Built-in Web Player
rtp2httpd includes a modern web-based player that allows you to watch configured M3U channel lists directly in your browser without installing any client software.
Access
After configuring M3U playlists, access the player via your browser:
http://server:port/playerExample:
http://192.168.1.1:5140/playerThe player page path can be customized via the player-page-path configuration option. Setting it to / enables direct access without any path.
Features
- Channel List: Automatically loads configured M3U channel lists
- Live Streaming: Watch live broadcasts directly in the browser
- Time-Shifted Playback: Supports EPG (Electronic Program Guide) and time-shifted playback (requires catchup source)
- Fast Startup: Achieves millisecond-level channel switching with FCC
- Responsive Design: UI adapts to both desktop and mobile devices
- Zero Overhead: Pure web frontend implementation with virtually no resource overhead on rtp2httpd (no decoding/transcoding overhead)
IMPORTANT
The player relies on the browser's native decoding capabilities. Some encoding formats (such as E-AC3) may not play in certain browsers (manifested as no audio or black screen). We recommend using the latest versions of Chrome, Edge, or Safari.
MP2 Audio Software Decoding
Most IPTV HD and SD channels use MPEG-1 Layer 2 (MP2) audio encoding. Some browsers (such as iOS Safari) do not natively support MP2 decoding, causing programs to fail to play or play with video only (no audio).
The player has built-in MP2 audio software decoding capability:
- iOS Safari: Enabled by default. Testing shows most programs can now play normally.
- Other browsers: Disabled by default. You can manually enable the "MP2 Audio Software Decoding" option by clicking the sidebar settings button.
NOTE
Audio software decoding relies on browser Web Workers and WebAssembly for background decoding, which consumes some computational resources and may cause slight heating on mobile devices — this is normal. Additionally, due to browser limitations, background playback on mobile devices is not supported when using software decoding.
Channel Aggregation
When multiple channels with the same group and same name exist in the M3U, the player automatically aggregates them into multiple sources of one channel, displaying them only once in the channel list. Users can switch between different sources (such as different quality levels) using the source selector:
If a source URL has a $label suffix, the player extracts it as the source's display label (such as "UHD", "HD", "SD"). Sources without $label are displayed with sequential numbers (such as "Source 1", "Source 2").
NOTE
Channel aggregation is a frontend feature of the built-in web player, not a server-side behavior of rtp2httpd. Whether third-party players (such as APTV, TiviMate, etc.) support similar aggregated display depends on their own implementation. The rtp2httpd server only parses $label, generates independent service paths, and preserves $label in the converted M3U.
For M3U configuration of source labels, see M3U Playlist Integration.
Time Placeholders
The built-in web player supports the following time placeholder formats, which can be used in M3U catchup-source URLs:
${} Format (uses long format)
| Placeholder | Description | Example Output |
|---|---|---|
${utc} | Program start time (UTC, ISO8601 format) | 2025-01-15T10:30:45.000Z |
${utc:yyyyMMddHHmmss} | Program start time (UTC, custom long format) | 20250115103045 |
${utcend} | Program end time (UTC, ISO8601 format) | 2025-01-15T12:30:45.000Z |
${utcend:yyyyMMddHHmmss} | Program end time (UTC, custom long format) | 20250115123045 |
${start} | Same as ${utc} | 2025-01-15T10:30:45.000Z |
${start:yyyyMMddHHmmss} | Same as ${utc:yyyyMMddHHmmss} | 20250115103045 |
${end} | Same as ${utcend} | 2025-01-15T12:30:45.000Z |
${end:yyyyMMddHHmmss} | Same as ${utcend:yyyyMMddHHmmss} | 20250115123045 |
