I've finally found an answer. The recorder file is proprietary. It's coded to
play in DVD players, but not computers. I've checked every type of help forum -
Ubuntu, Windows, Video and the consensus is there is no codec.

I find that strange - you can get all kinds of codecs to copy movies from a DVD,
but nothing recorded OTA.

The only other way is a TV card (or I saw some kind of USB stick TV device) and
record directly onto computer.

Does anyone have experience with either?