Watch party: the group chat over whatever you are watching
Tevegram can display a Telegram conversation on top of any other app on your Android TV or Google TV: the live TV channel, a match, Plex, YouTube, a game. Everyone watches on their own TV and the group chat stays on screen. It is a per-conversation toggle, and the overlay disappears when nobody writes.
What you need
- An Android TV or Google TV device with Tevegram installed and signed in (not available on Apple TV: tvOS does not allow overlays).
- The Android permission "Display over other apps" granted to Tevegram; the app asks for it the first time.
- A Telegram group or chat with the people you are watching with.
Setup
Enable the overlay on the conversation. In the Chats tab, select the group and turn on the notification bell next to it. The first time, Android opens the "Display over other apps" permission screen: allow Tevegram.
Switch to what you want to watch. Press Home and open anything: the TV channel, Plex, YouTube, a streaming app. Tevegram keeps running in the background.
Watch, and talk. Every new message in that group appears as a bubble over the picture, then fades out. To reply, go back to Tevegram, or answer from your phone: the reply shows up on everyone's TV.
Good to know
It works over any app, including live TV
The overlay is a system window, so it sits on top of anything the TV displays: the built-in tuner, an HDMI input, a streaming app, a game. Plex is only one example.
Synchronization is up to you
Tevegram does not synchronize playback between TVs. For a movie on Plex or a file, agree on a start time ("play in 3, 2, 1") in the group; for live TV or a match, everyone is already in sync.
Several groups at once
The bell is per conversation: you can enable it on more than one group. Keep it to the ones you actually watch with, or the screen fills up quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Do my friends need Tevegram too?
No. They only need to be in the Telegram group, from any device. Tevegram is needed on the TVs that want the overlay.
Can I hide the overlay quickly?
Turn off the bell on the conversation in Tevegram, or revoke the "Display over other apps" permission in the TV settings if you want to block it entirely.
Does it work on Apple TV?
No. tvOS does not let an app draw on top of another one. The Tevegram app for Apple TV has no overlay, by platform limitation.