Experimental: Stream Links from the Guide via Custom Channels

[cyberskier]

@Dennis_L

My TVE doesn't have local channels.

Did you check the box in the Experimental section of the server settings, for local channel support in TVE?

[Dennis_L]

Yes…Actually Fox appears as available but I just get a forever whirlybird.

[Fofer]

Man, that saga sounds really frustrating, to see your TV options get whittled down one-by-one, especially when it’s from new DRM restrictions… ugh

Anyway, the good news is that yes, there are ways to integrate those streams you have via the apps, back into Channals DVR. There are homebrew add-on projects that are designed for this.

Here’s one, using Chrome on a server:

Chrome Capture for Channels

Simplified Installation Instructions (as of 2024-05-07 at 08:50am ET | v0.1.10) Chrome Capture for Channels will open a Chrome browser and literally capture what is being shown on that tab and project it to Channels DVR. It works based on the browser's built-in capture functionality and other programs that have taken advantage of that in the past. It requires no interaction after initial setup and only will display a specific tab to Channels DVR. It does not take over your system as it is basic…

or

AndroidHDMI for Channels (ah4c): A virtual channel tuner using HDMI Encoder(s) + streaming stick(s)

The original HDMI for Channels thread is super long, and this particular variant (dockerized version of ah4c plus ws-scrcpy) bears only a passing resemblance to the original project. So, I thought it might be time to create a new thread that highlights what the capabilities are of this very useful extension. There are two projects that use this same combination of HDMI encoder(s) + streaming stick(s) as a source for Channels DVR. This project, ah4c, and ADBTuner. ADBTuner is great for any strea…

For the latter, you’ll need a dedicated Android streamer, the Onn TV box is a solid choice:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/onn-Google-TV-4K-Streaming-Box-New-2023-4K-UHD-Resolution/2835618394

You’ll also need an HDMI encoder.

There is lots of discussion in this forum about these projects. A great place to start is by installing docker, Portainer, and then OliveTin, because OliveTin can handle the rest (and so much more) very easily for you:

OliveTin for Channels: An Interface for Misc Channels DVR Scripts & Tricks

I've been working on a Channels DVR specific version of the OliveTin project. The idea is to make this a central interface for the various scripts people have developed, and miscellaneous tricks that require Python, cURL, jq or whatever. I'll build and maintain the container, including whatever dependencies are required for your favorite script or command line magic for Channels DVR. Here are some screenshots of a few things I have running so far, just to give you an idea of what's possible. I'…

Each path has its own pros and cons of course. I encourage you to try both and see what works best for your setup. Hope this helps, and enjoy-

[babsonnexus]

Unfortunately, unless I missed something, I didn't see anything in that thread than was different than here. I already get the individual app launches; it is just the list of every station for those apps that I'm looking for in a nice, simple, collected format. Since it doesn't appear it exists, I'll have to scour this thread for what I can.

[Jean0987654321]

Yeah...thats not possible. You would have to seek that out yourself

I don't think many people want to sort through all those links. Just the ones they want IMO

[gcrowder]

So, I'm not smart with this at all. Trying to get FanDuel Sports Network South to show up in my guide.

I got all of the NBC networks to show up by copying some of the links in this thread.

FWIW, it's xfinity channel 1250 if that matters at all, but I want it to link to the FanDuel app.

[kthomas1059]

The only way I have been able to get this channel in the guide to watch has been with the FuboTV bridge Docker. Unfortunately the developer that created this docker is no longer maintaining it and the Fubo API has changed (it still works for users that have not stopped the service but new users will not be able to authenticate.)

If you just want the guide info and to open the app for the live stream this is the info I used when it was still Bally Sports branded.

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="ballysse" tvg-chno="6301" tvc-guide-stationid="",Bally Sports Southeast
ballysports://livenow

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="ballysso" tvg-chno="6302" tvc-guide-stationid="",Bally Sports South
ballysports://livenow

[babsonnexus]

Welp, I went through this entire thread and then some and there is an okay amount of documented Stream Link Stations, but not enough to make the "automatically build stations" component worthwhile to fully develop. That said, I have something else ready to assist with Stream Link Stations that I'll launch soon..........

[babsonnexus]

In the latest version of Playlist Manager for Channels (a Streaming Library Manager extension), there is now support for "Stream Link Stations" under Streaming Stations. Check out the details here:

Release v2025.01.28.1009 · babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels

This, combined with the new function to automatically create the Custom Channel in Channels DVR with a single button click can help make managing these and other stations and streaming playlists much easier. You'll still need to know and get the links like nbctve://live/usa yourself, but that is all you'll need to have and know in order to implement this feature.

Enjoy!

[eldienne]

Did anyone ever work out how to use the streamlines for UK apps? Specifically NOWTV, ITV FAST channels - they can be opened from TVOS using tvlauncher app so I am guessing there is a way of creating a link? Any super tech people out there that can point me in the right direction please?

