Believe it or not, a LOT of people really want this. It’s a lot to do with “choice paralysis”. They can’t choose what to watch, but they want to watch something. I’ve gotta admit I’d like to just be able to go to a sci-fi channel and watch something random.
I’ve been using an app called Coax (Apple only, which will disappoint some) to do this with my Plex library and it’s glorious. Beautiful retro styled schedule grid, automated channel/schedule creation, even has a weather channel with Jazz playing. I’m rediscovering stuff that’s been sitting idle on my server for years because it’s just fun to see what’s “on” and be like, ‘Oh yeah, let’s check that out for a few minutes’ and then I end up watching the whole thing.
The problem I have with most of these services is that every channel is too hyper-specific, often literally just playing a single show or, at best, 2-3 shows but in multi-hour blocks. Incredibly lazy IMO.
To me, the appeal of linear terrestrial TV is having channels that show a wide variety of things throughout the day. If I wanted to see 24 hours of non-stop Mr. Bean I’d download them and shuffle the folder.
The second one even does custom ads based on channel content. I would love a plugin that queries random retro ads off the internet. Like you’re watching Star Trek and get an ad for the SNES or Supersoaker when shows have scenes designed around commercials, or between episodes.
Believe it or not, a LOT of people really want this. It’s a lot to do with “choice paralysis”. They can’t choose what to watch, but they want to watch something. I’ve gotta admit I’d like to just be able to go to a sci-fi channel and watch something random.
I’ve been using an app called Coax (Apple only, which will disappoint some) to do this with my Plex library and it’s glorious. Beautiful retro styled schedule grid, automated channel/schedule creation, even has a weather channel with Jazz playing. I’m rediscovering stuff that’s been sitting idle on my server for years because it’s just fun to see what’s “on” and be like, ‘Oh yeah, let’s check that out for a few minutes’ and then I end up watching the whole thing.
I recently discovered that Sling TV has over 500+ live TV free channels. It’s like Pluto or Tubi but way more channels.
https://www.sling.com/freestream
Seems like it is geo-locked or down.
The problem I have with most of these services is that every channel is too hyper-specific, often literally just playing a single show or, at best, 2-3 shows but in multi-hour blocks. Incredibly lazy IMO.
To me, the appeal of linear terrestrial TV is having channels that show a wide variety of things throughout the day. If I wanted to see 24 hours of non-stop Mr. Bean I’d download them and shuffle the folder.
Been meaning to try random Jellyfin plugins that sim tv channels.
https://github.com/binarygeek119/FinTV
https://github.com/DrewThomasson/JellyfinTV
The second one even does custom ads based on channel content. I would love a plugin that queries random retro ads off the internet. Like you’re watching Star Trek and get an ad for the SNES or Supersoaker when shows have scenes designed around commercials, or between episodes.
Netflix already has (had?) a feature that randomly plays something.