I'd love to have premium channels (DRM) included in my guide. Of course, I couldn't use Channels to record or view the programming, but it would give a more comprehensive view of what is available. Also, if I selected a DRM program from the guide, the Channels App could launch the appropriate app (similar to the way Stream Links are handled).
You can do the first part of that with custom channels. Add all the channels you want as an m3u playlist, and don’t include a stream address. Map your epg data and you will have channels that appear in the guide but don’t play
Good tip, thanks.
I think this is the way FireTV Live TV does things.....it integrates the guides, but actually launches the native provider app (Now if only they didn't restrict the channels provided in the guide).
1 Like
So the developers are supposed to magically know which app corresponds to your combination of provider/channel/guide data?
If that is indeed how it works, their situation is much more limited. Amazon individually whitelists every app that appears in their live tab, so they have more control over how that works. In order to be in that page in the Amazon UI app developers need to work specifically with Amazon; very few apps get whitelisted.
I don't expect magic out of developers. I suggest that, if, for example, HBO shows up in the guide, a click on that show/channel would open the HBO app, or alternatively, give me the option to open my own app (Youtube TV, DirecTV, etc). No magic. Stream Links works this way now. Only, they work with onDemand content rather than linear content.
1 Like
I’m with you 100% , would be a great function to add streamlinks in the live guide. DIRECTV Stream does this on there osprey box for HBO Max, Netflix etc and it is a cool feature
(Links to open the apps, not individual content)
Another interesting way to handle this would be create a virtual channel with stream links. This isn't possible at the moment, as far as I know. Virtual channels only work with library content. But, if developers allowed stream links to be included in virtual channels, we could create our own linear channels out of stream links and clicking on them would naturally open the associated app.
Stream links are not supported in virtual channels, nor are there plans. VCs require the recording to exist, so that when created it knows how to partition the time in the guide, and when selected you can be inserted to the correct point and freely navigate.
Don't count on this happening.
Having dummy links in the guide is an interesting idea. It would have to be implemented in some new way, perhaps as custom channel.
I have thought about this before, since my PRIME is mostly DRM it could be useful to be able to click in from Channels and have the HDHR app open up which can actually play DRM.
There's no way to do this at the moment, but perhaps in the future.
4 Likes
If you are genuinely considering this—personally I disagree, but you could use the guide data but limit it based upon the lineup.json—and instead of displaying the On Later for a channel to instead (prompt to) launch an external app ...
I just wish there was a way to click on a movie in the app guide that has already started and see additional "on later" times.
1 Like
This doesn't display future showings (yet), but it will offer you to option to view the copy in your library if you have already recorded it. Not quite the same thing, but a step in the direction …
2 Likes