Silicondust announced today that the HDHomeRun app is getting a much needed update that will allow users to watch TV channels and recordings during an internet outage, including Emergency Alert notifications.
The HDHomeRun device works by taking live broadcasts and streaming them through your home internet to your streaming devices, phone, and computer. This update will allow broadcast channels to come through even without that internet connection. This includes both ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 channels.
“Recently filings in the FCC’s GN Docket No. 16-142, Authorizing the Permissive Use of the “Next Generation” Broadcast Television Standard, have several parties consistently recognize that viewers should continue receiving broadcast television—including Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages—when broadband connectivity is unavailable,” said Nick Kelsey, President & CTO of Silicondust. “We agree that viewers must be able to tune and view broadcast-delivered television channels during an Internet outage.”
While Silicondust says that it supports and has invested in ATSC 3.0, it argues that broadcasters are illegally limiting access to channels that should be free and widely available. The company has asked the FCC to stop broadcasters from using DRM encryption to limit access to channels “while the ecosystem develops” so that households can maintain access to channels during internet outages.
“Silicondust demonstrates that broadcast television can continue to operate during an Internet outage using the HDHomeRun video gateway architecture. Our July 9, 2026, FCC Ex Parte filing indicates that the remaining limitation is confined to DRM encrypted channels. That limitation does not affect ATSC 1.0 channels or ATSC 3.0 channels that are not DRM encrypted,” Kelsey continued. “No deployable A3SA-approved approach presently enables DRM encrypted channels to be made available to popular player devices with the same Internet-outage compatibility as unencrypted broadcast channels.”
The latest HDHomeRun app updates are available on the following platforms:
- Roku devices and Roku based TVs
- Android TV devices and Android based TVs
- Fire TV devices and Fire TV based TVs
- Apple TV devices
- Google TV devices
- XBox consoles
- Apple iPhones and iPads
- Android phones and tablets
- Mac and Windows computers