${lutc} | Current time (UTC, ISO8601 format) | 2025-01-15T14:00:00.000Z |
${lutc:yyyyMMddHHmmss} | Current time (UTC, custom long format) | 20250115140000 |
${now} | Same as ${lutc} | 2025-01-15T14:00:00.000Z |
${now:yyyyMMddHHmmss} | Same as ${lutc:yyyyMMddHHmmss} | 20250115140000 |
${timestamp} | Current Unix timestamp (seconds) | 1736949600 |
${timestamp:yyyyMMddHHmmss} | Same as ${lutc:yyyyMMddHHmmss} | 20250115140000 |
${(b)yyyyMMddHHmmss} | Program start time (local time, long format) | 20250115183045 |
${(e)yyyyMMddHHmmss} | Program end time (local time, long format) | 20250115203045 |
${(b)yyyyMMdd|UTC} | Program start time (UTC, long format) | 20250115103045 |
${(e)yyyyMMdd|UTC} | Program end time (UTC, long format) | 20250115123045 |
${(b)timestamp} | Program start time Unix timestamp (seconds) | 1736937045 |
${(e)timestamp} | Program end time Unix timestamp (seconds) | 1736944245 |
${yyyy} | Program start time: 4-digit year (local time) | 2025 |
${MM} | Program start time: month 01-12 (local time) | 01 |
${dd} | Program start time: day 01-31 (local time) | 15 |
${HH} | Program start time: hour 00-23 (local time) | 18 |
${mm} | Program start time: minute 00-59 (local time) | 30 |
${ss} | Program start time: second 00-59 (local time) | 45 |
${duration} | Program duration (seconds) | 7200 |
{} Format (uses short format)
| Placeholder | Description | Example Output |
|---|---|---|
{utc} | Program start time (UTC, ISO8601 format) | 2025-01-15T10:30:45.000Z |
{utc:YmdHMS} | Program start time (UTC, custom short format) | 20250115103045 |
{utcend} | Program end time (UTC, ISO8601 format) | 2025-01-15T12:30:45.000Z |
{utcend:YmdHMS} | Program end time (UTC, custom short format) | 20250115123045 |
{start} | Same as {utc} | 2025-01-15T10:30:45.000Z |
{start:YmdHMS} | Same as {utc:YmdHMS} | 20250115103045 |
{end} | Same as {utcend} | 2025-01-15T12:30:45.000Z |
{end:YmdHMS} | Same as {utcend:YmdHMS} | 20250115123045 |
{lutc} | Current time (UTC, ISO8601 format) | 2025-01-15T14:00:00.000Z |
{lutc:YmdHMS} | Current time (UTC, custom short format) | 20250115140000 |
{now} | Same as {lutc} | 2025-01-15T14:00:00.000Z |
{now:YmdHMS} | Same as {lutc:YmdHMS} | 20250115140000 |
{timestamp} | Current Unix timestamp (seconds) | 1736949600 |
{timestamp:YmdHMS} | Same as {lutc:YmdHMS} | 20250115140000 |
{(b)YmdHMS} | Program start time (local time, short format) | 20250115183045 |
{(e)YmdHMS} | Program end time (local time, short format) | 20250115203045 |
{(b)YmdHMS|UTC} | Program start time (UTC, short format) | 20250115103045 |
{(e)YmdHMS|UTC} | Program end time (UTC, short format) | 20250115123045 |
{(b)timestamp} | Program start time Unix timestamp (seconds) | 1736937045 |
{(e)timestamp} | Program end time Unix timestamp (seconds) | 1736944245 |
{Y} | Program start time: 4-digit year (local time) | 2025 |
{m} | Program start time: month 01-12 (local time) | 01 |
{d} | Program start time: day 01-31 (local time) | 15 |
{H} | Program start time: hour 00-23 (local time) | 18 |
{M} | Program start time: minute 00-59 (local time) | 30 |
{S} | Program start time: second 00-59 (local time) | 45 |
{duration} | Program duration (seconds) | 7200 |
Format Description
Long Format: Used for custom formats in ${} brackets
yyyy- 4-digit yearMM- 2-digit month (01-12)dd- 2-digit day (01-31)HH- 2-digit hour (00-23)mm- 2-digit minute (00-59)ss- 2-digit second (00-59)
Example: ${utc:yyyyMMddHHmmss} → 20250115103045
Short Format: Used for custom formats in {} brackets
Y- 4-digit yearm- 2-digit month (01-12)d- 2-digit day (01-31)H- 2-digit hour (00-23)M- 2-digit minute (00-59)S- 2-digit second (00-59)
Example: {utc:YmdHMS} → 20250115103045
Related Documentation
- M3U Playlist Integration: M3U configuration and source labels
- FCC Fast Channel Change Setup: Enable millisecond-level channel switching
- Configuration Reference: Player-related configuration parameters