One of the most common uses of our computer is the ability to watch television from it, as well as other content such as streaming movies and series. For this we have various technologies available. One of the most used is P2P TV through which we can use the torrent network to view content directly on our PC without having to download it to our computer.
Beyond the legal or illegal practice that is done on the type of content that we see through the use of the P2P TV protocol, today we are going to talk about those essential programs to be able to carry it out. We will also learn a little more about this data transmission protocol, as well as some of its advantages and disadvantages.
What is the P2P TV protocol
P2P TV is a real-time video streaming and broadcasting protocol over a P2P network, where individual nodes connect in other ways to receive audio and video streams, rather than through a central server, such as It happens in IPTV transmissions. When using this technology we need to use a program compatible with it.
In each P2P TV system, the download of a video stream and the upload of that same stream to other users is carried out simultaneously, thus contributing to a greater bandwidth available for all users who share that stream. That is why the quality of the video of the channels will depend on the number of users who are watching it and sharing the signal. In this way, the greater the number of users, the greater the bandwidth and the better the quality of the video. In general, the transmissions that are made through this P2P TV protocol tend to have a slight delay compared to their original sources.
Although we are facing a legal technology as such, it does not mean that all the content that we see through it is also legal. And it is that on many occasions this protocol is used to distribute television channels without a legal license to do so, being able to watch channels that are not available locally or that can only be viewed through a paid subscription. For these cases, we are talking about an illegal practice, so its use is not recommended for these cases.
Advantages and disadvantages
Viewing content through P2P TV protocols has interesting advantages, for which its use is recommended. On the one hand, it has a high storage capacity, since the information is not concentrated in a single point, but is distributed, which makes it possible for there to be many places from which to download it. This causes that there is a high possibility of obtaining what we are looking for.
It is also a highly reliable transmission mode, because if one node fails, it is possible to continue downloading through others, since the information is not requested from a single point, but is distributed among all users, so servers are not saturated, resulting in higher performance.
But not everything is positive when using P2P TV transmissions, as it also has some drawbacks. On the one hand, the pairs of nodes are always disconnected after downloading, so they receive the data, but do not give up the content, so that, if it fails, there is nowhere to download from.
We must also know that with use we are exposed to the files that we reproduce containing viruses that can negatively affect our computer causing damage, since it is even possible to camouflage malware within these files, so security is not one of its strengths.
Finally, we can talk about the legal problems to which we may be exposed in the event of reproducing content protected by copyright, something that happens on a regular basis and is closely related to the use of these P2P TV transmissions. If we are sure that we are transmitting legal content, then this should not be a problem.
Free P2P programs to watch TV
Next, we are going to see P2P to watch TV on our computer. All of them are free and currently work correctly.
Ace Stream
It is possibly the most popular option, which allows us and facilitates the viewing of streaming content such as HD videos and TV using the P2P protocol, in such a way that it shares the content of the videos from user computers connected to the same network. Worldwide. It is based on Bit Torrent, so it does not require a central server and is ideal for watching live content. Ace Stream carries with it its own player called Ace Player, which has a more than reasonable resemblance in terms of its interface to the popular VLC.
Its operation is simple because we only have to have the content link, which we can search for on the Internet. Once we have it, we just have to copy it into its “Content ID” section and press the “Play” button. In this way the program connects with the rest of the people who are playing the content, stores the video in the Buffer, to later start the retransmission. We can download Ace Stream for free from the developer’s website.
TV torrent
Another option that available to watch P2P TV. It was a multimedia player, whose main virtue is that it allows the reproduction of files in torrent format. Along with this, it has compatibility with Google Chromecast and Apple TV, which allows you to transmit your content to other devices. For this, it will only be necessary to drag and drop the magnetic links or torrents to the program’s interface, so that it loads its buffer and begins the retransmission.
In addition to this and as it is a multimedia player, we will have the possibility of playing any type of file that we have stored on our hard drive, and that we will also be able to share and view on other devices, making it a very complete solution. TorrenTV is a free and open source application that we can download via their GitHub page. It offers compatibility with operating systems up to Windows 10, with Windows 11 it gives us an error when executing it.
WebTorrent Desktop
This application allows us to watch P2P TV for free, since it is capable of instantly transmitting and playing both audio and video, without having to wait for the download to finish. The program can open .torrent files and magnetic links, so to add it, simply drag and drop it on its interface.
We are also going to find compatibility when it comes to transmitting videos through AirPlay, Google Chromecast and DLNA, which allows us to send the signal to our television and turn it into a Smart TV. It is a lightweight fast torrent app with a good user experience. And best of all, it’s open source, free and contains no annoying ads. We can download it for Windows, macOS and Linux from its official website.
Soda Player
It is one of the most complete streaming video players, broadcasting directly from P2P torrent files, through its SOCKS5 proxy system. It is very light and supports both magnet links and torrent files, which it plays instantly. Supports DHT, PEX, UDP trackers and the latest BitTorrent technologies for maximum playback speed. It also has compatibility with all Apple TVs and all Chromecasts, including those built into TVs.
Another important feature is its full compatibility with 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound. It supports videos in 1080p and up to 4K on compatible devices (Chromecast Ultra, Nvidia Shield, etc), as well as support for subtitles, which do not require transcoding the video. In addition, it has support for all formats and codecs. Download Soda Player from its official website.
P2P TV apps that no longer work
There are applications that in the past were developed and used to transmit content through P2P TV but that currently no longer work, so it is worth remembering them.
SopCast
SopCast was a program based on P2P TV technology that turned our PC into a complete online channel player. It was very easy to use as there are no configuration options and no ports to open. It was only necessary to click on a channel link to view it.
Currently the application does not work and its official website no longer exists. Despite this, you can find its installation files on the Internet that allow it to be installed on your computer. However, when we run it it is unable to connect to the server. Likewise, we cannot create an account either, because when we try to do so, it redirects us to their web page, which no longer exists.
TV Ants
It was a streaming program that took advantage of the benefits of P2P TV technology to share the broadcast of different television channels among users connected to the same signal. It was possible to access series, movies, broadcasts and programs that were not available in our country.
Currently TVAnts no longer works nor does it have support from its developers, since its website does not even exist anymore. Although it is possible to find your installation file on the Internet and download it, the truth is that when you run it and try to install it, an error message appears indicating that the software version has already expired.
TVUPlayer
This application allows, through the use of P2P TV technology, to be able to view different television channels from different countries from the same player through the Internet. We could find channels as popular as CNN, NBC, FOX or ESPN.
Currently, the program’s installation file can be found on the Internet, although it is completely obsolete since it dates back to 2009. Although it is installed and we can run it, when we try to view a channel, the screen freezes and a window appears of error for us to close the application.
