View source for MythTV

{{Short description|Free and open source home entertainment application}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox software
| name                   = MythTV
| logo                   = MythTV logo.svg
| screenshot             = MythTV-main menu.png
| caption                = A screenshot of MythTV's main menu in the default theme, Terra
| developer              = Isaac Richards
| released               = {{Start date and age|2002|04|10}}
| latest release version = v35
| latest release date    = {{Start date and age|2025|02|24|df=y}}
| programming language   = [[C (programming language)|C]], [[C++]]
| operating system       = [[Linux]], [[FreeBSD]], [[macOS]], [[Windows]] <small>(playback only)</small>
| genre                  = [[Digital video recorder]]
| license                = [[GNU General Public License|GNU GPL]]
| website                = {{URL|https://www.mythtv.org}}
}}

'''MythTV''' is a [[free and open-source]] home entertainment application with a simplified "[[10-foot user interface]]" design for the living room TV. It turns a computer with the necessary hardware into a [[Computer network|network]] [[Streaming media|streaming]]<ref>{{cite web | title = Network – MythTV | url = http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Network}}</ref> [[digital video recorder]], a [[Digital data|digital]] [[multimedia]] home entertainment system, or [[Home theater PC|home theater personal computer]].<ref name="lxf117">{{Citation
 | last = Morrison
 | first = Graham
 | year =2009
 | title =Build the ultimate MythTV box
 | periodical =Linux Format
 | publisher =Future Publishing
 | issue =117
 | pages =56–59
 | url =http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/archives?issue=117
 | access-date =2010-03-04
}}
</ref> It can be considered a [[free and open-source software|free and open-source]] alternative to [[TiVo]]<ref name=post>{{Cite news
| last = Barylick
| first = Chris
| title = MythTV Invades Realm of Cable and TiVo
| newspaper = The Washington Post
| access-date = 2008-08-16
| date = 2006-03-26
| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/25/AR2006032500115.html}}</ref> or [[Windows Media Center]]. It runs on various [[operating system]]s, primarily [[Linux]], [[macOS]], and [[FreeBSD]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Operating_system |title=MythTV operating systems |website=MythTV.org |date=2011-08-12 |access-date=2012-01-10}}</ref>

==History==
The MythTV project was started in April 2002 by Isaac Richards,<ref name=post /> who explained his motivation:<ref>[http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/User_Manual:Introduction User Manual:Introduction], mythtv.org. Retrieved 15 August 2008</ref>

{{cquote|I got tired of the rather low quality [[Cable television|cable]] box that [[AT&T Broadband]] provides with their digital cable service. It's slow to change channels, ridden with ads, and the program guide is a joke. So, I figured it'd be fun to try and build a replacement. Yes, I could have just bought a TiVo, but I wanted to have more than just a [[Digital video recorder|DVR]] – I want a web browser built in, a mail client, maybe some games. Basically, I want the mythical convergence box that's been talked about for a few years now.}}

==Features==
* Pause, skip, and rewind live TV shows
* Completely automatic commercial detection and optional skipping
* Intelligently schedules recordings to avoid conflicts
* Interfaces with [[TV listings|television listing]] sources such as [[XMLTV]] or [[Program and System Information Protocol|PSIP]]
* Interfaces with nonprofit subscription listings service [[Schedules Direct]] in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. Schedules Direct delivers the same [[Tribune Media Services]] listings data that TiVo and other video recorders use.
* Supports [[ATSC Standards|ATSC]], [[QAM (television)|QAM]], [[DMB-T/H]] and [[Digital Video Broadcasting|DVB]] (everything supported by [[LinuxTV]]) [[high-definition television]]
* Supports [[X video extension|Xv]], [[OpenGL]], and [[VDPAU]] video output
* Supports [[H.264]] codec
* Supports [[VP9]] and [[H.265]] codecs as of version 0.28
* A backend server and frontend client architecture, allowing multiple frontend client machines to be remotely served content from one or more backend servers. A single computer can perform as both the frontend client and the backend server.
* Plays recordings at an accelerated or decelerated rate, adjusting the audio pitch as necessary
* Schedule and administer various system functions using a web browser-based interface
* Controls a [[set-top box]] using an infrared remote ([[Infrared blaster|IR blaster]]), or [[IEEE 1394|Firewire]]

===HDTV support===
MythTV is capable of capturing [[HDTV]] streams from any source that will provide unencrypted video. This means broadcast [[ATSC]] and [[Digital Video Broadcasting|DVB]] content, as well as encrypted DVB content when using a tuner with an integrated [[Common Interface|CI]] module. Most U.S. [[Cable television|cable]] and [[Satellite Television|satellite]] providers use encrypted video only accessible through their own [[set-top box]]es. Cable systems may provide some unencrypted [[Quadrature amplitude modulation|QAM]] channels, but these will generally only be local broadcast stations, and not cable programming or premium channels.

