TVHeadend 4.3 Playback Issue – Channels Scan Correctly but No Live TV

AliSLR · 2026-07-11T13:11:47+00:00

Hi everyone, I'm new using in Tvheadend and managed to install TVheadend end, I have issue in playback if can some one give me a hint:- Ubuntu Linux : Ubu...

ukn_unknown

AliSLR
please don't change your OS ... frankly I was hoping you can test the branch with your Ubuntu 🙂 .
the branch is: uknunknown/tvheadendtree/dev_transcoding_2026 and development was captured in: tvheadend/tvheadend2117
In order for me to recommend a command I need to know what PC (CPU/motherboard/RAM) you have and what codecs do you plan to use from hardware (assuming you want to enable hardware transcoding). Software transcoding should be available by default. Note that hardware transcoding will require some extra steps that were documented up to Ubuntu 24.04 on https://docs.tvheadend.org/documentation/development/compiling/compiling-tvh-with-vaapi-support/for-lubuntu-24.04 ... so for 26.04 you will have to improvise a little. Simplest way is to rely only on software transcoding for now and enable hardware transcoding later on.

AliSLR

ukn_unknown
Thanks. I will keep my current Ubuntu 26.04 installation and I can test your branch.

Before moving to transcoding changes, I would like to finish isolating the current HTTP streaming/playback issue first, since the DVB input and normal streaming are already working.

Once this issue is resolved, I can continue testing transcoding.

My test machine specifications is my old pc:

OS: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G with Radeon Graphics
Motherboard: MSI A520M-A PRO (MS-7C96)
RAM: 16 GB
GPU: AMD/ATI Cezanne Radeon Vega Series (integrated graphics)
Driver: amdgpu

I will be happy to test your branch after we complete the current investigation.

davep

AliSLR OK thanks, I thought there might be an issue with DNS or name resolution somewhere.

I can't find a definite answer but I suspect that VLC only works with Basic authentication. Can you switch Tvheadend to basic auth and try again?

AliSLR

davep
Confirmed: switching Tvheadend authentication from Digest to Plain fixed the VLC live stream issue.

Before:

Authentication type: Digest
VLC could not play the live HTTP stream.
curl with Digest authentication worked and saved a valid .ts file.

After:

Authentication type: Plain
Same HTTP stream URL opens in VLC and plays correctly.

So it appears VLC has an issue handling Tvheadend Digest authentication for this stream path.

Additional finding:

Changing authentication from Digest to Plain fixed VLC playback. The live HTTP stream now plays correctly in VLC.

However, the built-in TVHeadend browser player still does not work. Clicking the Play button from the TVHeadend web interface does not start playback.

So the current status:

Kodi HTSP: works
PASS profile: works
curl HTTP stream: works
VLC HTTP stream with Plain authentication: works
TVHeadend web interface Play button: still fails

It looks like there may be a separate issue with the TVHeadend web player/ticket handling, not the MPEGTS stream itself.

davep

AliSLR Good to know it now works.

Tvheadend has a new web interface - see https://tvheadend.org/d/9453-tvheadend-web-gui - though rollout of pre-built releases is taking longer than planned and self-build needs a fairly recent OS version. Your problem with the web player may well be fixed in the new version.

davep

AliSLR Apologies the Tvheadend version you're running already has the new web interface (if you've installed the package from Cloudflare or built it yourself). Is your issue with the new interface?

ukn_unknown

AliSLR
transcoding will be required if you are interested on using browser as a client. Browser is not able decode mpeg-ts so pass profile will not work. You have to use one of the predefined profiles starting with 'web-'. My branch is trying to improve the compatibility with browsers. You can test with your setup before (what is now in Master) and test also the branch (for a side by side comparison). No rush ,take your time.

AliSLR

davep
Yes, I am using the web interface that comes with my current TVHeadend build (4.3-2722_g8ddfe2793).

My issue is with playback from the web interface itself:

The GUI loads normally.
Channels, services, and EPG are visible.
Clicking Play from the web interface does not start video/audio.

However:

Kodi using HTSP works.
curl can retrieve the HTTP MPEGTS stream.
The saved .ts file plays correctly in VLC.
VLC live playback works after changing authentication from Digest to Plain.

So the issue appears to be specific to the web interface player/playback path, not the TV stream itself.

davep

AliSLR I've tested with my development box (running 4.3-2719 so a little behind current) and I can reproduce your issue. Using Firefox or Waterfox, the browser opens VLC and plays the content there. However using Chromium or Brave, the internal player opens but does not play - in fact it doesn't contact the server.

davep

AliSLR I've set up a development server on a Raspberry Pi 4 using RaspiOS, and installed Tvheadend 4.3-2723 from the Cloudflare package. This of course has the new UI.

If I open the Electronic Programme Guide and click on a currently-running programme, then from the pop-out menu select Play -> Play in browser, the programme plays in a pop-up window on both Chromium and Firefox provided I select "webtv-vp8-vorbis-webm" profile. If I select Play -> Play in external viewer, on Chromium a full-size player opens in another browser tab but it doesn't work (there is no activity in the Tvheadend log). On Firefox, VLC opens and the programme plays - this may be because I've changed the settings in Firefox.

If I go to Configuration -> Channels and click on the play button, on Chromium the full-size viewer again opens and fails to play. FIREFOX invokes VLC as before.

Sorry I'm out of ideas.

AliSLR

davep
Thank davep you for testing and confirming.

I tested again on my system and my results match yours.

Firefox: playback works correctly.
Chromium: the internal player opens but does not play.

Since you were able to reproduce the same behavior on your development system, it appears this is not specific to my installation or DVB configuration.

Thanks for confirming—it helps narrow the issue down considerably.

AliSLR

davep
Thanks for your hint and follow-up.

I’m still not very familiar with the TVHeadend menus and shortcuts. When I go to the Electronic Programme Guide, I cannot find anything like a “currently running programme” option.

It might be because EPG data is not available for the particular FTA channel I am testing.

I have attached a screenshot of my EPG screen for reference. Perhaps it will help identify if I am looking in the correct place or if something is missing in my configuration.

Thanks again for your help and guidance.

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