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Getting Started with Windows

In this guide, you set up ErsatzTV Next on Windows, create a channel from a folder of your own videos, and watch it in a web browser.

To run ErsatzTV Next on Windows, you need the following tools:

ErsatzTV Next
Download the windows-x64 zip from the latest release to run ErsatzTV Next

Download ErsatzTV Next

FFmpeg
Download a compatible FFmpeg version

Download FFmpeg

warning

Don't put the installation folder or the config folder in a folder that OneDrive syncs. On many PCs this includes Desktop, Documents and Pictures. ErsatzTV Next writes video segments into the config folder constantly while a channel plays, and OneDrive syncing breaks it. If OneDrive manages your Documents folder, use a folder like C:\ErsatzTV instead.

Installation Folder​

Download and extract all executable files into a single installation folder. This folder must contain:

  • ersatztv.exe
  • ersatztv-channel.exe
  • ersatztv-playout-generator.exe
  • ffmpeg.exe
  • ffprobe.exe

Windows Installation Folder

Config Folder​

Next, create a folder to store the ErsatzTV Next configuration files. In this guide, the folder ErsatzTV is created under the user's Documents folder, for example:

C:\Users\Jason\Documents\ErsatzTV

At this point, the config folder should be empty.

Windows Config Folder

Create a channel​

After preparing the installation folder and creating the config folder, use the ErsatzTV Next CLI to create a channel.

Right click a blank area in the installation folder and select Open in Terminal. Paste the following command, replacing Jason with your Windows username, then press [enter].

.\ersatztv.exe add-lineup "C:\Users\Jason\Documents\ErsatzTV\lineup.json" --channels 1

This command produces no output, but it creates several files and folders in the config folder.

Windows Create Channel Terminal

Windows Create Channel Folder

Add content to the channel​

After creating the channel, the next step is to add content. In the same terminal, paste the following command.

Replace Jason with your Windows username. Also replace C:\Users\Jason\Videos with a folder containing your media.

.\ersatztv-playout-generator.exe --lineup "C:\Users\Jason\Documents\ErsatzTV\lineup.json" --channel 1 --content-folder "C:\Users\Jason\Videos"

This command outputs the name of a generated file that tells the channel what content to play and when to play it.

Windows Add Content Terminal

Start the server​

Start the ErsatzTV Next server so clients can watch the channel.

.\ersatztv.exe "C:\Users\Jason\Documents\ErsatzTV\lineup.json"

This command confirms that the channel loaded successfully. Windows may also prompt you to Allow connections through the Windows Firewall.

Windows Start Server Terminal

Watch the channel​

You can now watch the channel using any compatible HLS player.

For quick verification, you can use the following web-based player, assuming the default configuration values have not been changed. The link is preconfigured to load the channel automatically.

hls.js demo

Windows Watch Channel

Stop the server​

When you are finished watching the channel and want to stop the server, focus the terminal window and press [ctrl]+c.