Experimental: Stream Links from the Guide via Custom Channels

Channels DVR Server
#186

Yes, some of the streamlinks are different on ios vs tvOS.
What i have done, until someone else comes up with a more elegant solution, is to create two stream links, one for ios and one for tvos. They must have different channel numbers.

once you have verified that each of the stream links works for the correct device, you can use channels collections to isolate the “duplicate” channel that way.

I also tried to use a client specific server side setting but for some reason that did not work out for me. But it looks like you can isolate different sources to different clients.

At one point I had an IOS source and a separate tvOS source, but I coukdnt get it working and decided it was easier to use a channels collection to separate them out.

Hope this helps

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#187

Ahh, I like that idea. I'm pretty new to Channels (it's quickly becoming a nerd obsession), but I think what you're saying is that for each client, go into Server Side Only > Channel Collections and make it so only the correct collection appears for that client?

#188

As stated earlier we will make any transformations in the app so iOS links work on tvOS. Just let us know what to add.

2 Likes
#189

Fantastic.. must have missed that post.

So far Ive only run into this with the nfl network on the NFL app. Not sure whats gonna happen in the fall with redzone. Too early to tell.

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#190

Thanks! The one I'm thinking of is YouTube TV links on iOS, like this:

youtubetv://6t_X17ODjZs

That's a link to NBC Sports Philadelphia. And since those links don't work on tvOS, then either just a link to the YouTube app (without going to the show), or a link to the show in the NBC Sports app, which is this:

nbcsportstve://live/rsn-philadelphia

I'm not sure if people would prefer going to YouTube TV without going to the show, or going to the NBC app and going to the show. The NBC app has seemed pretty slow to load.

#191

We can make youtube links open the youtube app on tvOS. If you want to open a different app you'd need a separate entry.

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#192

Personally, I'd prefer them to open in the Youtube TV app on tvOS even if it doesn't go directly to the channel there. The NBC app is kind of flakey.

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#193

That is an understatement.
The NBC tvOS app isn’t very stable. I don’t have YTTV to make a comparison, but I’ve seen a ton of flakiness mostly on the Apple Tv. The NBC app on iOS seems more stable.

2 Likes
#194

I haven't had any issues with the NBC app on the ATV, it is the MSNBC app that is unusable. Most of the time it opens two instances of the app, and it creates this audio echo between the two instances. Really strange behavior that has nothing to do with Channels and links.

#195

Has anyone been able to add multiple Music Choice channel links? On Spectrum, the networkID's are the same for every Music Choice channel, so you can only add one channel, the first one. If anyone knows how to isolate links with the same networkID, please give some insight. Thanks.

#196

I installed the NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC apps and set them up. I’m using your file of the links. The only one that I can get to work is NBC. The other two only give me a blank screen. Any ideas? I did copy your file from my browser to a Notepad file and then later copied it intoChannels. Could that have corrupted the info somehow. Non printable characters inserted?

#197

There's no official MSNBC app on Android TV or FireTV

#198

Interesting. I’ve been seeing the same audio echos with the NBC app on ATV. But I echo your point that this has nothing so do with channels

#199

MSNBC on the ATV, when it echo's, and you press pause, the echo stops, and the sound works as expected, but the video pauses. Very strange indeed. Thankfully I haven't once had that issue with the NBC app.

#200

Try the links on post #1, and just use the NBC app.

#201

@tmm1 Do you understand the issue I pointed out with Spectrum, and realize that some channels have the same networkId? Just wondering if we are on the same page, or if I am missing something simple?

"entitlementId" and "mystroServiceId" both have different variables under the same "networkId", but I can't figure out how to add them to the link using trial and error.

1 Like
#202

Yea I get it. Are you able to use Siri to tune to those channels? The apple tv logs may show what URL its using when that happens.

#203

Sorry but my ATV didn't come with a remote and I use a Harmony Hub/Companion remote.

2 Likes
#204

Here is all the info for the channel I want to link:

{
"tmsGuideId": "19142",
"callSign": "MC16",
"networkName": "~MC16:",
"hd": false,
"online": true,
"qam": true,
"blockEas": false,
"logoUri": "/imageserver/guide/19142",
"entitlementId": "353",
"mystroServiceId": "2303",
"networkId": "235",
"streamUri": "/ipvs/api/smarttv/stream/live/v4/353",
"genres": [
"19142"
],
"favorite": false,
"cdvrRecordable": true,
"channelNumbers": [
415
],
"onlineEntitled": true,
"parentallyBlocked": false,
"nielsenReporting": {
"metrics": [],
"locations": []
},
"alternateContent": "NoAltContent",
"availableInMarket": true,
"availableOutOfMarket": true
},

#205

My NBC Stream Link setup for YouTube TV is below, although I'm not sure if this is different depending on where you're located. This works flawlessly on my 2018 iPad Pro, loading the correct YouTube TV stream almost instantly. I get some strange behavior on the iPhone, though. About half the time, it switches me over to YouTube TV, but I get a popup asking which browser I want to use (see screenshot below). It doesn't matter whether I select or unselect the "Ask me which app . . ." option at the bottom - it keeps coming back. If I cancel that and return to Channels and try again, it then works fine.

IMG_4544.PNG
IMG_4544.PNG1179×2556 88.7 KB

My setup:

#EXTM3U

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="nbc-iOS" tvg-chno="6000" tvc-guide-stationid="10991",NBC
youtubetv://cQDDAyx_fWM

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="bravo" tvg-chno="6058" tvc-guide-stationid="58625",BRAVOHD
youtubetv://P12seiJcdYo

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="msnbc" tvg-chno="6050" tvc-guide-stationid="64241",MNBCHD
youtubetv://q6bWEVqhP8o

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="cnbc" tvg-chno="6051" tvc-guide-stationid="58780",CNBC
youtubetv://GIBoX-XF5i0

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="syfy" tvg-chno="6054" tvc-guide-stationid="58623"  ,SYFYHD
youtubetv://uSfozGAsGMk

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="usa" tvg-chno="6052" tvc-guide-stationid="58452",USAHD
youtubetv://8xN3o2PSL5s

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="e" tvg-chno="6056" tvc-guide-stationid="61812",E
youtubetv://4XA2gdEOngg

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="oxygen" tvg-chno="6060" tvc-guide-stationid="70522",Oxygen
youtubetv://_XptfCraPjM

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="golf" tvg-chno="6159" tvc-guide-stationid="61854",GOLF
youtubetv://XK34g7QRvGk

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="nbcsn-philly” tvc-guide-stationid=“32571”,NBCSN PHILADELPHIA
youtubetv://6t_X17ODjZs