Stream fails in Channels app and Chrome but works in VLC

Channels DVR Server Troubleshooting
#1

Recently IPTV streams quit working in the Channels app and the Channels web player but they work fine in VLC. They are .ts streams sourced from an MTU, all that I've been using for quite a while. A few days ago when this started, I force updated to Pre-Release code and that seemed to fix the issue. Now, however, the issue is back. Was support for these streams removed/broken in the code base?

Here's a sample of the error:
2026/04/23 16:30:34.924851 [ERR] Could not start stream for [M3U_Filename] ch2109 [Channel Name]: M3U: GET: https://xxx.xxx.com/live/[user]/[password]/20324.ts: 461

I'm unaware of any changes to my setup/config.

Any help would be appreciated!

#2

What is an MTU?

Is your custom source in Channels DVR set to Stream Format: MPEG-TS

#3

I mean, I'm using a local MPEG-TS stream off an M3U and it's just fine.

That is quite strange because this is the second report of this today.

#4

It is. There are some entries in the log that refer to HLS like
[ERR] Failed to start stream for...
[HLS] Couldn't generate stream playlist for...
[HLS] Stopping transcoder session...

The content its MPEG so there shouldn't be anything related to HLS, right? My understanding is that it's an either/or and all of my sources are MPEG.

Thanks!

#5

Sorry, M3U not MTU.

#6

One other note, I've tried with and without VPN and I get the same behavior. Pasting the stream into VLC works fine. Other streaming clients also seem to work (like Tivimate, Emby, etc).

#7

MPEG-TS means it's an MPEG Transport Stream format
HLS means it's a HTTP Live Streaming format

What Channels DVR version are you running?

#8

So am I.
But it's local using http, not https and I don't supply a username and password as part of the url.

#9

Streams fail in Vivaldi for me as well. There is some sort of bug with Chromium.

Streams also fail on my Nvidia Shield but are fine on my Apple TV and in a WebKit based browser. I've been reporting the Nvidia Shield issue for ages but it hasn't really gotten resolved so I just am using an Apple TV.

#10

But that's a different issue. A client side issue.
It doesn't result in an error being logged in the DVR trying to get the stream.

#11

When using these types of streams, it is helpful to use either m3u-editor or someting that can properly manage your meu.
I also use a built in proxy included with my m3u editor
Have you looked at the codec details in VLC?
Some of these iptv streams are at odd bit rates and may not play properly in some applications.
I've got all my third party streams setup through m3u-editor where i can grab my desired content but i can view the stream within m3u-editor before it hits SLM and channels.
i'm sure the problem has to do with the format of the stream being provided.

thanks

#12

I'll check that out but if Channels app is just running on top of chromium then perhaps it's a comparability issue there. Especially since other platforms are working fine and the streams didn't change recently (to my knowledge). Would be great if someone can positively ID the issue and fix it...I'm dead in the water for now...

#13

You still haven't said what DVR version you're running, or what Channels app is failing.
I'm assuming any Channels app will fail if the DVR server can't source the stream.
None of the Channels Client apps run on top of Chromium.

The developers don't support using IPTV providers, so you're pretty much on your own there without providing more details.

1 Like
#14

Yes, my fault I should have included the version. It's 2026.04.23.0705. Running the app on both Apple TV and Google TV Streamer fail. I can add those versions a little later when I'm home. As I said, everything else can source the stream, including other apps on the same server running Channels server. It's isolated to the Channels apps (web, Google TV, Apple TV) as far as I can tell.

#15

The error you posted is from the DVR trying to get the stream from your IPTV provider so the Channels Client apps can watch it. If the DVR can't get the stream, no Channels client will be able to watch it since they all get it from the DVR, not directly from your IPTV provider.

Do all, or some, or just one channel from that IPTV provider fail for you?
Do they offer any HLS streams that work?

#16

You were sharing a .ts link, but those errors say HLS, are you sure you have MPEG-TS selected?

#17

The DVR says [HLS] in the log whether a stream is MPEG-TS or HLS.

#18

Yes, I triple checked because I figured it was just as likely I made the mistake...but this time I did it right lol. I'll remove and re-add the source later and see if it changes anything. I appreciate everyone trying to help.

#19

In all honesty, you might have better results with a more legitimate source, no offense.

I find the HDMI encoder route tends to work pretty well with a couple Android boxes. I have not run into any reliability issues that way.

Is it possible the source is having an issue?

#20

Is there anything in the log after the digits 461 ?
Maybe an error message explaining why a 461 error.