[tmm1]

See:

@nigellee22

The format for Now TV deeplinks is...

nowtv://go/query/service_key/xxxx/play

[eldienne]

Thank you!!!!!

[floyd86uk]

It seems that Now TV in the UK has just updated to merge with Peacock. I’m trying to find deeplinks for Android TV (Nvidia Shield) to launch live channels from within the Now TV app. The AndroidManifest.xml from the latest Now TV APK seems to confirm that Now TV is now Peacock under the hood.

Main Launch activity:

<activity android:name="com.peacock.peacocktv.GoogleMainActivity" android:launchMode="singleTask" android:exported="true">

Deeplink support:

<intent-filter android:autoVerify="true">
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW"/>
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT"/>
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE"/>
    <data android:host="tv.client.ott.sky.com" android:scheme="https"/>
</intent-filter>

tv.client.ott.sky.com is still the host, but the deeplink pattern being:

<data android:host="@string/deeplink_hostname" android:pathPattern="/deeplink" android:scheme="https"/>

suggests that the deeplinks will go like this:

https://tv.client.ott.sky.com/deeplink

This lead me to the Peacock stream link questions and resolution here:

Stream Links on Android/Google TV

This is the auto-play Peacock deep link format: https://www.peacocktv.com/deeplink?deeplinkData={"pvid":"1234","type":"PROGRAMME","action":"PLAY"} I've found that to auto-play an episode or movie on Peacock from a deep link (as opposed to opening its detail page and needing to press another play button), in the deeplinkData JSON, pvid needs to be the ID key, and the value of the action key needs to be PLAY (instead of PDP for the detail page). For example, to open a direct episode link like t…

I’m not quite sure where to go from here, but if I change:

https://www.peacocktv.com/deeplink?deeplinkData={"pvid":"04569a08-33e0-3835-9a21-76af2e31fa69","type":"PROGRAMME","action":"PLAY"}

To:

https://tv.client.ott.sky.com/deeplink?deeplinkData={"pvid":"04569a08-33e0-3835-9a21-76af2e31fa69","type":"PROGRAMME","action":"PLAY"}

I can get the Now TV app to open and a message pops up saying “Content is not available”. I assume that it’s because I’m trying to play a US-based show on Peacock from whatever that ‘pvid’ value is.

I’m wondering if there is anything that can be done to that link to tweak it to play a live channel stream in Now TV. Does the Peacock service in the US have live channels, and can they be streamed via deeplinks? If so, does anyone know of any variations in the link above, or any others that launch live TV streams via Peacock that I might be able to test to get a live channel stream on Now TV in the UK?

[tmm1]

See:

@miles

I did some digging, and after much trial and error, I figured out the deep link format for Peacock live channels.

Peacock has two types of live channels: LINEAR_CHANNEL and VOD_CHANNEL.

• https://www.peacocktv.com/deeplink?deeplinkData={"serviceKey":"1234","type":"LINEAR_CHANNEL","action":"PLAY"}
• https://www.peacocktv.com/deeplink?deeplinkData={"serviceKey":"VC1234","type":"VOD_CHANNEL","action":"PLAY"}

To determine the type, look at the serviceKey (last portion of the URL path): if it starts with "VC" then the type is VOD_CHANNEL, otherwise the type is LINEAR_CHANNEL.

[floyd86uk]

Amazing! Thank you - that nailed it.

For Now TV users on Nvidia Shield in the UK, I can confirm this works to launch directly into a live channel:

https://tv.client.ott.sky.com/deeplink?deeplinkData={"serviceKey”:"xxxx","type":"LINEAR_CHANNEL","action":"PLAY"}

Thanks @tmm1 and @miles for this

[tsheley]

Anyone know the Deep Link for the MGM+ app?

[fjh3]

Similar does anyone know the url to launch the MAX app. wbdstreaming:// does not work as indicated in Stream Link URLs

[fjh3]

figured out that max does not need a url link to launch the app prior, the deep link itself is sufficient: Max | Stream Series and Movies......

[TaliandTony]

Is this still working?

[KineticMan]

hey @tmm1 ....
probably niche request, but thought i'd at least ask.. I was able to grab some services (espn/appletv MLS in particular) guide data and corresponding deeplink urls. I then generate a m3u and xml that fills out a guide. the snafu is the url obviously changes everytime a new event is live. is there any remote possibility of a custom tag in the xml that when that particular event is called for, cdvr would call the streamlink url in the xml as opposed to the one in the m3u?

i currently make a new channel for every event but this would look a little prettier.

example: channel espn1 m3u defaults to sportscenter://mainpage , and the event live now is sportscenter://xyz123 and live later is sportscenter://xyz555..