TS File Format (.ts)
A TS file carries MPEG transport stream data, the packetized container built for broadcast so a receiver can start decoding correctly at any point after tuning into a channel already in progress.
TS at a glance#
| Full name | MPEG Transport Stream |
|---|---|
| File extension | .ts |
| Category | Video Files |
| Developer | MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) |
| First released | 1995 |
| MIME types | video/mp2t |
| Compression | Lossy |
| Specification | ISO/IEC 13818-1 / ITU-T H.222.0 |
| FileFlip support | FileFlip reads and writes this format |
What a .ts file can hold#
These are the things a TS file either supports or does not, and they are what decides whether a conversion keeps everything or quietly drops something.
| Lossless compression | No |
|---|---|
| Embedded metadata | No |
| Audio | Yes |
| Video | Yes |
| Subtitle tracks | Yes |
| Chapters | No |
| Encryption | No |
| Streaming | Yes |
Strengths and limitations of TS#
What TS does well
- Every packet is a fixed 188 bytes with its own sync byte, so a decoder can join a stream mid-broadcast and recover cleanly from lost packets
- Carries video, multiple audio tracks, and subtitle or teletext streams multiplexed together, which is what lets a viewer switch languages live
- Is what DVB and ATSC tuners record and what HLS chops video into for internet streaming, so support is extremely broad
- Works equally well as MPEG-2 or H.264/H.265 video, since the transport layer doesn't care which codec it's carrying
Where TS falls short
- The 188-byte packet overhead makes TS files larger than an MP4 holding the same encoded video
- Program information is spread across separate PSI tables rather than one header, so some players need to scan the whole file before they know what's inside
- Timestamps and packet framing built for live tuning add complexity a stored file doesn't need, which is why editors often ask for it to be remuxed first
- Browsers do not play TS natively outside of an HLS player that reassembles the segments
Keep a recording as TS while it's still being processed by broadcast or streaming tools that expect the transport stream structure, such as a DVR or an HLS pipeline.
Convert TS to MP4 once a recording is done being processed and just needs to play back or get edited, since MP4 drops the broadcast-oriented overhead without losing any video quality.
How to open a .ts file#
A .ts file opens in the programs below, grouped by the platform you are on. If you would rather not install anything, FileFlip converts TS into a format your machine already opens, and it does it in the browser tab rather than on a server.
| Platform | Programs that open it |
|---|---|
| Windows | VLC, PotPlayer, Kodi |
| macOS | VLC, IINA, Kodi |
| Linux | VLC, mpv, Kodi |
| Web | FileFlip |
TS questions people ask#
What produces a TS file?
TS files come from DVB or ATSC TV tuners and DVRs recording a broadcast, from screen or capture card recordings saved by streaming software, and from downloaded HLS video that got reassembled into one file. Anything captured from a live broadcast feed tends to land in this container.
Why won't my TS file play in some apps?
TS is built for tuners and set-top boxes, not general media players, so some software either doesn't recognize it or can't find the program information it needs before starting playback. VLC and other FFmpeg-based players handle it without issue; if a player still fails, the video or audio codec inside the stream is the more likely culprit.
What is a TS file good for converting to?
Convert TS to MP4 for normal playback and editing. The transport stream's packet structure exists to survive a broadcast link, which a saved file doesn't need, so remuxing or re-encoding to MP4 gives the same video in a container every device already understands.
Is a TS file the same as an MPG file?
No. Both can hold MPEG-2 video, but TS is the transport stream, split into small self-contained packets for a broadcast link, while MPG is the program stream, built for a single continuous read off a disc or hard drive. They're sibling formats from the same MPEG systems standard rather than the same file structure.
Converting TS files#
Convert TS to another format
Convert another format to TS
Every conversion runs inside your browser. The file is read from your disk, the work happens on your own machine, and nothing is uploaded. How FileFlip works names the engine behind each family and how to verify that for yourself.