Kodi is a terrific cord-cutting tool, and it's really simple to watch live TV using it.
To be clear, this isn't about watching TV channels delivered over the internet (IPTV) but actual over-the-air (OTA) channels. With the right hardware and matching plugins, adding your OTA TV to the main Kodi interface is a breeze.
For the purposes of this guide, we're using a HDHomeRun Connect tuner, but the process is the same for other supported PVR hardware. You also must have set up your hardware first before going into Kodi.
This isn't the same as just installing an add-on, either. HDHomeRun, for example, has an official Kodi add-on, but that works like a dedicated app. The third-party PVR client built into Kodi, by contrast, integrates the TV channels directly into the main Kodi interface, and there are numerous advantages to using it.
How to enable live TV on Kodi
- Click on add-ons in the Kodi sidebar.
- Hover over my add-ons in sidebar.
Select PVR clients.
From the list, select the relevant PVR client for your hardware.
Click install.
That's all you need to do to enable live TV within Kodi. It's a simple, seamless setup, and now you just have to go back to the main screen and click on the TV menu item in the sidebar.
All of your channels have been pulled into Kodi's main interface, and it's pretty damn slick. When you first go into your TV section in Kodi, it'll pop up a list of channels on the left of the screen with currently playing shows. To see more channels you just scroll.
There's also a neat TV guide for viewing everything that's on now and upcoming across your entire channel list. And whenever you're watching something live, flicking out to the full guide or even just the upcoming guide for that channel never gets rid of what you're watching. It always fades into the background.
As you watch, recent channels and favorites will begin to populate within the TV section for quicker access. The beauty of this setup is that any device you install Kodi on can integrate live TV in just a few steps using your local network. There's no additional antenna required.
If you have any tips and tricks for watching live TV on Kodi be sure to drop them into the comments below.
Reader comments
How to use Kodi to watch live TV
I have recently brought Sony Bravia TV and have been watching Live TV via Kodi.
I've been using this setup for a while and I love it. Even when my homerun hd got struck by lightening the company replaced it no questions asked. I get about 15 hd channels and 20 sd channels.
I had wmc running on w10 for a while and it was great, but then it broke and I couldn't get it running.
I just wanted it for ota tv, as w10 is inherently good as a 10ft interface, as the photos and groove apps, so why need a media server?
I found sicbopvr.com as a standalone pvt app. It's light, responsive, can use a xml epg and just works. Def recommend it if you want just tv without all the media server palaver.
According to streamlive.to website, they have plug-in for Kodi that allows user to watch US TV live, as long as you are in US and sign up for a free account in their website. Anyone in US would like a try?
It only gives you 7 channels and they are standard definition unless you pay $20.00 a month...then you get 60 us channels in hd that you can access from anywhere in the World...worth it if you travel alot and are on Wi-Fi...but not if you are home and you pay for high speed internet plus ustv now...you might as well pay for cable internet/bundle
I think that this guide was a bit light on what needs to be done before live (or recorded) TV can be viewed with Kodi ;)
I'm using dedicated old PC with Kodi, DVBViewer and 3 USB cable receivers with ongoing recordings based on text search. It works for network storage and Netflix as well :)
Not really. I have a HDHomeRun Connect, I plugged it in and set it up (we did a post on that) and these exact steps are how I now have live TV.
Your solution sounds like it's way over complicating for someone who just wants to watch live TV ;)
When display _is_ TV, Kodi is not needed for live broadcast 😀 It's nice for recordings and videos with easy gui.
Now when I think it, Kodi on other computers might be great way to watch live broadcast when TV is reserved. Having multiple receivers allows recording and wathcing from several muxes.
I don't know why people like WMC. Kodi defeats WMC completely. WMC is just a little baby comparing to Kodi
WMC can play DRM & encrypted channels like hbo and amc. wmc also makes a reliable backend for kodi
WMC has closed captioning.
WMC has a family friendly UI (user interface).
WMC has a "whole house" solution.
Does Plex and/or Kodi?
I'm asking. I honestly do not know.
Best Wishes
One is actively developed. The other is not ;-)
I tried setting up Kodi for TV and recording several times over the years, failed or hated the experience every time. I might give it another go, but I don't have high hopes. I always go back to my Win7 box running WMC.
WMC just works is the big advantage, no dicking around finding multiple theme, plugins, addons, etc. to get everything I want. It still has the most elegant and user-friendly interface. You can hand the remote to anyone and it is completely intuitive immediately.
Yeah, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but it does what I need simply and reliable.
Windows Media Center (WMC) still, even after Microsoft has removed some features (such as the Sports screen, and the internet apps screen, ...) has the best features, great functionality and family friendly interface. Just another example of great Microsoft technology, that they never promoted.
