Hectic TVFeatures
Device
by device.
The whole thing,
in your hand.
- Five tabs on iPhoneHome, Live TV, Guide, Movies & Series, Search. iPad adds a sidebar with Multiview and Settings.
- Multiview (Pro)Up to four channels. Tap one to hear it, long-press for full screen.
- Picture in PicturePlus background audio with the screen locked.
- Live Activity (iPhone)The channel that’s on, on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island.
- Widgets and ControlsFavourite Channels widget. Resume control for Control Centre, Lock Screen or the Action button.
- Remote for Apple TVChannels, number pad, sleep timer and a keyboard for Apple TV search.
- Focus filtersPick what lists, guide and Home show in each Focus.
- Spotlight and HandoffFind channels from system search. Start on iPhone, carry on on iPad or Mac.
- Background refreshPlaylists and the guide update while the app is closed, when iOS allows.
- Cinema Mode (HomeKit)Opt in: dim chosen lights or run a scene when playback starts.
Made for
the sofa.
- Big cardsLive TV, Guide, Movies & Series laid out for the Siri Remote.
- Top ShelfContinue Watching and favourite channels on the Apple TV Home Screen.
- Your iPhone as keyboard or remoteOr your iPad, or your Apple Watch.
- A library per personEach tvOS user gets their own My List and history.
- Locked groups are hiddenParental locks apply on the big screen too.
A Mac app.
Not a big phone.
- SidebarHome, Live TV, Guide, Movies & Series, Multiview, Search and Settings.
- Menu bar mini playerControl what’s playing without opening the window.
- Multiview (Pro)Four channels side by side.
- Keyboard shortcutsTabs, search, refresh, play, channels, last channel, Picture in Picture.
- Sleep timerIn the Playback menu.
On your wrist.
- Favourites, with what’s onSynced from iCloud.
- Remote for Apple TVPlay, pause, channel up and down, tap a favourite to switch.
- Remote for iPhoneThe same controls for Hectic TV on your paired iPhone.
Say the
channel’s name.
- “Play BBC One on Hectic TV”Any channel name from your own playlist.
- “What’s on Sky Sports in Hectic TV”What’s on now.
- “Continue watching on Hectic TV”Back into your film or episode.
- “Resume last channel on Hectic TV”The last channel.
- Films, search, My List“Play the film … on Hectic TV”, “Search Hectic TV”, “Open my list in Hectic TV”.
- Shortcuts appThe same actions, for your own automations. English phrases only for now.
The core.
- SourcesXtream Codes, M3U and M3U8 links and files, Jellyfin, single streams, local video, sample films, Free Films & Cartoons.
- GuideXMLTV including .xml.gz, matched by tvg-id or name. Extra guide addresses, Time Shift, reminders, Catch Up and Start Over.
- PlaybackHLS, MP4 and MKV (repackaged on device). Xtream .ts tried as HLS. Reconnects, and fails over to the same channel in another playlist.
- PlayerMini guide, Jump to Live, channel numbers, last channel, sleep timer, swipe to change channel, logo on screen.
- Films and seriesPosters, seasons, resume, Skip Intro, Next Episode, trailers in YouTube’s official player.
- DiscoverySmart rows from your playlist, Networks, Countries, smart search, My List, Because You Liked.
- LanguagesThe app in 37 languages. Preferred audio and subtitle languages; subtitle size and background.
- ConnectionData Saver on mobile data and hotspots, a Stream on Mobile Data switch, a speed test.
- Sync (Pro)Playlists, favourites, locks and history in your own private iCloud.
- Safety and privacyParental PIN, adult lock on by default, Face ID app lock. Data Not Collected.
- Ally, in the appAn on-device assistant where Apple Intelligence is available.
Not released.
No dates.
Not planned at all: Chromecast (Hectic TV uses AirPlay) and video on CarPlay (Apple doesn’t allow it).
- 01
Hectic TV for the webPreview
A browser version of the player is in preview at watch.hectictv.app. It plays your own M3U and Xtream playlists. It isn’t a finished release, and Pro purchases aren’t available there yet.
- 02
Apple Vision ProPlanned
Builds for visionOS in our code. Not on the App Store yet.
- 03
Android, Android TV and Fire TVPlanned
In development. Not on Google Play or the Amazon Appstore yet. The first version covers playlists, Xtream Codes, the guide and playback.
- 04
Samsung, LG and Hisense TVs, Windows, RokuPlanned
Early versions for Tizen, webOS, VIDAA, Windows and Roku exist in our code. None is in a store.
- 05
CarPlay, for listeningPlanned
Favourites and groups as audio in the car. Ready in code, waiting on Apple’s CarPlay audio permission. No video: Apple doesn’t allow it.
- 06
Siri in more languagesPlanned
Siri phrases are English only today. The rest of the app is in 37 languages.
Hectic TV is a media player only. It doesn’t include, sell or recommend any channels, playlists or streams; the only content it offers itself is five openly licensed sample films and public-domain titles from the Internet Archive. Add only content you have the right to watch.