Watch Japanese TV on your Computer With KeyHoleTV

Posted on 30. Oct, 2009 @ 12:56 am by in Language, Media Views: 7,255

I just started using KeyHole TV for Mac. With KeyHole TV you can watch Japanese TV right on your computer, all you need is an Internet connection.

Watching TV is a great way to improve listening comprehension skills. It’s also a great introduction to modern Japanese culture. With TV even if you don’t know exactly what is being said you can figure out a lot out from the context. Trust me, foreign language TV is good for you!

KeyHole TV is available for both Mac and Windows.

Xorsyst has posted detailed instructions on how to install KeyHole TV for Windows. Check it out. If you’ve got a mac, just follow the mac download link and you’ll know what to do. It’s straightforward.

KeyHoleTV
KeyHoleTV Interface

The interface isn’t the best – in fact it’s ugly and confusing… Basically you just double click on the program you want to watch and before long the audio and video will start playing.

KeyHoleTV
Crazy Japanese Game Shows on KeyHoleTV

You can click the Program Button to switch back and select something else to watch.

Kids these days… They don’t know how good they’ve got it. Back in my day I had to go down to the neighborhood Korean food mart and rent the bootleg video cassettes they had of Japanese TV to get my fix. Video cassettes! I bet some Japannewbie readers have never even used a VHS tape… I digress.

If you’re studying Japanese you have no excuse not to use this excellent resource. Go work that listening comprehension!

Download KeyHole TV for Mac: http://www.v2p.jp/video/Viewer/MacOSX/

Read the xorsyst review of KeyHole TV for Windows, and follow @xorsyst on Twitter.

Note, @lordsilent on Twitter pointed out that TvAnts has better sound quality than KeyHoleTV. I haven’t tried it yet as I only have a Mac and the Mac Setup for TvAnts is not something I want to get into.

@DevilTale reports that TVU Player and wwiTV.com are also alternatives to check out.

Look at all the options you have! Does anyone else have any other sources of Japanese TV? Please share in the comments!

- Harvey

P.S. Want more variety of shows? Watch TV shows online with Clicker.com’s selection of the latest exciting TV shows.

  • http://turningotaku.com Will

    That looks like a perfect way to study Japanese while having fun, I definitely will check it out

  • http://joeinjapan.com Joe

    I’ve been using this program ever since returning from Japan earlier this year. It’s a great way to keep up on things and to continue improving my Japanese. Highly recommended!

  • http://cnandbolts.wordpress.com Lena LeRay

    Thanks for sharing! I had the TV on constantly while I lived in Japan, even when I was paying it no attention. It’s amazing how much of a difference it makes.

  • http://www.hoponbaby.com Hummy

    I’m going to give that a try! Thanks!

  • http://www.zdwonline.de Haf

    I’ve tried that KeyholeTV application in the past and the sound quality was just horrible, no way to understand anything.
    I’m going to try out the other sources that you mentioned in the post, as I haven’t heard of them so far, thanks for mentioning those. :)

  • http://www.takenomori.com Wim

    I am using both KeyHoleTV and AntTV.
    The video quality of KeyHoleTV is still depressingly bad while the videoscreen of AntTV even can be played fullscreen.
    Major drawback of AntTV is the 30-60 secs switching/laoding time between channels that KeyHole doesn’t have.

    (also the number of channels differ… giving AntTV more channels to watch though about half or less of them are of good enough speed to make it a relaxing evening)

  • wes

    keyhole tv for Japanese tv is ok but screen is too small, try the MMS (Windows media player) links – much better quality.
    http://www.japansugoi.com/wordpress/watch-japanese-tv-streamed-live-for-free/

  • http://recipes.findjunkfood.com/mahi-mahi-recipes.aspx mahi mahi recipes

    Thanks for sharing! I had the TV on constantly while I lived in Japan, even when I was paying it no attention. It’s amazing how much of a difference it makes.

  • sureil

    When I first used KeyholeTV, the quality was fair, and I didn’t mind the small screen. Nowadays, I’m struggling to get 30 seconds of decently clear quality without sound delay. Ahh I remember the days when one had to trade for or purchase VHS copies of Japanese shows/movies/concerts/etc from members of Japanese entertainment mailing lists. Or whenever I was in NYC Chinatown, I would buy bootleg VCD’s. Remember those huge LaserDiscs (before DVD’s)? Thanks for the links.

  • Tomy

    I recently found a site you can download TV japanese for free. The quality is quite good, at least a lot better than KeyHole:-)

    http://www.6gaterebi.com/

  • Anon

    6gaterebi was an excellent source of TV programs but alas, it got shut down after just a month. Is there any other place just as good?

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