TS (MPEG Transport Stream)
The packet-based container that carries live broadcast television around the world.
| Full name | MPEG Transport Stream |
| Extension | .ts |
| MIME type | video/mp2t |
| Developer | ISO/IEC (Moving Picture Experts Group) |
| Released | 1995 (ISO/IEC 13818-1, July 10, 1995) |
| Type | Video container |
| Packet size | 188 bytes per packet |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 13818-1 / ITU-T H.222.0 |
What is a TS file?
TS stands for Transport Stream. It is the container format defined by the MPEG-2 standard for carrying digital video, audio, and data over broadcast channels. You will find it in DVB television, ATSC broadcasts, and HLS streaming on the web.
A TS file packages audio and video into a sequence of fixed-size 188-byte packets. Each packet carries a 13-bit identifier called a PID, which tells the decoder which stream that packet belongs to. The fixed packet size makes it easy for decoders to resync after a transmission error. Unlike MP4 or MKV, a TS file can carry multiple programs at once, each with its own set of audio and video streams.
History
The format was standardized by ISO and IEC as part of MPEG-2 Systems, published on July 10, 1995 under the designation ISO/IEC 13818-1. It was co-published as ITU-T Recommendation H.222.0. The 188-byte packet size was chosen to align with the ATM cell size used in telecommunications at the time. The standard has been revised several times, with the most recent edition published in 2022.
Container vs codec
Every TS packet starts with a sync byte of 0x47, which lets decoders find packet boundaries even after signal corruption. The 4-byte header includes the PID, flags for scrambling and priority, and a continuity counter that detects dropped packets. The remaining 184 bytes carry the payload, which can be audio, video, subtitles, or metadata. Program Map Tables and Program Association Tables embedded in the stream describe how the different PIDs relate to each other.
What it is used for
- Digital broadcast television (DVB, ATSC, ISDB) over satellite, cable, and antenna
- HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) video delivery on the web and mobile apps
- Recording live TV captures from tuner cards and set-top boxes
- Professional video production workflows where stream integrity over unreliable links matters
How to open it
VLC Media Player opens TS files on Windows, macOS, and Linux with no extra codecs needed. On Windows you can also use Media Player Classic or PotPlayer; on macOS, IINA works well.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Error resilient: fixed packet size lets decoders recover after signal dropout
- Carries multiple programs in a single file, useful for broadcast multiplexing
- Widely supported by broadcast hardware, software decoders, and streaming stacks
- No end-of-file index required, so it works for live and continuous streams
Trade-offs
- Larger file size than MP4 for the same content because of packet overhead
- Not ideal for web playback or general use; most players prefer MP4 or WebM
- Seeking is slow without an external index because packets must be scanned linearly
- The multi-program structure adds complexity when you only need a single video track
Convert TS files
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TS FAQ
What is the difference between a TS file and an MTS or M2TS file?
MTS and M2TS are also MPEG Transport Streams but wrapped in the Blu-ray AVCHD container format. They use the same underlying packet structure as TS files but are recorded by camcorders and Blu-ray devices rather than broadcast tuners.
Can I play a TS file on my phone or TV?
Most smart TVs and Android devices can play TS files natively. On iPhones and iPads, support is limited, so converting the file to MP4 first is the easiest option.
Why are TS files used for HLS streaming?
HLS splits a video into small TS segments that are downloaded one after another. The format suits this because each segment is self-contained and decoders do not need the full file to start playing. Newer HLS implementations can also use MP4 fragments, but TS remains dominant for compatibility.
How do I convert a TS file to MP4?
You can upload your TS file here and convert it to MP4 in seconds. The audio and video streams are remuxed without re-encoding, so quality is preserved and the conversion is fast.