Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Bunny Ears TV, from setup to pricing to the technical details. If your question is not here, reach out through the contact page.
Getting Started
What is Bunny Ears TV?
Bunny Ears TV is an Apple TV app that turns your Plex media library into over 350 virtual TV channels and 68 music stations. It builds a broadcast-style electronic program guide from your own content, so you can channel surf your library the way you used to flip through cable. No new content is streamed to you. Everything that plays comes from your Plex server.
What do I need to use it?
Three things: an Apple TV (4th generation or later running tvOS 17+), a Plex Media Server with content in it, and a Plex account. That is it. There is no Docker setup, no server-side configuration, no IPTV tuner, and no separate hardware. You install the app, sign in with Plex, and your channels populate from your library.
Do I need a Plex Pass?
No. Bunny Ears TV works with free Plex accounts. A Plex Pass is not required for any feature in the app.
How do I set it up?
Install Bunny Ears TV from the App Store on your Apple TV and open it. You will see a QR code and a 4-digit code. Scan the QR code with your phone or enter the code at plex.tv/link to sign in with your existing Plex account. Your servers show up automatically. From there, the app scans your library and generates every channel in about 30 seconds. No IP addresses to look up, no server URLs to type, no settings to configure. The next thing you see is the program guide, fully loaded and ready to go.
Does it work on iPhone or iPad?
Bunny Ears TV is a native tvOS app built specifically for the Apple TV experience. It is not available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or any other platform. That said, the iOS and iPadOS Remote app works with Bunny Ears TV, so you can use your phone or iPad to change channels, navigate the guide, and switch between the guide and full-screen TV.
Does it work with Jellyfin or Emby?
Not yet. Bunny Ears TV currently supports Plex only. Jellyfin support is something being explored for a future update, but there is no timeline to share.
Channels & Content
Where does the content come from?
Entirely from your Plex media library. Bunny Ears TV does not host, stream, or provide any content. Every movie, show, and song that plays on a channel is pulled directly from your Plex server using its API. If something is not in your library, it will not appear on any channel.
How many channels are there?
There are over 350 TV channels organized into 18 packages, plus 68 music stations. Packages include Basic, Kids and Family, Comedy and Fun, Drama and Romance, Action and Sci-Fi, Crime and Mystery, Horror, Documentary, International, Lifestyle and Food, Time Machine, Director's Chair, Star Power, Franchise Zone, Curated and Mood, Niche Genre, Studio Spotlight, and Special Purpose. You choose which packages show up in your guide.
How are channels created?
Each channel is defined by a set of metadata filters that consider genre, required genre, content rating, decade, minimum audience rating, minimum critic rating, keywords, media type, resolution, duration, country of origin, directors, actors, studios, franchise, and unwatched-only flags. When the app connects to your server, it runs those filters against your library and populates each channel with matching content. The filtering engine is deep and precise, so a kids channel will never surface R-rated content, and a horror channel will not drift into romantic comedies.
What kinds of channels are there?
All kinds. There are genre channels (comedy, drama, horror, sci-fi), era channels (80s movies, 90s TV, classic cinema), director channels (Spielberg, Nolan, Tarantino, Scorsese), actor channels (Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep), franchise channels (Marvel, Star Wars, Harry Potter, James Bond), studio channels (A24, Pixar, Studio Ghibli), mood channels (feel good, guilty pleasures, date night), lifestyle channels (cooking, travel, home and DIY), and special purpose channels (4K only, unwatched only, recently added, binge marathons). The full lineup is on the Channel Guide page.
What if a channel is empty?
That just means your library does not have content matching that channel's filters. If you do not own any westerns, the Western channel will have nothing to show. The more content in your library, the more channels come alive. Empty channels are hidden or grayed out in the guide so they do not clutter the experience.
Can I create my own channels?
Not in the current version. All channels are pre-built with curated metadata filters. Custom channel creation is something that could come in a future release.
Can I choose which channel packages appear in the guide?
Yes. You can enable or disable any channel package from the settings. If you only care about comedy and horror, turn those on and everything else stays out of your guide. You can also long press any channel in the guide to quickly filter by package, or favorite specific channels so they are easy to find.
