Free online WTV to OGV converter

Windows Media Center recordings use WTV, while many open-source video players and web workflows expect OGV. Converting the recording makes it easier to edit, archive, or play on software that supports Ogg Theora and Vorbis but not Microsoft's TV container.

What the WTV format is

WTV is Microsoft's Windows Recorded TV Show container, introduced for Windows Media Center in Windows Vista and used by later Windows Media Center installations. It stores captured television broadcasts, typically with MPEG-2 or H.264 video and one or more audio, subtitle, or broadcast-data streams.

You normally encounter WTV files in the recorded-TV folder on a Media Center computer. Some recordings contain copy-protection restrictions or encryption; those files cannot be converted by FFmpeg or ordinary desktop converters unless the recording is legally accessible and unprotected.

What the OGV format is

OGV is an Ogg video container commonly used with Theora video and Vorbis audio. It is supported by many open-source media players, Linux applications, and older web or multimedia workflows.

The format is useful when you need an open, patent-unencumbered container and do not require modern codecs such as H.264 or AV1. OGV is less suitable for current mobile, television, and browser compatibility than MP4 because many newer devices do not provide built-in Theora support.

How to convert WTV to OGV

Using FFmpeg

FFmpeg is the most controllable desktop option. Install a current build, open a terminal in the folder containing the recording, and inspect its streams first:

ffmpeg -i recording.wtv

Convert the video to Theora and the audio to Vorbis with:

ffmpeg -i recording.wtv -c:v libtheora -q:v 7 -c:a libvorbis -q:a 4 recording.ogv

In FFmpeg, -q:v 7 gives moderate-to-good Theora quality; values from 0 to 10 control quality, with higher values generally producing larger files. -q:a 4 provides a moderate Vorbis bitrate. Increase both values when quality matters, or lower them to reduce file size.

If the WTV contains several audio tracks, select one explicitly after checking the stream list:

ffmpeg -i recording.wtv -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -c:v libtheora -q:v 7 -c:a libvorbis -q:a 4 recording.ogv

Use -map 0:v:0 for the first video stream and -map 0:a:0 for the first audio stream. Add -sn if FFmpeg attempts to copy an incompatible subtitle stream:

ffmpeg -i recording.wtv -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -sn -c:v libtheora -q:v 7 -c:a libvorbis -q:a 4 recording.ogv

Using the online converter

You can convert the file for free on 101convert.com without installing software: select the WTV file, choose OGV as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting file. This option is practical for an unprotected recording when command-line control is unnecessary.

Quality and compatibility considerations

WTV-to-OGV conversion normally requires transcoding because WTV commonly contains MPEG-2 or H.264, while OGV output usually uses Theora. Transcoding reduces quality compared with the original recording, so retain the WTV as the archival master and use a higher -q:v value when the OGV is for editing or long-term access.

Television recordings can contain interlaced video. If the output shows comb-shaped edges during motion, deinterlace while converting:

ffmpeg -i recording.wtv -vf yadif -c:v libtheora -q:v 7 -c:a libvorbis -q:a 4 recording.ogv

OGV may not preserve every WTV feature, including broadcast metadata, protected-content flags, multiple subtitle formats, or nonstandard audio streams. Test the result in the intended player and verify duration, audio synchronization, aspect ratio, and captions before deleting the original.