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March 2020 update: I have found a better way to watch Japanese TV Online, check out AQ Stream!!!
Have you ever wanted to know how to watch real-time, live Japanese TV for free? Maybe you’re trying to learn Japanese, but want to hear real Japanese and not the type you hear in Anime. Well, there is a free program called KeyHoleTV that will let you do just that. KeyHoleTV is part of a project by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs testing out P2P (peer to peer) technology. You can also stream your live video using the same technique with a program called KeyHoleVideo. While the audio and video isn’t the highest quality, it is watchable. KeyholeTV has a decent, but limited selection of channels. The more prominent channels are TBS, TV Tokyo, TV Asahi, and Fuji TV. There are also a few smaller channels and user broadcasts that change randomly. If you’re interested in downloading it, here’s a step by step guide.
1. Download KeyHoleTV
Head over to http://www.oiseyer.com/index3-win10-e.php and download the file labeled “SetupKHTV4.26.exe ” or you can click here: Download KeyHoleTV.
2. Install KeyHoleTV
3. Run KeyHoleTV
When you run KeyHoleTV for the first time, you will see a window like the one below. Just type in a username and password and click “Start Registration” to sign up. You will need this username and password each time you start the application, so don’t lose it!
4. Channel listings
After successful registration, you will see the channel listings for KeyHoleTV. On this screen, you will see the channel name, a preview picture of what’s currently playing, and the number of viewers watching that specific channel. When you see a high number of people watching, it usually means something good is on. Remember that here in the United States, we are about 14 hours behind JST (Japan Standard Time).
So a lot of the popular shows and Anime will come on at odd times for us. Here is a listing of the current channels as of today. The channels are always changing. Match the beginning of the channel name with the English in red:
Once you have started watching a channel, you must click the blue stop button to select another channel to watch.
5. Premium Module
New with this version is a Premium module key. By purchasing this key, you will get a faster bitrate. You are probably wondering how much faster it is, so I decided to buy a premium account to test it out. Is it faster? Yes, but not by much. I do not notice any skipping what so ever where I did see very choppy sound sometimes on a standard account. If you are serious about watching Japanese TV Online, it may be worth the purchase.
So there you go. If you are using this to help you with learning Japanese, I hope you get a lot out of KeyHoleTV. I will be updating this page when I see new channels, so bookmark the page or subscribe to my RSS Feed, so you don’t miss anything. Below are a few TV Guide Japan type websites so if you know Japanese, or can figure out what the kanji means, you can have a better idea of what’s playing.
(OUTDATED) A brief explanation of the buttons:
Logs you on and off of the server. Sometimes you will see errors saying that you are not connected to the server. Just click the button Off, and then back On to log back in.
Allows you to mute the sound. Trigger On and Off.
Allows you to stop and start the video.
The channel listings refresh every now-and-then. Use this button to manually update the channel listings for KeyHoleTV.
After you have selected a channel in the channel listings window, click the Watch button to view the channel.
Right now, you don’t have to worry about this button as there are not many channels available on KeyHoleTV. However, in the future, this button is going to be a must-have.
I haven’t seen any broadcasters chatting, but I assume that KeyHoleTV has the option of allowing the viewers to chat with the presenters. There is a popular channel that features actress Risa Ishimoto, not sure if you can chat with her or not.
This tab allows you to view the video window.
This tab allows you to view the channel listings.
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I just installed the updated version but I have no video on TVTokyo. I have video on all other channels. I use the windows version. I use Keyhole to watch my anime so I hope someome can help me out. I have sound on TVTokyo but no video.
I problemka. I found everything is fine and fonts set. Starts and it updates the list. As updated in 2-3 seconds zanogo begins to update. And so endlessly until prgramma does not shut down (What could be wrong?
Today, 22 January, so I knew they perezzhayut to another server. Nepodskazhite when they again start back TV?
I have a problem. I found everything is fine and fonts set. Starts and it updates the list. As updated in 2-3 seconds zanogo begins to update. And so endlessly until prgramma does not shut down (What could be wrong?
Today, 22 January, so I knew they perezzhayut to another server. Nepodskazhite when they again start back TV?
Is keyhole down right now? I have attempted to connect on 2 different PC’s and telling me “login timed out. check your network”
was working fine about 1 hour ago.
Yes, they are doing maintenance on the 22nd Japan time.
Awesome thanks J Dictionary!
I can not watch Pokemon tonight due to Keyhole TV not working. I am very sad and don’t understand why it is not working all around the world.
then when will keyhole tv be back again? i want to watch music japan at 0.10am today
At least the Keyhole TV web site is back up. This is encouraging. Yesterday, along with the streaming video service, it was down. In the “Urgent Messages” section is does mention that they will be relocating their office on the 22nd and that the service and web site will be affected. So if the web site is back up, they must be making progress. Just have to be patient. :-)
Tolerate and wait =))
Pls, leave a message here, if the Keyhole TV works again, ’cause I just downloaded it a few minutes ago, and I want to know if it works, or not. I want to watch animes online so badly….
Thanx!
Hmm …. too, would like to know when the …
does anyone know what is up with keyhole tv. mine is having problem with connecting to the internet. and the website is down so i can update it. help please…
Could someone please upload the latest version of Keyhole for me?
I can’t connect to it and the website still seems to be down. Does anyone gets a connection with the new version already?
keyhole tv is up again but with a lot of important program missing
Well on one side glad to hear its not only me, but I hope all those channels will come back. Like Jirach87 said, Keyhole is back up but I only got 6 channels, and the most interesting ones are missing!! I hope they’ll get back on soon.