How does the program guide work?
The guide generates a rolling 28-hour schedule for every channel using a seeded deterministic algorithm. That means the schedule is not random. It is consistent, so if you check what is on at 8pm, it will be the same thing whether you look now or later. The guide shows what is currently playing, what is coming up next, and lets you preview any program's metadata before you commit to watching. Media badges in the guide let you know if something supports 4K, HDR, surround sound, or other formats at a glance.
Does it play content from the middle?
Yes. Just like real TV, you tune into whatever is currently airing on a channel. If a movie started an hour ago, you will join it an hour in. That is part of the live TV experience. The guide shows how far into each program you are so you can decide whether to jump in or flip to something else. If you turn on DVR mode, you can also start any program from the beginning.
Music Stations
How do music stations work?
Music stations work the same way as TV channels, but they pull from your Plex music library instead of your movie and TV libraries. Each station is filtered by genre, decade, country, mood, or keyword. If you have a jazz collection in Plex, the Jazz Lounge station will play it. If you do not, it stays empty. There are 68 stations covering everything from rock and hip-hop to K-Pop, ambient, classical, decade mixes, and mood-based stations like Party Mix, Workout Beats, Sleep Sounds, and Morning Coffee.
What audio formats are supported?
Music stations support high-fidelity audio formats including FLAC and Apple Lossless (ALAC), so your collection sounds the way it was meant to. Standard formats like AAC and MP3 are supported as well. Audio format badges show up in the guide so you know what quality you are listening to.
Playback & Streaming
Does it transcode or play locally?
Bunny Ears TV decodes media directly on your Apple TV's hardware instead of relying on your Plex server to transcode. The playback engine is powered by Apple's Metal framework and FFmpeg 8.1, and supports a massive range of video and audio formats. Your server just sends the file and the Apple TV handles the rest. This frees your server to handle other streams and makes playback snappier because everything is processed and cached locally in memory.
Does it support 4K and HDR?
Yes. Full support for 4K, HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, all decoded locally on the Apple TV using Apple's Metal framework. Media badges in the program guide show you which content supports 4K, HDR, surround sound, and other formats before you start watching.
What video formats are supported?
The local playback engine handles a wide range of containers and codecs. MKV, MP4, AVI, HEVC, H.264, VP9, and many more. If your Plex server has it, odds are Bunny Ears TV can play it locally without any transcoding.
What are the DVR controls?
DVR mode is an optional feature you can turn on in settings. When enabled, you can start a show from the beginning even if you tuned in late, rewind to catch something you missed, fast forward through the slow parts, or pause when life interrupts. Because media is decoded and cached locally on the Apple TV, DVR functions are fast and responsive. No waiting on the server, no buffering.
Does it work over the internet or just locally?
Both. Bunny Ears TV works on your local network and over the internet. Family and friends can tune in from anywhere after the Plex server owner enables Remote Access and sends invites through Manage Remote Access in Plex. Everyone gets the same channel lineup and program guide experience.
Will it put a heavy load on my Plex server?
Much less than a typical Plex client. Because Bunny Ears TV decodes media locally on the Apple TV, your server does not need to transcode anything. It just serves the raw file. That means more headroom for other users and other streams. The guide itself is generated client-side from cached metadata, so it does not constantly hit your server either.
What happens when I change channels?
The current stream stops and the new channel begins. Between channels, retro TV static plays instead of a loading spinner, which gives the app its cable TV feel while the next stream loads.
Does it support closed captions and subtitles?
Yes. Full support for closed captions, subtitles, and multiple language tracks. You can choose your preferred subtitle language, switch audio tracks on the fly, and customize how captions appear on screen.
Apple TV & Remote
What Apple TV models are supported?
Bunny Ears TV requires an Apple TV HD (4th generation) or Apple TV 4K running tvOS 17 or later.
Does it work with the Apple TV remote?
Yes. Bunny Ears TV is a native tvOS app built from the ground up for the Apple TV remote. Swipe to browse the guide, click to tune in, and navigate everything with the same fluidity you expect from first-party Apple apps. The entire UI is unit tested, performance tested, and thoroughly thought through for UX.
