How can we help?
Start with the questions below. If yours isn't here, write to support@liftbridgelabs.app and a person will answer.
Common questions
Does Bobcast come with channels or movies?
No. Bobcast is a player. It hosts, streams and supplies no media of its own. You add a playlist, a login or a media server you already have, and Bobcast plays that.
Which provider should I use?
That's yours to choose. We don't sell, list or recommend providers. Bobcast works with any that gives you an M3U playlist or an Xtream Codes login.
Which devices does Bobcast run on?
Apple TV, iPhone and iPad (tvOS and iOS 18 or later), Android TV and Google TV (Android 8 or later), and Fire TV devices on Fire OS 7 or later. Amazon's newest sticks that run Vega OS can't run Android apps, so Bobcast can't run on those.
When can I get it?
Bobcast is in testing and is coming to the App Store, Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. This site will link to each store the day it's there.
My guide is empty.
An Xtream Codes login usually brings its own guide. An M3U playlist often doesn't: add your provider's XMLTV guide address to the source in Settings. Some channels have no listings from the provider at all; Bobcast still reads event and all-day channels from their names where it can.
I don't see catch-up on a channel.
Catch-up only appears on channels your provider archives, and only as far back as they keep. Channels with it carry a small clock mark in the guide.
A channel buffers or won't play.
Streams come straight from your provider, so start there: try the channel again a little later, and check how many screens your plan allows at once. In Bobcast, Settings › Player › Live reserve keeps a few seconds in hand to ride out short hiccups (5 or 10 seconds is the sweet spot), and if you have the same channel from two sources, Bobcast moves to the other copy on its own.
Sports doesn't find the channel for a game.
Bobcast matches games to your channels by name and guide. In Settings under Sports you can choose which of your groups carry each sport or league, which makes matches faster and more exact. Blackouts and what your provider carries are outside Bobcast's control.
Can I record?
No. TV devices can't reliably run in the background or keep large files, so Bobcast offers catch-up where your provider supports it instead.
How do I move everything to a new device?
Turn on Sync in Settings on a device that's set up, then join from the new one with the short code it shows. Step by step.
Is there a Bobcast account?
No. There's nothing to sign up for, and Liftbridge Labs never sees your sources, your logins or what you watch. The privacy policy has the details.
Writing to support
It helps to include:
- Your device (for example, Apple TV 4K or an Android TV box) and the Bobcast version from Settings › About.
- What kind of source it is (M3U, Xtream Codes, Plex, Jellyfin or Emby).
- What you pressed and what happened instead.
Never send your provider username, password or playlist address. We don't need them, and a playlist address usually contains your login.
Credits
Movie and series details come from TMDB; scores from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic and Letterboxd are theirs, gathered by MDBList; skip times come from TheIntroDB's community. Sports scores, schedules and team badges come from TheSportsDB. Playback uses AetherEngine and FFmpeg under their open-source licenses; the full list, with versions and license texts, is in the app under Settings › About. For license texts or source code, email support@liftbridgelabs.app.
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Bobcast connects to Plex, Jellyfin, Emby and Simkl with your own accounts and isn't affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them. All trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to name their services.