Observed arrival · 2026-10-03
SurfArr puts retro TV on a shared clock
This free, self-hosted app turns YouTube and Internet Archive playlists into scheduled channels for Plex, Jellyfin, Emby, and other IPTV players.
○Open
⊠Login
$Paid
†Ads
✦Pretty
●Pro
◎Niche
◉Human
⚑Risk
ƒJS
- For
- Self-hosters who want scheduled retro TV in their media server
- Worth noticing
- A seeded schedule keeps viewers in sync; the homepage also describes a nightly check for videos that have gone private or been removed.
Field notes
The install section gives a Docker Compose example and says Linux host networking allows Plex, Jellyfin, or Emby to discover the tuner automatically. SurfArr says its channels draw full episodes from YouTube and the Internet Archive, with a nightly check to drop videos that become private or disappear. The homepage also describes adding channels with YAML and a browser TV mode controlled by arrow keys or channel numbers.
Observed signals
Read the marks
Editorial observations of this landing page, not a rating.
○OpenPublic substance visible
✦PrettyNotable craft visible
●ProPolished or operationally mature
◎NicheUnusually specific use
One card from the complete issue