FastChannels - FAST Channels aggregator/manager

KineticMan · May 28, 2026, 8:34pm

IMPORTANT UPDATE

Plex is doing something funny. It's creating duplicate channels and EPG isn't working. I suspect API changed.
The upstream data we use for Samsung TV+ is down at the moment. I don't have a workaround currently short of matching all the Channels to Gracenote. I think I have a lead on this ...

I'm working on Plex now and hopefully I can figure it out and get a hotfix out.

Fofer · May 28, 2026, 9:26pm

This post did not age well

KineticMan · May 28, 2026, 9:35pm

lol it’s all your fault!

blkpanthr · May 28, 2026, 10:01pm

edit: oops, spun up a second channels by accident instead of fast channels.

ok, im a doofus, i forgot the fix the data directory to my docker subdirectory.

and now of course now i see the db file.

now back to our regularly scheduled portainer struggle...

blkpanthr · May 28, 2026, 10:27pm

of course now replacing the db file bombs out the new container because my original fastchannels db is out of date and i cant get into my original portainer to update it.

if it isnt one thing, its another..

blkpanthr · May 28, 2026, 10:36pm

hmm....i got them both to the same version, but replacing the fastchannels.db bombs out the new container.

There are both on 3.9.0

heres the log

   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/util/langhelpers.py", line 122, in __exit__
    raise exc_value.with_traceback(exc_tb)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/impl.py", line 176, in _do_get
    return self._create_connection()
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 389, in _create_connection
    return _ConnectionRecord(self)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 674, in __init__
    self.__connect()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 914, in __connect
    )._exec_w_sync_on_first_run(self.dbapi_connection, self)
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/event/attr.py", line 502, in _exec_w_sync_on_first_run
    self(*args, **kw)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/event/attr.py", line 516, in __call__
    fn(*args, **kw)
  File "/app/app/__init__.py", line 68, in _set_sqlite_pragmas
    dbapi_conn.execute("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL")
sqlite3.DatabaseError: database disk image is malformed

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/app/app/__init__.py", line 74, in create_app
    db.create_all()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/flask_sqlalchemy/extension.py", line 900, in create_all
    self._call_for_binds(bind_key, "create_all")
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/flask_sqlalchemy/extension.py", line 881, in _call_for_binds
    getattr(metadata, op_name)(bind=engine)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/sql/schema.py", line 5930, in create_all
    bind._run_ddl_visitor(
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 3269, in _run_ddl_visitor
    with self.begin() as conn:
         ^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/contextlib.py", line 137, in __enter__
    return next(self.gen)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 3259, in begin
    with self.connect() as conn:
         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 3295, in connect
    return self._connection_cls(self)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 146, in __init__
    Connection._handle_dbapi_exception_noconnection(
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 2450, in _handle_dbapi_exception_noconnection
    raise sqlalchemy_exception.with_traceback(exc_info[2]) from e
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 144, in __init__
    self._dbapi_connection = engine.raw_connection()
                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 3319, in raw_connection
    return self.pool.connect()
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 448, in connect
    return _ConnectionFairy._checkout(self)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 1272, in _checkout
    fairy = _ConnectionRecord.checkout(pool)
            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 712, in checkout
    rec = pool._do_get()
          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/impl.py", line 178, in _do_get
    with util.safe_reraise():
         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/util/langhelpers.py", line 122, in __exit
__
    raise exc_value.with_traceback(exc_tb)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/impl.py", line 176, in _do_get
    return self._create_connection()
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 389, in _create_connection
    return _ConnectionRecord(self)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 674, in __init__
    self.__connect()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 914, in __connect
    )._exec_w_sync_on_first_run(self.dbapi_connection, self)
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/event/attr.py", line 502, in _exec_w_sync_on_first_run
    self(*args, **kw)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/event/attr.py", line 516, in __call__
    fn(*args, **kw)
  File "/app/app/__init__.py", line 68, in _set_sqlite_pragmas
    dbapi_conn.execute("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL")
sqlalchemy.exc.DatabaseError: (sqlite3.DatabaseError) database disk image is malformed
(Background on this error at: https://sqlalche.me/e/20/4xp6)
🚀 Starting FastChannels...
✅ Redis started
⏳ Waiting for Redis...
✅ Redis ready
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 144, in __init__
    self._dbapi_connection = engine.raw_connection()
                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 3319, in raw_connection
    return self.pool.connect()
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 448, in connect
    return _ConnectionFairy._checkout(self)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 1272, in _checkout
    fairy = _ConnectionRecord.checkout(pool)
            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 712, in checkout
    rec = pool._do_get()
          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/impl.py", line 178, in _do_get
    with util.safe_reraise():
         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/util/langhelpers.py", line 122, in __exit__
    raise exc_value.with_traceback(exc_tb)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/impl.py", line 176, in _do_get
    return self._create_connection()
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 389, in _create_connection
    return _ConnectionRecord(self)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 674, in __init__
    self.__connect()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 914, in __connect
    )._exec_w_sync_on_first_run(self.dbapi_connection, self)
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/event/attr.py", line 502, in _exec_w_sync_on_first_run
    self(*args, **kw)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/event/attr.py", line 516, in __call__
    fn(*args, **kw)
  File "/app/app/__init__.py", line 68, in _set_sqlite_pragmas
    dbapi_conn.execute("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL")
sqlite3.DatabaseError: database disk image is malformed

