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.
• 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.
• 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.