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Watch a variety of television channels or broadcast custom special programs online via peer-to-peer tools

Watch a variety of television channels or broadcast custom special programs online via peer-to-peer tools

Vote: (673 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Sopcast

Version: 4.2.0

Works under: Windows

Also available for Mac Android

Vote:

Program license

(673 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Sopcast

4.2.0

Works under:

Also available for

Windows

Mac Android

Pros

  • Easily find live TV streaming channels from around the world
  • The interface is simple and the categories menu makes sense
  • Quality is usually good and speeds are usually fast

Cons

  • Some channels will have quality issues, but this is rare

SopCast is a streaming program that uses a Peer-to-Peer, or P2P, network that allows users to upload their own channels. You can watch live TV from across the globe or see someone's custom channel with content they upload. You can also save channels that you like so that you can keep going back to them.

Channel Casting

SopCast works over a P2P network. This means that individual users will upload channels that other people can see over the network. Most channels are delivered in high-quality streams, but it largely depends on what the user is capable of. This service allows you to find many live TV channels along with sporting events, news and more.

While this service is primarily about watching established channels, users can also create their own channels that you can find and stream. These channels might center around a certain theme, like horror movies or racing news, or it might be self-created content that they are uploading. In either case, you are able to tune in and save the channel for easy viewing.

Starting the program is simple. You simply download and install SopCast. It will ask you which language you want the interface in. It will also ask if you want open your firewall ports. If you allow the program to open the ports, then you will be able to stream live TV. If not, then you can only watch video playbacks. While this program should be secure, the truth is that opening your firewall ports does make it easier for hackers to sneak into your computer.

Now all you have to do is create an account. You can also make an anonymous account if you would prefer. Once that's complete you can start browsing the available channels for something that looks good.

Simple Interface

SopCast has a straightfoward interface that is easy to navigate. The developers have divided all channels into logical categories so that you can easily find what you're looking for. Just select the category and then browse through the available channels. Click the channel to start watching. You can watch the content now or choose to record it for later.

You're able to save channels to a list of favorites. This makes it easy to access the channel again when you want to watch it. There is also a forum where users can talk about their favorite channels and content. Users can also upload their own channels and display them in the forum for people to find. Simply copy and paste the link and you'll be able to access the channel.

This is a very simple program to use and it should only take you a few minutes to grow accustomed to the controls.

Easy Sharing

Broadcasting and uploading your own channel is fairly easy. This can help the community by adding more channels to the service. You might think that you need a strong server and lots of bandwidth, but this actually puts very little strain on your system. You simply need a TV tuner card that allows you to transmit the channel.

You can then share the channel with others. Simply post the information in the forum. You should share the server address, stream source, channel details and other relevant information. This allows people to access the stream and see the channel for free.

No Geographical Restrictions

Some channels are only available in certain countries. For example, accessing a channel in Japan can be hard if you're located in America. SopCast removes this barrier. You can now watch channels from around the world without any special services.

You just have to find the channel. This can be done from the categories menu or the forum. Access the channel and you can start watching the content. It's simple and can find nearly any channel that you're looking for.

Fast Buffering

It should only take a few seconds for a channel to load when you're trying to access it. While the service is fast, the true speed largely depends on your Internet connection strength. If you have a strong connection, then buffering is usually around 10 seconds. If the connection is weak, then you might need to wait up to 30 seconds for a channel to load.

If things seem to be going slow, then check your connection strength. You should have no problem accessing live TV in just a few seconds.

Quality Issues

The streaming quality is usually good, but there are many factors involved that can reduce how good the channel looks. If you are accessing a channel from a country that is far away with many people watching it simultaneously, then the quality might go down. This is a channel-by-channel issue, but on average the channels have good streaming quality.

Pros

  • Easily find live TV streaming channels from around the world
  • The interface is simple and the categories menu makes sense
  • Quality is usually good and speeds are usually fast

Cons

  • Some channels will have quality issues, but this is rare

Pros

  • Multiple Channels
  • Simple Organization
  • Program Creation and Broadcasting

Cons

  • Mostly Non-American Content
  • Variable Quality
  • No Error Log

With SopCast, users can watch online TV channels absolutely for free, and they can create and broadcast their own content. Since the software takes advantage of direct P2P connections, users won't need large amounts of bandwidth or powerful servers.

Using P2P technology, any user can broadcast any content they create while also viewing content that others have shared. Other types of P2P streaming software are limited since they pull content from other sources and only allow users to view it. This prevents the network from growing, but Sopcast doesn't have that issue since you can make your own channel for broadcast.

Sopcast has gone through several iterations, but the latest version has seen no discernible upgrades to the UI. This is a good thing since it was already about as easy to use as it could get. During the installation process, be sure to uncheck the option that installs the Ask.com search engine into your browser.

You can create an account via the login screen for the app. If you have no plans to create a channel of your own, you can opt for anonymous utility. Once you're in, you can browse available channels by looking through the Live Channels tab. In this list, you'll find mainstream channels with content from professional sources, and you'll find obscure channels that come from Asia or other non-English locations. Much of the content includes Chinese dubbing or subtitles.

When you select a channel, the channel window will emerge from the player's side, and it can be played via fullscreen or exported via the controls in the panel to Windows Media Player. This ability is quite rare in the market of similar apps. Using the Options menu, you can select any available media player to play back your selected channel content.

The primary appealing factor for Sopcast, however, is the fact that users can create their own channels for the system. Of course, this is also the reason why most of the content on the platform would be considered subpar. You can select server addresses for your uploaded content so others can find your content and watch it through the system.

One interesting facet of the Sopcast system is that the quality of the content and the speed at which it streams are dependent on the number of connected users. More viewers translates to faster streaming. If you want to create a channel that has private access, you can set a private channel to only be accessible by those you place in a specific network group.

Even with the lack of English content, Sopcast is still an excellent way to access TV sources that you would otherwise never encounter or imagine. It can be a bit awkward for those just starting to use the software, but acclimation occurs quickly.

Pros

  • Multiple Channels
  • Simple Organization
  • Program Creation and Broadcasting

Cons

  • Mostly Non-American Content
  • Variable Quality
  • No Error Log