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I expanded my "whole house" Windows Media Center HTPC (Home theater Personal Computer) today to include Over The Air (OTA) free television using a HD HomeRun Connect. We may drop Comcast Xfinity cable TV and cut the cord. We have been using WMC and a Ceton infiniTV 6 to watch DRM (digital rights management) shows from Comcast. WMC has been the only solution that allows this. WMC also provides closed captioning.
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That all said, the unlimited DVR and access throughout the house has been a pleasure for the last 6 years. (We came late to installing WMC). It is still a great solution.
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Check out www.thegreenbutton.tv for more information.
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I would aabsolutely pay good money to continue development of WMC further and to bring back the internet streaming features.
Best Wishes
Totally agree with the naysayers. I find Kofi, impossible to configure. Every time I open it, it asks for a lie location. How many times do I have to that. Plax plays WMC content much easier. And doesn't need the constant babysitting Kodi Sowa. This article is salt in the wounds. I have Ceton infinitTV 6 that WMC find dead easy. Kodi does not, setting it up is far from easy. And navigating in tablet mode is a dog's breakfast. Want to love Kochi, budget so frustrated, I give up
if your ceton tuner works fine with WMC all you have to do is setup a program called server.wmc(found on github) and once that's set up you would go to kodi and setup the wmc.pvr client addon. then enable live tv and your good to go. The only thing I've noticed with kodi v17.1 my timers don't show up but they do on earlier versions of xbmc/kodi
Do install server?.wmc on the wmc PC?, thanks for the advices
yeah you install https://serverwmc.github.io/ on the pc that's running windows media center then on your htpc or other device running kodi you enable the wmc.pvr add-on. No problem man.
Reading this wiki helped me out alot http://kodi.wiki/view/ServerWMC#Downloading_.26_Installing_ServerWMC
The serverwmc program can be used with kodi, plex, and emby but I use it with kodi.
Thosts instructions do not work for me. I do not see a list of PVR clients.
What skin are you using?
The default Kodi 17 skin. All guides are based on stock.
Does Kodi record live TV?
So, when is this coming to the Xbox One? Do we have any updates on their UWP being active there?
Not right now. Considering the next version (18 Leia) is now in development I wouldn't expect it at least until that's finished. Probably not worth coding the current one for UWP when they're also building a new one.
I've tried Kodi (formerly XBMC) and a few other similar software packages several times. I still think that the Windows Media Center was the best of all of them and that Microsoft should bring it back!
WMC was brilliant, MS should definitely bring it back, even as a paid upgrade
I still use WMC to record and stream live tv to kodi. I'd pay to have WMC back in windows 10.
I've read that there is a way to actually get it to work on W10. I haven't tried it yet.
same I read wmc works in windows 10 but you have to use some sort of paid plug-in to make the EPG work
No paid plug-in necessary. mydigitallife
*Off topic rant here . . . how crappy is it that I have to use Chrome to make this reply? The Creator's Update really messed up Edge.
I have the same problem, I have to use my Android tablet to come to the site because of this sites encoding problems.... So stupid.
They've lost the code. The current crop can't pen that code.
WMC offers the cleanest looking epg not to mention when you use mychannellogos for channel logos and mcebuddy to compress your show recordings, auto cut commercials and automatically putting the finished converted files in kodi's tv show folder so next time you open kodi it adds it to your library. WMC and their addons offer IMO the best experience. I set it up once and I've been running it for years.
I agree!! I was able to find a way to install windows media center in windows 10. However I can't install the latest builds of Windows 10 because it gets removed.
How to get Windows Media Center on Windows 10!! Guys I tried posting a long but it won't let me.. bit how to geek has an article that's you how to do it..Just Google how to geek and wmc to windows 10 and you will find it
I tried Kodi as a possible replacement for Windows Media Center and i have to say it is the worst experience of setting up software i have ever experienced. The whole Front End/Back End Server setup was a complete bust, following the instructions made no difference and understanding the Kodi Wiki was like trying to understand the poorly constructed instructions that comes with flat pack furniture.
Windows Media Center however is very intuitive, easy to setup and configure and does exactly what it says on the tin. I think the way Microsoft ended support for it by not including it in Windows 10 was down to the lack of willing to part with funds and man power to update the application.
I still use the app via Windows 8.1 Pro as my source for recorded tv, i have used it since 2005 and will continue to do so. Microsoft could have included this into Windows 10 without affecting the overall experience but i guess this is one of the reasons Microsoft pulled DVR developement from Xbox One. MS always seem to can good apps.
I use it on 8.1 too but like all MS offerings, it can feel like an insider beta program.
To add new music, you have to reset/reinstall Windows because the new songs appear without tags as unknown artist.. Unknown album.
I think it might be a media player library that fails to expand once the initial music folder is added.
I don't remember this being an issue in 7.
When you play live TV, aspect ratio reverts to zoom1 on DVD-T2 but on satellite it keeps the setting.
But we can all agree, there's no one alive who can offer anything equal to WMC.
Not even the current Microsoft team of engineers.
Google and Apple admit they cannot code on that level.