OpenCable devices are available to access encrypted content on U.S. cable systems, but as this is a full [[Digital rights management|DRM]] system, and not just [[Conditional access|CA]] like DVB CI, every piece of hardware and software on the playback chain must be tested and licensed by [[CableLabs]]. At current, Windows Media Center is the only DVR software to meet these requirements, and only it, and other software using its recording libraries, can use these devices. In 2010, CableLabs relaxed the DRM restrictions allowing unlicensed devices to record ''copy freely'' content using these devices,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thedigitalmediazone.com/2010/08/15/cablelabs-approves-tuner-sharing-and-copy-freely-drm-free-content/ |title=CableLabs Approves Tuner Sharing and DRM Free Copy Freely Content |date=15 August 2010 |publisher=The Digital Media Zone |access-date=2012-01-10}}</ref> however it is still entirely up to cable operators what content they provide flagged as such.

As an alternative to direct digital capture, one can use an external decoder to receive the channels, and then capture using digital-analog-digital conversion (the [[analog hole]]). A popular means of doing this conversion is to connect the component outputs of a set-top box to the [[Hauppauge Computer Works|Hauppauge]] HD PVR.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html |title=HD PVR Product Description |website=Hauppauge.com |access-date=2012-01-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Hauppauge_HD-PVR |title=Hauppauge HD-PVR – MythTV Official Wiki |website=MythTV.org|access-date=2012-01-10}}</ref>

===Modules===
MythTV's add-on modules (plugins) include:
* '''MythVideo''' plays various video file formats
* '''MythMusic''' a music player, [[jukebox]], collection manager, and CD ripper
* '''MythGallery''' online photo gallery manager
* '''MythNews''' RSS feed news reader
* '''MythWeather''' fetches [[weather forecast]]s – including [[weather radar]] – from the Internet
* '''MythBrowser''' small [[web browser]]
* '''MythGame''' frontend for game console emulators
* '''MythWeb''' controls MythTV from a remote web browser
* '''MythArchive''' DVD burner
* '''MythNetvision''' streaming video player intended primarily for Flash-websites like [[YouTube]]
* '''MythZoneMinder''' frontend interface for a [[ZoneMinder]] system
* '''[[UPnP]]''' AV MediaServer v1.0 compliant server: share media files with UPnP-clients

The base system integrates with its modules. A system can be controlled with an infrared remote control using [[LIRC]], or radio remote control using [[Module (Linux)|kernel modules]].

==Operating systems==
MythTV is available for many operating systems based on Linux or Unix, including Mac OS. The MythTV website distributes only source code, which must be [[Compiler|compiled]] for the desired system; executable programs can be downloaded from various third-party sources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mythtv.org/download |title=Download MythTV |website=MythTV.org |access-date=2013-01-16}}</ref> The software runs on and is officially supported by Microsoft Windows, but {{As of|2013|1|lc=on}} no official executable version was available; there are detailed instructions for compiling for Windows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Windows_Port |title=MythTV on Windows |website=MythTV.org |access-date=2013-01-16}}</ref> All core frontend features work under Windows, including LiveTV, scheduling, and watching recordings, but most plugins do not work without additional patches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions#Does_MythTV_run_on_Windows.3F |title=MythTV FAQ: Does MythTV run on Windows? |website=MythTV.org |access-date=2013-01-16}}</ref>

===Bundles===
Notable projects that include a Linux distribution bundled with MythTV (and associated libraries) are:
* [[FreeBSD]] has several ports to support MythTV
* [[LinHES]] is a [[Live CD|bootCD]] derivative of [[Arch Linux]]. Its MythTV frontend can be run from the CD. An entire installation to the hard disk can be made in minutes.
* [[LinuxMCE]] bundles MythTV with [[Kubuntu]] as the Linux distro, along with the Pluto Home automation suite.
* [[Mythbuntu]] combines [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]] distributions with MythTV. The Ubuntu community has built extensive resources for installing, configuring and troubleshooting MythTV. It was discontinued in 2016.
* [[Ubuntu TV]] integrates MythTV into a television-ready interface (based on the [[Unity (user interface)|Ubuntu Unity]] user interface).
* [[Xebian]] is a distribution of [[Debian]] Linux for the [[Microsoft]] [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] game console and includes MythTV.

==See also==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software|Television}}
* [[Comparison of DVR software packages]]
* [[Home theater PC]]
* [[Infrared blaster]]
* [[List of free television software]]
* [[Schedules Direct]]
* [[Ubuntu TV]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikibooks}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Home theater PC (application software)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Client/server media players]]
[[Category:Free television software]]
[[Category:macOS media players]]
[[Category:Television placeshifting technology]]
[[Category:Television technology]]
[[Category:Television time shifting technology]]
[[Category:Video recording software]]
[[Category:Video software that uses Qt]]