It doesn’t work…:(
I hope they will upload their site soon.
It still doesn’t work at ALL for me. Are you all using the new version? I can’t connect at all sadly
I can’t go to their site (I don’t find it) anf I want download the latest version of keyhole.
Do you konw where I can ?
Thanks by advance.
why it doesnt work??
and always “login timed out. check your network”
what the mean??
Just when I find out about Key Hoke TV, it goes offline the very next day… and I mean its download website and all! Does this happen from time to time or is this a new hapenning??
Just when I find out about Key Hole TV, it goes offline the very next day… and I mean its download website and all! Does this happen from time to time or is this a new hapenning??
Its fully back up again with every channel, awesome!
KeyHoleTV you rock!
Hello,
A lot of people are commenting lately about the Keyhole servers and web site being down. I wouldn’t worry too much about it people. They announced very early on that they were moving their office on the 22nd and that this would impact the web site and the service. Obviously moving your office from one place to another is not a trivial thing. Unexpected events are likely to occur that must be dealt with (in particular, I would guess that changing ISPs or migrating settings from one place to another with an existing ISP would be very tricky to time and coordinate). Please don’t give up on Keyhole TV just yet! Up until the move, the service was very stable. I’m sure it is just a matter of time before they are back online and stable once again. Incidentally, I woke up this morning at 4:00 AM USA eastern time (Friday, Jan 23rd) and noticed that all stations were online – Asahi, TBS, TV Japan, Fuji, etc. About 12 hours prior to that, a smaller selection of channels was online as was the web site. So it looks like they are making some kind of progress. Keep in mind too that it is the weekend now in Japan so it is possible they will have to wait until Monday to make further progress if they are dependent on service providers that are closed over the weekend.
Note that this is all speculation on my part. I am not associated with Keyhole TV in any way. I am in the IT industry however and have been involved with server migrations and something unexpected always seems to come up! I’m sure it is not any different for the team at Keyhole.
Best Regards,
jdictionary
LOL, I just saw Wingedwaff’s news after my lengthy comment. That is great to hear!
JDictionary,
Thanks so much for the the info.
Can you upload the latest version of keyhole for me because I can’t download it from the website ?
Thank you very much by advance.
Thank you guys!! =)
Please !!!!
I need the newest version too please! Please help me! Wanted to watch Reborn tonight and still have the old version. It doesn’t work at all for me.
where can i get keyhole tv? i couldnt download it from here. i need to watch shugo chara dokki later!
Here you guys go!
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/528943/SetupKHTV3.12.exe
This is just temporary of course until they get their web site back up. :-) Also, this is the Windows version. I had a copy in my Downloads folder from the other day. Enjoy.
thanks for the link!! u rock!! :)
Thank you much you rock!
Key Hole is back in business!! Sooner than I expected! These guys rule!
merci beaucoup!!!
I can’t download the new KeyHoleTV. Would someone send me the site address where I can download? The download address on this site did not work! Thanks!
The official KeyHole site is down right now. I put a link to the latest Windows version about 7 comments above this one. I just checked my link and it is working so give that a shot if you are running Windows.
DISTRESSED:
SOMEONE THAT POSTED A COMMENT GIVES THE LINK THAT WOKS..
Is that normal that I don’t have Tv Tokyo and my Tv Asahi isn’t working very well.
Thanks by advance.
No TV Tokyo :( wish it wouldget back up…i miss bleach!
I believe TV Tokyo is available. It shows up as æ±äº¬ï¼‘ï¼’ãƒãƒ£ãƒãƒ«. If you highlight it, it will display “Tokyo 12 Ch”. In my listing it is just above ABC Radio 1008 Osaka. I just watched it and the program playing matches Yahoo Japan TV guide.
Thank you very much. I think you are right.
I just installed KeyholeTV 3.12
Why is there a reverb when somebody is speaking? 3.08 didn’t do that.
the link to download KHTV doesnt work…..
The KHTV download link provided by JDICTIONARY works from IE but not from Firefox. Tried it several times via Firefox and the download flashed by so quick but no file was actually downloaded. I tried IE and the file was downloaded successfully. I installed it and got a working KHTV again. Not all channels are up yet and though some channels appear on the list you just hear feedback when you click on them (could also be that they’re off-air).
Thanks for letting me know ANONYM. I personally use Firefox and haven’t had a problem but I’m logged into Dropbox where I uploaded the file, so perhaps that is why. I apologize if anybody is having troubles with the link. Also, want to let you all know that the file I provided is the same exact file I downloaded from KeyHole TV a few days before their web site went down. I posted it because a lot of people were asking for somebody to upload it and nobody had responded.
You are right about stations being off the air. A good way to check is to go to the Yahoo Japan television guide. Of course this site is in Japanese but it allows you to see what is currently playing among the various channels. I recommend setting the city to Tokyo “æ±äº¬”. Here is a link:
http://tv.yahoo.co.jp/listings/realtime/
If you see “ç•ªçµ„æƒ…å ±ãŒã‚ã‚Šã¾ã›ã‚“”, it means the station is off the air.
There is a really nice plug-in for Firefox called “Foxclocks”. It allows you to put the current time in Japan (or anywhere else in the world) into the status bar of Firefox. I personally use Foxclocks in combination with the Yahoo TV guide to keep track of what is currently on the air.
I was wrong about the download not working thru Firefox. I was looking for it in the wrong folder. I was just now browsing through my folders and found 3 copies of KHTV 3.12. Sorry about the false alarm…
is anyone still finding it down, i have version 3.09 and it keeps saying login timed out. check your network….