GTV

Getting started

OGTV is free TV made from YouTube: channels that are always on, from news and cricket to bhajans, films and music, in Hindi and English. There is nothing to sign up for.

• Tap Press to start once, so your browser lets the sound play.
• Every channel runs to a schedule, so everyone watching sees the same moment, like real TV. You will often join a programme part-way through; that is normal.
• Between programmes a Coming up next card shows what starts next.
• Under the TV: the programme's title and times, a bar showing how far in it is, On air because (the time slot and topic that put it on air) and what's next.

Changing channel

• Phone or tablet: swipe sideways across the picture, left for the next channel and right for the one before.
• Programme guide: tap Watch or a channel's name.
• Keyboard: ↓ for the next channel, ↑ for the one before, or type its number (two digits for 10 and up: 1 2 is channel 12).
• Retro TV: turn the Channel knob.
• Headphones, car or lock screen: the next and previous track buttons change channel.
• Share a channel: the address in your browser always points to the channel you're watching. Copy it and send it.

Programme guide

Below the TV is every channel, in groups: News, Knowledge, Sports, Lifestyle, Entertainment and Music. Press C to jump there.

• Each card shows what's on, the YouTube channel it comes from, its description (tap More to read it all), how long is left, and what's next.
• Tap an hour (13:00, 21:00…) to see what every channel plays then. Now brings you back.
• Rest of today opens a channel's whole day, programme by programme.
• NEW marks videos uploaded in the last 30 days; LIVE marks a live stream.
• The channel you're watching is outlined in orange, and its button says Watching.
• All times are India Standard Time. Later programmes can change a little when new videos arrive overnight.

Sound, pause and subtitles

• Sound: if the picture plays silently, tap Turn sound on. M turns the sound off and on. On the retro TV, use the Volume knob (click it to mute) or the Mute key. Opened from an app such as X, Instagram or WhatsApp? Its built-in browser wants a tap on the picture itself: when Tap the picture for sound shows, tap the picture once.
• Pause: tap the picture, or press K or Space. In full screen, use the pause button.
• Subtitles: the CC button or S turns YouTube's subtitles on or off for every programme. OGTV remembers your choice.

Full screen

• Tap Home, Maximize for the best experience or the full-screen button on the picture, or press F.
• The channel's name appears as you change channel, and the buttons fade when you leave them alone.
• To see every channel in a strip, move the mouse to the bottom, tap the picture, or press ← →. Tap a channel or press Enter to watch it. Swiping up or down changes channel too.
• On iPhone, OGTV fills the browser window. For true full screen, add it to your Home Screen (see Install as an app).
• Esc leaves full screen.

Retro mode

OGTV opens in an old wooden TV set. Retro mode (or R) switches it off and on.

• Channel knob: drag it round, scroll over it, or click just to one side of its pointer to move one channel.
• Mode knob: how old the picture looks. Full: every tape effect. Steady: no rolling band. Tinted (where it starts): tape colours only. Clean: a clear picture. Quiet: no static hiss between channels either. Normal: retro off. Click it for the next setting.
• Volume knob: turn it to set the volume; click it to mute or unmute.
• The keys beside the knobs are Mute, CC (subtitles) and Full screen.

Install as an app

• Android: in Chrome's menu (⋮), choose Install app or Add to Home screen.
• iPhone and iPad: in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen.
• Other browsers: look for Install app or Add to Home screen in the browser's menu.
• OGTV then opens full screen, like any other app.

Keyboard

↓ ↑

Next channel, the one before

0–9

Go to a channel by its number

M

Sound off and on

K or Space

Pause and play

F

Full screen

← → Enter

In full screen: browse the channel strip, then watch

Esc

Leave full screen, or close this help

R

Retro mode off and on

S

Subtitles

C

Go to the programme guide

H

This help

If something goes wrong

• A video that won't play is skipped, and the channel moves on by itself.
• No sound? Tap Turn sound on, or press M. If Tap the picture for sound shows, tap the picture.
• Picture stuck? Reload the page. You rejoin each channel where it is now.
• OGTV picks up new videos every night. An open page updates itself quietly between programmes once you haven't touched it for a while.