I basically gave up on finding a custom ROM for this TV so I’m looking for alternative TV apps to at least change the default app. Do you know if there is an app like this exist? It should work with satellite, I’m not looking for IPTV or streaming services, just something that supports plain satellite TV.

Edit: Currently experimenting with KODI, no luck yet though. If you also have suggestions regarding to it, I’m all ears.

Edit 2: KODI (and so Jellyfin, Plex etc.) needs a backend server for Live TV so add-ons alone won’t work. According to KODI Wiki, currently there are no backends that work on Android. I also tried Google’s older app called Live Channels but Google doesn’t let you to run it because it’s old more useful.

Edit 3: I at least blocked all of those ad streaming domains on pi-hole. Here is the regex I added to my blacklist. Maybe it will be useful for another poor soul who bought TCL TV.

^(.*\.)?(leiniao\.com|b-cdn\.net|now\.amagi\.tv|huan\.tv|rttv\.com|kaltura\.com|cloudfront\.net|plex\.tv|otteravision\.com|ads\.ottera\.tv|sofast\.tv|akamaized\.net|jwplayer\.com|fuelmedia\.io|molotov\.tv|mcncdndigital\.com|evrideo\.tv|aniview\.com|partytymestreaming\.com)$

  • k1ck455kc@sh.itjust.works
    4·
    1 day ago

    With my android tv I put the main menu in “Apps Only” mode to cut down on the ads… There is still the main screen ad you cannot avoid but thats it.

    Then i sideloaded SmartTube, which is youtube but it skips the ads for you.

    I also have a Plex server i stream from.and update by torrenting shows to the server separately when theyre interesting enough. This takes more time and effort but is definitely worth it to have control over your media.

    • muhyb@programming.devOP
      1·
      1 day ago

      There are no ads in the UI (thanks to launcher) but the problem is not the ads. There are ad TVs in between the TV channels list, which you can switch to satellite list to lose them but it’s not a default behaviour so every time you had to do this, which is not convenient. I also sideloaded SmartTube but was hoping to find an alternative to default TV app as well.

      • k1ck455kc@sh.itjust.works
        2·
        1 day ago

        Oh sorry for misunderstanding. Its difficult to fathom watching scheduled programs anymore, but old habits do die hard. Best of luck to you.

        • muhyb@programming.devOP
          1·
          1 day ago

          Yeah they do. :) Personally I don’t watch TV at all when I’m alone but this is my mother’s TV. Also no problem! And thanks!