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Documentation Index

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Tunarr is a self-hosted application that transforms your existing media libraries into live TV channels. Connect Plex, Jellyfin, Emby, or local files — then schedule, broadcast, and watch them just like real TV, complete with an electronic program guide, filler content, and hardware-accelerated transcoding.

Installation

Install Tunarr via Docker, standalone binary, or Proxmox LXC

Initial Setup

Connect your first media source and configure FFmpeg

Channels

Create and manage virtual TV channels with your media

Scheduling

Use time slots, shuffle tools, and mid-roll breaks to build a real TV schedule

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What is Tunarr?

Tunarr assembles your movies, TV episodes, and music videos into continuous, schedule-driven channels. Each channel loops forever, with its own EPG data, logo, and transcode settings. Clients see Tunarr as a standard HDHomeRun network tuner or an M3U IPTV source — no special plugins required.

Media Sources

Plex, Jellyfin, Emby, and local libraries

Library

Filler, custom shows, and smart collections

API Reference

REST API for automation and integration

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Quick Start

1

Install Tunarr

Run Tunarr with Docker Compose — it includes a bundled FFmpeg build:
docker-compose.yml
services:
  tunarr:
    image: chrisbenincasa/tunarr:latest
    container_name: tunarr
    ports:
      - 8000:8000
    environment:
      - TZ=America/New_York
    volumes:
      - ./tunarr-data:/config/tunarr
    restart: unless-stopped
Then run docker compose up -d. Tunarr will be available at http://localhost:8000.
2

Connect a media source

Navigate to Settings → Sources and add your Plex, Jellyfin, or Emby server — or point to a local media directory. See Media Sources for detailed instructions.
3

Create a channel

Go to Channels → New and give your channel a name and number. Then open the Programming tab to add shows and movies from your connected libraries.
4

Start watching

Add Tunarr’s M3U URL to your IPTV client, or use the built-in HDHomeRun discovery in Plex or Jellyfin. The web-based TV guide is available at http://localhost:8000/guide.

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Key Features

HDHomeRun Tuner Emulation

Tunarr spoofs an HDHomeRun tuner so Plex, Jellyfin, and Emby discover your channels automatically via network scan.

M3U / IPTV Output

Export M3U playlists and XMLTV EPG data for use with Tivimate, Threadfin, xTeVe, Dispatcharr, or any IPTV player.

Advanced Scheduling

Time slots, random slots, block and cyclic shuffle, mid-roll commercial breaks — build a schedule that feels like real broadcast TV.

Hardware Transcoding

Nvidia NVENC, VAAPI, Intel QuickSync, and macOS VideoToolbox keep CPU usage low on capable hardware.

Filler & Flex Content

Fill gaps with commercials, bumpers, station IDs, or music videos. Filler is inserted automatically at scheduled flex time.

REST API

Automate channel management, programming updates, and guide queries with Tunarr’s documented HTTP API.

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