Custom TV Lists, and Shared Lists You Build with Friends
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A watchlist is one long pile. Lists are how you sort it: comfort shows, films to watch at Halloween, everything a friend told you to see, the best seasons of all time.
OpenTV lets you make as many lists as you like, of shows and films together, in the order you choose. And with a shared list, you and a friend can build one together, both adding to it and both ticking things off.
Where lists live
Open the Profile tab and find the Lists shelf. Tap its title to open the full Lists page.
If you imported from TV Time, your lists are already there, marked "Imported from your TV Time export". If you have none yet, the page is empty and waiting for your first one.
Making a list
On the Lists page, tap Create a new list. Give it a Name and, if you like, a Description. Then Create list.
You cannot have two lists with the same name. If you try, OpenTV says "That name is taken" and asks you to pick another.
If you would rather a list stayed off your public profile, switch on Hide from profile when you make it, or later with Edit list. A hidden list shows a Hidden badge on your Lists page.
Adding shows and films
There are two ways in.
- From a title. On any show or film page, use Add to list and pick the list. You can create a new list from the same place.
- From the list. Open the list and tap Add shows & movies to pick from your library.
A list can mix shows and films. It does not have to be one or the other.
Putting things in order
A list keeps the order you give it. Open a list and drag a poster to a new spot. The hint on screen says it: "DRAG A POSTER TO A NEW SPOT". To remove something, tap the ✕ on its poster.
The lists themselves can be ordered too. On the Lists page, choose Order lists:
- My order, set with Rearrange
- Name (A–Z)
- Date created
- Most titles
Your profile shows your first few lists, so the order also decides which ones people see. The Lists page tells you how many your profile shows, and you drag to choose which.
Shared lists: one list, two or more people
A shared list is a list other people can add to. Think "Sunday nights" with a partner, or a film club's queue.
Everyone in it can add shows and films, and everyone can tick things off as they watch them. Each poster says who added it, Added by followed by the name, or You added this, and how many people have seen it.
Shared lists need an account, so that your friend has somebody to share with. If you have not joined the community, OpenTV offers to set that up first.
Starting a shared list
Tap Create a new list as usual. If you have joined, you can choose between Just me and With friends. Pick With friends.
Under it, OpenTV explains: "A shared list is one other people can add to. Anyone you give the code to joins it."
Your first shared list is free. Starting another one needs OpenTV Plus.
Inviting someone
A shared list only becomes shared once somebody else is in it. Tap Invite a friend, then Share the invite. It sends a short message with the list's name and its invite code.
You can replace the code at any time with New code. Every invite you have already sent stops working, and people already in the list stay.
Joining one
On the Lists page, tap Join with a code, paste the code your friend sent, and tap Join.
Joining is always free. Your friend does not need OpenTV Plus to be in your list, and you do not need it to be in theirs.
Shared lists you are in appear on the Lists page under Shared with friends, with a badge saying how many people are in each.
Leaving and deleting
- Leave this list takes you out. What you added stays for everyone else.
- Delete this list, for the person who started it, removes it for everyone. It cannot be undone.
What a shared list shares
Only the list: its name, what is in it, who added what, and who has seen each title. Your watch history, your ratings and the rest of your library stay on your phone.
If what you want is to watch one show at the same pace as a friend, without spoilers, there is a separate feature for that. See how to watch a show with friends without spoilers.
Is it free?
Your own lists are free, with no ads and no account needed. Your first shared list is free, and joining anyone's shared list is always free. Starting more shared lists, and publishing more lists on your profile, come with OpenTV Plus.
Get OpenTV
OpenTV is free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and on Google Play for Android. Make your first list, then send the code to a friend.
Questions or ideas? Ask on Discord or r/opentv_app.