All features

Playback that respects the route

Play locally when it fits. Adapt when the connection does not.

A healthy local network should not be punished for what might happen on cellular. Bunny Ears TV keeps verified local Wi-Fi and Ethernet on Direct Play when possible, then uses Plex delivery options when the media or route needs help.

Download on the App StoreRead common questions
Full-screen Bunny Ears TV playback controls on Apple TV
Apple TVLive TV, DVR, Channel Surfer, program information, and chapter controls.

Direct Play

Compatible files can play without a server-side transcode on a healthy local route.

Direct Stream

Plex can repackage compatible streams when the container, not the media itself, needs adjustment.

Adaptive transcode

Remote, Relay, cellular, constrained, hotspot, or slow routes can use a capped Plex transcode when Auto has evidence that it is needed.

How Auto works

How Auto chooses a playback path.

The player does not show Direct Play, Direct Stream, or transcode as a status badge. This diagram describes the inputs and possible Plex delivery paths. The screenshots below show the quality controls available in the app.

Playback path

Auto starts with the conditions in front of it.

AUTO
RouteMediaQualityDeviceServer
01

Direct Play

Compatible file and a healthy route

02

Direct Stream

Compatible streams need a different container

03

Plex transcode

The format or available bandwidth needs help

Explanatory diagram, not a player status screen. Plex makes the final delivery decision for each stream.

In the app

See the feature at work.

Full-screen live playback and DVR controls on iPad
iPadThe iPad player keeps live position, restart, information, and system controls close.
Separate Cellular, 5G Cellular, and Wi-Fi streaming quality settings on iPhone
iPhoneKeep separate quality choices for cellular and Wi-Fi connections.
Separate Wi-Fi and Ethernet streaming quality settings on Apple TV
Apple TVApple TV keeps independent quality choices for Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
Live TV, Channel Surfing, audio, background audio, display, and Plex tracking settings on iPhone
iPhonePlayback behavior stays visible and adjustable on each device.
Chapter picker open during full-screen playback on Apple TV
Apple TVJump through chapter markers when the source provides them.

Signal 01

Different routes deserve different settings

Video and Audio quality are separate and stored on the device. Apple TV has Wi-Fi and Ethernet profiles. iPhone and iPad add Cellular and 5G Cellular profiles, which makes it possible to protect data use without lowering quality at home.

Auto can take a small, cancellable sample through the exact selected Plex connection. The sample runs in the background, informs a later channel change, and does not interrupt a working stream. A confirmed sustained stall on an eligible non-local route can step quality down within a bounded recovery policy.

Signal 02

The route, file, server, and device all get a vote

No client can promise Direct Play for every file. Codec support, subtitle choices, audio format, container, selected quality, network path, Plex Relay status, and server capabilities all affect delivery.

Bunny Ears TV exposes Auto, Original Quality, and fixed bitrate choices instead of hiding those decisions. Explicit limits remain explicit, and quality changes can apply to the active stream without forcing the player banner open.

  • Healthy verified local Wi-Fi or Ethernet preserves Direct Play when the media is compatible.
  • Remote does not automatically mean broken, and local does not guarantee every file is compatible.
  • Plex may deliver the result through Direct Play, Direct Stream, or a transcode.

Good to know

Remote playback depends on the selected Plex server, account access, route availability, and server capability. Bunny Ears TV cannot create remote access that Plex has not made available.

Quick answers

What people ask about this feature

Does Bunny Ears TV always Direct Play?

No. It supports Direct Play, Direct Stream, and Plex transcodes. The right path depends on the media, route, device, server, and chosen quality.

Can I choose a lower cellular bitrate?

Yes. iPhone and iPad keep separate Wi-Fi, Cellular, and 5G Cellular quality profiles for Video and Audio.

Keep looking

Related features

Browse the complete feature overview →
BG

Let the channel follow you out the door.

Radio should not stop because you locked your iPhone. Bunny Ears TV lets eligible audio continue in the background and through the active audio route, including connected car audio.

3X

Apple TV on the couch. iPhone and iPad everywhere else.

The same Bunny Ears TV guide and channel lineup belongs on the big screen and in your hand. Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad each get a native interface built around the controls and space of that device.

EPG

Open a Plex program guide and find something already on.

A personal library becomes television when the clock matters. Bunny Ears TV schedules eligible movies, shows, music, custom stations, and utility channels into a guide that is already moving when you arrive.

Stop scrolling. See what's on.

The 26-channel Basic package is free forever. Bunny Ears TV+ adds more channels, more features, and more fun. Download the app to start watching.

Download on the App Store