Download the m3u playlist, modify it to have the numbering scheme you want, and then have Channels use the locally saved m3u instead of the online version.
If you want things a particular way and just-so, it requires a little bit of effort. Editing a text file to your liking is minimal effort.
does this work? i can't get it to use the numbers from the M3U when using the text option...it's always putting them up in the 10k range (i have been testing a lot with adding/removing playlists)
edit: nevermind, was missing the channel-number tag.
just got this error when trying to map the guide on a text m3u...
A Javascript error has occurred!
Please refresh the browser after reporting this issue on Channels Community or to [email protected].
Cannot read property '0' of undefined
components/DeviceChannelsModal.js:553
filter@components/DeviceChannelsModal.js:552
render@react-dom/cjs/react-dom.production.min.js:182
gi@react-dom/cjs/react-dom.production.min.js:181
fi@react-dom/cjs/react-dom.production.min.js:263
Rj@react-dom/cjs/react-dom.production.min.js:246
Qj@react-dom/cjs/react-dom.production.min.js:246
Kj@react-dom/cjs/react-dom.production.min.js:239
c@react-dom/cjs/react-dom.production.min.js:123
stream.mpg format also doesn’t work
2020/11/21 20:45:39.688672 [ERR] Could not start stream for M3U-Channels ch9290 MSNBC: M3U: Could not fetch playlist: http://192.168.1.2:8089/devices/TVE-ATTOTT/channels/6050/stream.mpg: Get "http://192.168.1.2:8089/devices/TVE-ATTOTT/channels/6050/stream.mpg": net/http: timeout awaiting response headers
2020/11/21 20:45:39.853636 [TNR] Opened connection to TVE-ATTOTT for ch6050 MSNBC
M3U is not set to MPEGTS mode
TWIT uses Ustream for streaming. Ustream splits their audio and video tracks into two different streams in their HLS implementation.
Channels can not handle this style at this time.
Tested using MPEG-TS mode as well. Submitted diagnostics logs.
2020/11/21 21:53:12.779542 [ERR] Could not start stream for M3U-Channels ch9290 MSNBC: M3U: Timeout after 10s connecting to: http://192.168.1.2:8089/devices/TVE-ATTOTT/channels/6050/stream.mpg
2020/11/21 21:53:13.707620 [TNR] Opened connection to TVE-ATTOTT for ch6050 MSNBCWhat do the logs from the Channels DVR server that is sending the data say? I bet both sides of transaction would be even more helpful.
ok, what's the trick to getting this thing to recognize guide data? i have a scraper that i wrote to spit out the exact same format the pluto docker container is but for my custom channels, and channels just will not recognize it. what am i doing wrong? it sees my m3u and loads the channels fine, but the guide data just will not load...
edit: nevermind, i figured it out. i'll write an explanation for all of this at some point.
I keep having connection lost on the Pluto channels. Usually during a commercial. Nothing shows up in the logs. Using Windows 10 for the DVR and stream is set for HLS. Anyone else having a connection lost?
I am as well, which is how I found your post. Thought I might be doing something wrong. It seems to be specific channels. Was watching This Old House and everything was ok, but then switched over to 007 and would only stay connected shortly after a commercial break. Has issues with the Cats 24/7 doing the same (wife wanted to see the kittens, not me).
Bummer 
So close.... and yet so far. Thanks for looking into it so quickly, though! 
I note that TWiT.tv also offers Twitch as well as YouTube Live streams, by any chance would either of those options work instead?
I have Pluto TV running here, but the stream locks up completely after a few minutes and I have to exit out and in to get it working again.
What m3u file are you using? The Pluto channels are VERY sensitive to the stream url format. I was having problems using fHDHR but works solid using the pluto-for-channels docker.
A quick question...what triggers the clients to update their guide data? The docker is running on 3hr interval and the DVR is running on my set 6hr interval (confirmed). But it seems as if the client (firetv) doesn't always update with the new data.
I’ve been using the m3u from way up top from a previous post. Sorry for the dumb question, but what exactly is a docker and how do I install on a Synology? I’ve seen that mentioned but this is fairly new to me and would like to have a stable stream. Appreciate any help you can offer.
I had the problems with the techzyon m3u too. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with Synology and how it handles adding extra capabilities. Maybe someone else can offer advice.
I've run the docker on Pi4 with standard Raspian base, a PC running Ubuntu server 18.04 and on a PC running Windows 10, Docker Desktop and WSL2 Ubuntu.
yes, like I said in my edit I figured it out. I'm going to write up a blog post at some point on it so people can be aware of the potential pitfalls...