An apparatus and method for acquiring Internet real-time media channels in a private network. The method includes receiving a service advertisement from a media channel server. The media channel server acts as a gateway between one or more channel service providers and a plurality of rendering devices on a private network. A subscription identifier (ID) and a URI (Universal Resource Identifier) are sent to the media channel server to enable the media channel server to request Internet channel information from one or more channel service providers. If the subscription identifier (ID) is validated by the one or more channel service providers, the Internet channel information is provided from the one or more channel service providers via the media channel server. The Internet channel information is provided to a user for enabling the user to browse the Internet channel information and request media content found on at least one Internet channel to be rendered on at least one of the plurality of rendering devices.