home servers. He says his family now turns to them more often than Netflix—a personal account, not measured viewing data.
“My family likes the live TV guide experience.”
Brian Burgess · XDA Developers writerMake a large library easier to browse
Instead of picking a title from scratch, viewers can open a guide and see programming already arranged into familiar channels.
Build around a mood
Organize movies, shows, and music by genre, franchise, favorites, or children’s programming.
Give content a time slot
Choose scheduled blocks or shuffled playback, then browse the lineup in a live-TV-style guide.
Name every station
Create channel names, numbers, and icons. Example themes include comedy, drama, and music videos from collected discs.
Two ways to program your channels
Both tools can run as software or Docker images and are managed through a web interface, according to Burgess.
Tunarr
Build channel lineups with scheduled time slots or shuffled programming.
- Direct channel programming
- Scheduled or shuffled playback
- Burgess says he finds it easier to use
ErsatzTV
Separate channel creation from media collections for a more modular workflow.
- Organize media into collections
- Build channels from those collections
- Plex Pass needed for Plex live-TV guide integration
From stored media to a browsable guide
The setup combines a home media server, channel software, and playback devices around the house.
Keep media at home
Use content stored on a compatible Plex, Jellyfin, or Emby server.
Create themed channels
Use channel software to schedule or shuffle your chosen library content.
Open the TV guide
Browse channel names and lineups from supported apps and devices.
Keep the host running
The computer running the channels must be on while other devices watch.
Mix live TV with your own lineup
Burgess’s earlier setup used a network tuner to stream live television to Jellyfin, with a guide that updates itself. He later added channels built from his personal library. Other options mentioned: Nostalgex offers an automated retro-style guide, with Apple TV availability and a Roku version in beta; DisquezTV is noted as incompatible with Jellyfin.
What to weigh before setting it up
The approach is aimed at households that already manage their own media and want a simpler way to surface it.
Does the host computer need to stay on?
Yes. Burgess says the computer running the channel software must be available for other devices to watch.
Does ErsatzTV require Plex Pass?
The source says Plex Pass is needed for ErsatzTV channels to appear in Plex’s live-TV guide, but not simply to add ErsatzTV content.
Which tool should you choose?
Check support for your media server and playback devices, then choose between manually programmed channels and a more modular setup.
A Familiar Guide for Owned Media
The project offers a different way to use a large personal media collection: instead of choosing a title from a streaming service’s on-demand catalog, viewers can browse a channel guide with programming already arranged. That format may help households find something to watch without scrolling through a large library or deciding what to play from scratch.
Burgess says the guide has made the collection more appealing to his family, with his children turning it on before Netflix. That is his experience, not evidence that custom channels generally replace subscription services. Still, it points to a practical appeal for people who already maintain extensive media libraries: the software can make owned content feel more like conventional television, while letting the person managing the server decide what appears and when.
The trade-off is setup and upkeep. Users need compatible software, an accessible media server and a computer that can run the channels. The approach is most relevant to households that already store and manage their own media; it is not presented as a plug-and-play replacement for streaming subscriptions.
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How the Home Channels Work
Burgess’s channel project builds on an earlier home-TV setup described in the source: he used a network tuner to stream live television to Jellyfin and created a guide that updates itself. He then added channels generated from his own media library. The result combines over-the-air live TV and scheduled personal content in a guide-style interface.
The tools differ in how much control they provide. Burgess describes Tunarr as a simpler option for creating lineups and choosing scheduled or shuffled playback. ErsatzTV takes more setup and separates channel creation from media collections. Nostalgex offers an automated, retro-style guide, but Burgess says it is less suited to manually designing custom stations; the source says it is available for Apple TV, with a Roku version in beta. DisquezTV is also mentioned, with the limitation that it does not work with Jellyfin.
These are software options for organizing media a user already has access to, rather than services supplying a new catalogue. The article’s examples include channels centered on children’s content, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particular television franchises, music videos from collected discs, or broad genres such as comedy and drama.
““My family likes the live TV guide experience.””
— Brian Burgess, XDA Developers writer
Limits of the Household Comparison
The account does not quantify how often family members watch the custom channels, how long the setup took, or how many devices can use it at once. The statement that the family watches them more than Netflix is Burgess’s description of his household; no viewing data or broader survey is provided.
Compatibility and requirements can also vary by software, server and playback device. The source identifies a Plex Pass requirement for ErsatzTV channels to appear in Plex’s live-TV guide and says the computer hosting the channels must remain on while other devices watch. It does not provide a complete device-by-device compatibility list, hardware requirements, or detailed installation instructions.
Choosing a Setup for the Home
There is no announced product launch or scheduled milestone in the account. For readers interested in trying the approach, the next step is to check which option supports their media server and playback devices, then decide whether they want manually programmed channels or a more automated guide. Burgess presents Tunarr as his easier-to-use choice and ErsatzTV as a more modular alternative, while stressing that setup depends on the user’s needs.
Households will also need to account for the host computer’s availability and any service-specific requirements, including Plex Pass for the stated ErsatzTV guide integration. Burgess’s report suggests the main outcome to watch for is whether a channel guide makes an existing personal library easier for other household members to browse and use.
Key Questions
What are custom media channels?
They are scheduled or shuffled playlists presented as TV channels, built from media a user stores on a compatible home server. A guide lets viewers browse what is playing and tune in.
Which software does Burgess recommend?
Burgess says he prefers Tunarr because he finds it easier to use. He also describes ErsatzTV as a more modular option. His preference reflects his own experience, and the best fit depends on a household’s setup.
Does the host computer need to stay on?
According to Burgess, the computer running the channel software must be on for other devices to watch those channels. Keeping it available can make access more convenient around the home.
Does ErsatzTV require Plex Pass?
The source says Plex Pass is required for ErsatzTV channels to appear in Plex’s live-TV guide, but not to add content from ErsatzTV itself.
Does Burgess’s account show that custom channels are more popular than Netflix generally?
No. The claim is about viewing habits in Burgess’s household. The account provides no measured viewing data or evidence about other families.
Source: XDA Developers
