A Surprising Recommendation from Casey Liss

I’m an avid listener of the Accidental Tech Podcast (ATP) hosted by Marco Arment, Casey Liss, and John Siracusa. While I enjoy the banter, I often find myself questioning their tech advice. However, during this week's episode, Casey surprised me with a valuable recommendation.

In an eighteen-minute segment titled "TV & Tivo follow-up," Casey discussed John's recent $4,000 Quantum Dot OLED TV purchase, specifically his struggles with pairing it to his Tivo remote. Casey proposed an interesting alternative: Channels. He suggested it was time to move on from Tivo, stating:

"It seems to me like this is the time to abandon that piece of crap Tivo, am I right?… There’s gotta be something that would serve these purposes without actually being a Tivo… You know Channels does nearly everything Tivo does, and arguably does it better."

Despite Casey's compelling argument, John was resistant, questioning the availability of HDHomeRun and dismissing the three tuners as inadequate for his needs. Casey concluded with strong praise for Channels:

“All I'm saying is the software is super easy to install… I went kicking and screaming into using Channels… but I will say as a DVR, Channels really is fantastic.”

He also emphasized that Channels DVR software can run on a Mac mini and supports TV Everywhere for accessing live TV.

Recognizing the Potential of TV Everywhere

While I had been using various Apple TV apps to access live TV through my cable provider, I was unaware that this functionality had been standardized as TV Everywhere since 2009, allowing access to all available channels through a single software platform.

After using the Channels Apple TV app for five years, I found it easier to embrace than John did. I promptly followed Casey’s advice and downloaded the Channels DVR Server software for macOS. The installation was straightforward, and within minutes I signed up for a trial subscription. The software automatically detected my HDHomeRun as a live TV source, and setting up TV Everywhere was equally simple. After entering my provider information, I gained access to 184 channels.

I currently run the Channels DVR Server software on an M1 Mac mini with 8GB of RAM. Although it’s too early to declare it flawless, it’s off to a promising start and appears to be running smoothly without taxing the Mac mini.

Managing DVR Storage Efficiently

Initially, I set the DVR storage on the internal drive of my Mac mini, but soon realized the 500GB model lacked sufficient free space. Transitioning to an external drive was simple: I disabled the DVR feature, copied the storage directory, and re-enabled it on the new drive. For now, I’m using a slower 1TB Samsung T3 SSD, which should suffice for performance, but I’ll upgrade if necessary.

A New Era of Viewing

Although there is some overlap with the 165 channels from HDHomeRun, Channels DVR has unlocked numerous channels that previously required individual apps. This cumbersome process often led to re-logins and even Apple TV restarts due to buggy apps.

In addition to simplifying my live TV viewing, the software has granted access to channels I hadn’t downloaded apps for, such as Sundance, NFL Network, and Comedy Central, among others. The promise of enhanced DVR functionality might just redefine my television experience. Despite not owning a digital video recorder for two decades, I’m already queuing up movies to record using the Channels: Whole Home DVR app.

With improved access to my favorite shows and the potential for recorded content, I’m likely to convert my 30-day trial into an $80 annual subscription. This will provide virtually all the live TV access I’ve been missing for years, all at a fraction of my previous cable provider's costs.

Conclusion: Embracing the Future with Channels

John Siracusa expressed concern that TV Everywhere might vanish, questioning the sustainability of the service. While it's a valid point, I believe it’s worth enjoying Channels' offerings while they last. Thank you, Casey, for your advocacy; your recommendation has significantly enhanced my television experience.

Before You Go

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Channels DVR Integrates Streaming Cable Networks - DRM Free TV Everywhere with Commercial Skip - YouTube

This video explains how Channels DVR integrates various streaming cable networks to provide a seamless viewing experience without DRM restrictions, including commercial skip features.

Watch TV Everywhere Setup - YouTube

In this video, viewers are guided through the setup process for TV Everywhere, demonstrating how to access multiple channels through one unified application.