IPTV device to record Roku streams?

[bufulo]

I'm completely new to this IPTV stuff.  It seems really simple from all the searching I've done but I can't get anything to work so I must be missing something really basic.

So I have a Roku TV.  I watch OTA ATSC channels and streaming video (of which there are tons of channels) - all free.  I have a HTPC with NextPVR set up to record shows from the same OTA channels.  I set this up last year and haven't messed with (or even watched anything via the HTPC) until recently.  I had to mess with the EPG a bit to get it working again but it now seems to be working just fine.  I'd like to be able to use NextPVR to record shows from some of the same streaming channels I watch on my Roku TV - maybe half a dozen shows from half a dozen channels.

How can I find the M3U and EPG or whatever and set up NextPVR to record the shows I'm interested in?

Most of the searching I've done results in nothing but what appear to be scams, pirate crap, etc.  I pay nothing to watch them on the Roku TV, so I assume there must be a way to set up that stream on my HTPC and DVR using NextPVR but I'm going nuts trying to figure it out.  When I first played around with NextPVR a few years ago, I had this working somehow but am completely unable to get it working again.  Did I just get lucky and found working M3U and EPG information back then?  What am I missing?  Why is something that's totally free and seemingly so simple, so difficult to get good information about?  Does it have something to do with the stream providers only getting ad revenue if I use the Roku?  Does Roku collect viewing information and send it to the stream providers so they can charge the advertisers or what?  I seriously have no clue how any of this works!  Help!

[mvallevand]

You aren't missing anything, because IPTV is generally "don't ask don't tell" for the reason you mentioned. Networks even the biggest networks don't want to provide their streams for free and some of them charge Roku to distribute their channel s.

There are tons of quasi legal streams on github though and iptv-org is a a good starting point but these may not be static but they even have lists for some Roku streams. They also may have some EPG.

Beyond that from me that is as far as I go supporting IPTV providers.

Martin

[bufulo]

I've been to so many GitHub sites including the one you mention.  I'm sure if I keep messing with it, I'll get it figured out again.  I know it wasn't easy finding information last time I messed with it but I did get like a bazillion channels with EPGs working back then after just a few hours of reading.  Maybe I just got lucky.  I think I deleted that configuration back then because I simply didn't want or need so many channels and I thought it would be simple to set up just the few channels I wanted again when I finally had more time.  Like I said, I just want a few and none of them are well-known paid channels.  Every single one is available for free either via a Roku streaming channel or Roku app.

So is Roku collecting viewing information so that the stream providers get ad revenue?

Why can't the providers simply keep track of what they are supplying and request ad revenue directly themselves?  Is it a matter of trust or are there no mechanisms built into the streaming infrastructure to account for things this way?

Is there someplace I can read more about the very basics of how all this works?  I think if I could find such a place, it would make more sense.  I'm tired of all the pop-ups and xxx garbage!  What are the best search terms to find legitimate information on this stuff?

[bufulo]

Doh.  I just realized that Roku must be inserting the ads into the streams because I recall seeing local ads.  So Roku gets paid for this ad servicing and in turn pays the content providers (the streaming service or whatever)?  I guess I'm just getting a little slow in my old age!  It's starting to make a lot more sense...