Can I use my iPhone or iPad as a remote?
Yes. The iOS and iPadOS Remote app (in Control Center) works with Bunny Ears TV, with added functionality like changing channels and jumping between the guide and full-screen TV directly from your phone or iPad.
Pricing & Subscriptions
Is it free?
Partially. Every new user gets a full 14-day free trial of every channel package, no credit card required. After the trial, the Basic package (18 channels covering a broad range of content) stays free forever. Paid plans unlock the full lineup of 350+ channels and 68 music stations.
What are the pricing options?
There are three plans: $1.99/month if you want flexibility, $14.99/year if you want to save over the monthly price, or $29.99 one-time for lifetime access. The lifetime option means you pay once and never again. All plans unlock the same content.
Which channels are free?
The Basic package is always free. It includes 18 channels: The Everything Channel, Prime Time, Fresh Off the Press, The Unwatched Pile, Family Hour, Movie Marquee, Series Central, Quick Bites, Popcorn Classics, The Binge Network, Ultra HD Theater, HD Showcase, Critics' Choice, The Back Catalog, New Millennium, Late Night, Double Feature, and The Shuffle. These cover everything from unfiltered browsing and 4K content to family-friendly programming and binge marathons.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Monthly and yearly subscriptions are managed through your Apple ID and can be cancelled at any time in your Apple TV or iPhone settings. If you cancel, you keep access through the end of your current billing period. Lifetime purchases do not require cancellation since there is nothing recurring.
Is there a family sharing option?
Subscriptions follow standard Apple Family Sharing rules. If you have Family Sharing enabled on your Apple ID, other family members can access your Bunny Ears TV subscription on their own Apple TVs.
Comparisons
How is this different from ErsatzTV, DizqueTV, or Tunarr?
Those are server-side tools that require Docker, manual configuration, and their own infrastructure. They generate IPTV/M3U streams that you then watch in a separate player. Bunny Ears TV is a native Apple TV app with zero server setup. You install it, sign in, and watch. No Docker, no IPTV tuner, no command line. It also decodes media locally on the Apple TV instead of relying on server-side transcoding. The tradeoff is that it only works on Apple TV, while those tools can work with any IPTV-compatible player.
How is this different from Plex's built-in Live TV?
Plex's Live TV feature requires a Plex Pass, a physical TV tuner, and an antenna or cable connection. It streams actual over-the-air broadcasts. Bunny Ears TV does not use a tuner or antenna at all. It creates virtual channels from the content already in your Plex library. They solve completely different problems.
How is this different from just using Plex?
Plex is great for browsing and picking something specific to watch. Bunny Ears TV is for when you want to lean back, flip channels, and see what is on. It adds a program guide, 350+ themed channels, DVR controls, local 4K/Dolby Vision playback, retro static between channels, and the feeling of real television. It is a different experience built on top of the same library.
Technical Details
How much storage does the app use?
The app itself is small. Library metadata is cached locally for fast guide generation, and media is cached in memory during playback for DVR functions and fast seeking. Storage usage on disk is typically in the low tens of megabytes even for very large libraries.
Does it support multiple Plex servers?
Yes. If your Plex account has access to multiple servers (your own plus shared servers from friends or family), they all appear in the app and you can switch between them.
How often does the guide refresh?
The guide uses a rolling 28-hour deterministic schedule that regenerates automatically. When your library changes (new content added, metadata updated), the guide picks up the changes on its next refresh cycle. You can also trigger a manual refresh from settings.
What data does Bunny Ears TV collect?
Bunny Ears TV connects to your Plex server to read library metadata (titles, genres, ratings, durations, artwork). This metadata is cached locally on your Apple TV for guide generation. The app does not collect, store, or transmit your viewing habits, library contents, or personal information to any external server. Authentication is handled entirely through Plex's own OAuth flow.
Does it phone home?
The app communicates with Plex's API (for authentication and server discovery) and with Apple (for App Store subscription validation). It does not communicate with any Bunny Ears TV servers. There is no telemetry, no analytics beyond what Apple provides through standard App Store analytics, and no third-party tracking.