Stream free TV live, bypass TV-only VIP fees, and cast content seamlessly. UtaoTV is a smart TV browser that watches CCTV & major channels and unlocks iQiyi, Tencent Video, Youku, and Mango TV on TV.

No TV VIP required — one app solves all your viewing challenges.

With TV subscription fees rising and major video platforms carving up their content, enjoying a great viewing experience on the big screen has become a hassle. You have a mobile VIP, but the TV asks for another one; you want to watch CCTV or satellite channels live, but you don't know where to find them; and casting limits drive you crazy... If you've run into any of these frustrations, UtaoTV might be exactly the solution you've been looking for.

🍑 What is UtaoTV?

UtaoTV is a smart browser designed specifically for TVs and large-screen devices. It cleverly combines free live TV streaming with support for major video platforms. Think of it as a TV portal optimized for video watching — through it, you can bypass many platform restrictions on TV and enjoy a premium viewing experience on the big screen without buying an additional TV membership.

UtaoTV not only supports watching live streams from all CCTV and major satellite channels, but is also fully compatible with mainstream video platforms like iQiyi, Tencent Video, Youku, and Mango TV. Once you log in with your account, you can directly watch VIP content from these platforms on your TV — effectively saving you the cost of a duplicate TV subscription.

✨ Core Feature Highlights

📢 Free Live TV Streaming

One of UtaoTV's most appealing features is free live TV streaming. It aggregates all CCTV channels and major satellite channels, with program sources pulled directly from official channels — stable and clear.

  • 📺 Full CCTV Channel Lineup: Includes CCTV-1, CCTV-2, CCTV-3, CCTV-5, CCTV-13, and all other official channels
  • 🏞️ Provincial Satellite Coverage: Top satellite channels like Hunan, Zhejiang, Dragon, and Jiangsu are all available
  • 🌟 HD Quality: Multiple resolution options to suit different network conditions

🔄 Bypass Platform Cast Restrictions

UtaoTV cleverly solves the problem of tiered memberships across video platforms. Many services require a separate TV-end membership even if you already have a mobile VIP. With UtaoTV:

  • 🔓 Log in with Mobile Membership to Watch TV Content: Sign in to your video platform account inside UtaoTV and enjoy TV-exclusive content directly
  • 💰 No More Double Charges: Stop paying twice for the same platform on different devices
  • 📱 Compatible with Major Platforms: Fully supports iQiyi, Tencent Video, Youku, Mango TV, and other top services

🎯 Smart Full-Screen Playback & Remote Control Support

UtaoTV is deeply optimized for the TV viewing scenario:

  • 🖥️ Auto Full-Screen Video Playback: Videos open in full screen automatically — no manual adjustment needed
  • 🎮 Perfect Remote Control Compatibility: Use your remote to pick episodes, adjust playback progress, switch resolution, and more
  • 🎨 Clean, Intuitive Interface: All features are easy to find — no steep learning curve

🔍 One-Tap Access to Web-Wide Content

With UtaoTV's LAN QR-code scanner, you can conveniently search for licensed video content across the web. Type what you want on your phone and play it directly on the TV — greatly improving input efficiency.

⚡ UtaoTV vs. Other TV Browsers

There are many TV browsers on the market, but UtaoTV stands out in several key ways:

🎯 Cleaner, More Intuitive Interface
UtaoTV's interface is extremely clean — every accessible website is clearly displayed on the home page, with no complex searches required. For users who just want to watch shows in peace, this design dramatically lowers the barrier to use.

🚫 Zero Extra Ads Throughout
UtaoTV shows no additional ads during use — only the in-video ads that come with the video platforms themselves (which are unavoidable). Compared to many TV browsers stuffed with pop-up ads, the experience is noticeably better.

💎 Video-Watching Focus
Unlike general-purpose TV browsers, UtaoTV is purpose-built for video viewing. Rather than trying to be a do-it-all browser, it goes all-in on perfecting the core video-watching experience.

🔧 Broad Compatibility
UtaoTV supports Android 4.1 and above, covering the vast majority of smart TVs and TV boxes — even older devices run smoothly.

🛠️ Detailed Usage Guide

How to Watch Live TV

  • Open UtaoTV and click "Live TV" in the top-left corner (you can also choose "CCTV Live" or "CCTV Video Library")
  • The system will start playing the live stream automatically
  • Click anywhere, then choose the channel list that appears on the left to switch channels (TV users can use the up/down keys)
  • If you selected CCTV Live, click anywhere after entering to choose "Switch Source"

How to Use the Video Platform Features

  • 📲 Find the icon of the video platform you want on UtaoTV's home page — iQiyi, Tencent Video, etc.
  • 🔑 Click to enter that platform's official site
  • 📝 Log in with your membership account (first-time users)
  • ▶️ Then browse and watch content just like you would on a computer

Tips & Notes

  • 💾 Account Memory: After the first login to a video platform, UtaoTV usually remembers your login state — no need to sign in again next time
  • 🎚️ Resolution Switching: During playback, use the remote's menu button to switch video quality
  • 📺 Full-Screen Optimization: If a video doesn't go full screen automatically, press the full-screen key on your remote to adjust manually
  • 🔄 Regular Updates: Periodically check for software updates to get the latest features and best compatibility

📥 Download & Installation Guide

System Requirements

  • ⚙️ Operating System: Android 4.1 or higher
  • 💾 Storage: Approximately 4MB of free space
  • 🌐 Network: Stable internet connection (wired or wireless)

Installation Steps

Since UtaoTV is not available in standard TV app stores, install it as follows:

  • Download the APK file:
    Visit the official UtaoTV site https://www.utao.tv/ or other trusted sources to download the latest APK
  • File size is approximately 3.77MB–4.07MB
  • Transfer to the TV:
    Download the APK file to your computer
  • Prepare a USB flash drive or SD card and plug it into the computer
  • Copy the downloaded APK file to the USB drive or SD card
  • Install on the TV:
    Insert the USB drive or SD card (with a reader) into the TV's USB port on the back or side
  • On the TV app desktop, find "File Manager" > "External Storage"
  • Locate the copied APK file and click to install
  • Wait for installation to complete

Installation Notes

  • ⚠️ Unknown Sources: If the TV prompts "installation of apps from unknown sources is blocked," first enable "Unknown Sources" installation permission in Settings
  • 🔒 Security Warnings: Some TVs may show a security warning — this is normal; simply choose to continue installing
  • 🔄 Handling Installation Failure: If installation fails, the device may be incompatible — try downloading a different version of the APK

💫 Summary

Through clever technical approaches, UtaoTV provides users with a free, convenient, and efficient TV viewing solution. It saves you the cost of duplicate TV memberships and integrates both live and on-demand features — truly one app that meets multiple viewing needs.

Whether you want to freely watch CCTV and satellite channels live, use your mobile VIP to watch TV-exclusive content on the big screen, or simply want a clean, ad-free TV browsing experience, UtaoTV is well worth a try. Its arrival makes smart TVs truly "smart" and "pleasant to use."

Official Site: https://www.utao.tv/
Project Repository: https://github.com/VonChange/utao

Note: This is the English translation of the original Chinese version.