Credit: Jack Mitchell/MakeUseOf

Thanks to Plex, I have recently rekindled my relationship with my media library and live TV, with on-demand streaming now accounting for only about 50% of my home entertainment. This is saving me a considerable amount of money, as I started canceling my subscriptions one by one.

The only issue I had was that browsing on Plex wasn’t as straightforward as I’d have liked, with too many menus and thumbnails. Having found QuasiTV, all my content is now organized in a linear manner that mimics classic TV menus, but with added flexibility and convenience. This makes sourcing content more enjoyable, and it’s easier to compare picks. Now I have the best of both worlds—a live TV interface with all my favorite movies and TV shows.

QuasiTV

OS Android

Developer GoneMad Software

Pricing model Free

The QuasiTV app transforms your personal media library (from Plex, Emby, or Jellyfin) into a dynamic, live-TV-style experience by automatically creating “channels” that run 24/7. It features an intuitive guide for Android TV and Fire TV devices, allowing you to browse and watch your streaming collection as if it were scheduled broadcast programming.

The concept behind QuasiTV

QuasiTV turns your flat media library into an interactive experience

QuasiTV’s appeal lies in its reintroduction of “channel surfing” to my own content. It automatically generates channels from my recently curated Plex library, which are organized by studio and network for TV and by genre for movies. It then creates a full 24-hour schedule that updates every 15 minutes. This means that rather than actively choosing something to watch, I can passively scroll through “channels” and stumble on something that I’ve either forgotten or didn’t know I had.

One of my chief complaints with on-demand streaming was the endless scrolling through content, much of which I’d already seen, and suffering from “choice paralysis.” Now, I can effortlessly flick through my own curated collection and let QuasiTV help me make a selection.

So far, I am happy to let QuasiTV make selections for me, but customization options are available that allow you to define your own channels. The app handles everything else, including episode order, block lengths ranging from one to four episodes, and continuous play. These create a feeling that you’re watching a mash-up of a scheduled broadcast and your own media.

Installing QuasiTV on Plex is quick and easy

The app works with a range of devices and platforms

QuasiTV can be loaded onto an Android TV device via the Google Play Store or installed on a Fire TV Stick through the Amazon Appstore. Once installed, the steps are straightforward:

1. Log in to your Plex account: Ensure you’re connected and that your library is indexed correctly before linking QuasiTV. The app also integrates with other platforms, including Emby and Jellyfin servers. Connect QuasiTV to your Plex server: Open the QuasiTV app and follow the on-screen instructions to connect it to your Plex server. Wait for QuasiTV to generate channels: The app will automatically create channels based on the metadata from your Plex library (such as TV show studios/networks and movie genres). Customize your channels: If preferred, you can create up to 10 custom channels (such as “Sci-Fi Movies” or “Classic Sitcoms”) on QuasiTV for free, or purchase a premium version for unlimited custom channels.

You can now start flicking through the generated channel guide and enjoy watching your Plex content.

Ensure you perform some basic housekeeping within Plex, including cleaning up metadata and correcting any inaccurate information. This will help QuasiTV categorize your channels properly.

QuasiTV might not be for everyone

The platform takes you out of the driver’s seat and has its limitations

QuasiTV certainly has some compelling features, but it might not be a perfect fit for every user. I like the fact that it helps alleviate the tedium of flicking through media and trying to decide what to watch. However, this does have one significant downside: it removes an element of control over your viewing habits.

If you have become used to, or prefer, the format of TV on demand, then you may find that QuasiTV’s suggestion-based interface is limiting. I also found that it stumbled when organizing my shows, with a few repeats here and there and blocks that were not properly curated (although this could be down to my poor organization).

Lastly, if your media library isn’t extensive, you may feel that the live TV format looks artificial with fewer titles to surf through. In this instance, the regular Plex interface is likely the better option.

QuasiTV offers plenty of flexibility and control if you want it

If you don’t mind tinkering with your preferences, then QuasiTV has plenty of customization and provides sufficient control to mitigate most issues. I found that its ability to create custom playlists, edit pre-made channels, and set up multiple profiles meant that I’m not locked into a single auto-generated schedule, and scrolling did indeed become less of a chore.

As someone who grew up in the age of scheduled broadcasting, it’s apparent to me that we are now bombarded with content, and this is both a blessing and a curse (although I still regularly tune into free Live TV platforms). By reformatting my content into live-style channels, QuasiTV adds a layer of nostalgia to my entertainment, while maintaining modern flexibility.

Provided you have a well-organized library and are willing to make some adjustments here and there, QuasiTV might be the media player that you never knew you needed.