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/app/app/__init__.py", line 74, in create_app
    db.create_all()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/flask_sqlalchemy/extension.py", line 900, in create_all
    self._call_for_binds(bind_key, "create_al
l")
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/flask_sqlalchemy/extension.py", line 881, in _call_for_binds
    getattr(metadata, op_name)(bind=engine)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/sql/schema.py", line 5930, in create_all
    bind._run_ddl_visitor(
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 3269, in _run_ddl_visitor
    with self.begin() as conn:
         ^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/contextlib.py", line 137, in __enter__
    return next(self.gen)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 3259, in begin
    with self.connect() as conn:
         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 3295, in connect
    return self._connection_cls(self)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 146, in __init__
    Connection._handle_dbapi_exception_noconnection(
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 2450, in _handle_dbapi_exception_noconnection
    raise sqlalchemy_exception.with_traceback(exc_info[2]) from e
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 144, in __init__
    self._dbapi_connection = engine.raw_connection()
                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/engine/base.py", line 3319, in raw_connection
    return self.pool.connect()
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 448, in connect
    return _ConnectionFairy._checkout(self)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 1272, in _checkout
    fairy = _ConnectionRecord.checkout(pool)
            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 712, in checkout
    rec = pool._do_get()
          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/impl.py", line 178, in _do_get
    with util.safe_reraise():
         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/util/langhelpers.py", line 122, in __exit__
    raise exc_value.with_traceback(exc_tb)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/impl.py", line 176, in _do_get
    return self._create_connection()
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 389, in _create_connection
    return _ConnectionRecord(self)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 674, in __init__
    self.__connect()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/pool/base.py", line 914, in __connect
    )._exec_w_sync_on_first_run(self.dbapi_connection, self)
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/event/attr.py", line 502, in _exec_w_sync_on_first_run
    self(*args, **kw)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/sqlalchemy/event/attr.py", line 516, in __call__
    fn(*args, **kw)
  File "/app/app/__init__.py", line 68, in _set_sqlite_pragmas
    dbapi_conn.execute("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL")
sqlalchemy.exc.DatabaseError: (sqlite3.DatabaseError) database disk image is malformed
(Background on this error at: https://sqlalche.me/e/20/4xp6)

KineticMan · May 28, 2026, 10:42pm

Hate to suggest it, but you may need to start fresh….

blkpanthr · May 28, 2026, 10:43pm

that would suck, it took me hours to set up all the feeds.

bnhf · May 28, 2026, 10:46pm

Can you post the docker run command or yaml you used to originally setup FastChannels, and the same for your new setup?

bnhf · May 28, 2026, 10:50pm

There's more than just fastchannels.db in my Docker/Portainer Volume:

blkpanthr · May 28, 2026, 10:50pm

i used neither completly

I couldnt get yaml to work (it didnt like my volumes, and i couldnt figure out how to fix them) and i used your docker run command in the first post to create the image but didnt modify the volumes in the command so i deleted the container and used the app to recreate it with the correct volumes.

i created the final containers through docker desktop (windows)/docker app (ugreen)

blkpanthr · May 28, 2026, 10:52pm

ill try replacing them all now just for funzies...

edit: ooff, this might take a bit, there is 19000 files in the data directory....

bnhf · May 28, 2026, 11:12pm

Those cache directories do have a lot of files, but I believe they're fairly small. The files, not including those cache subdirectories, are likely the most important.

blkpanthr · May 28, 2026, 11:15pm

yeah, the ugreen no likey small files...its poking along at 12KBps

and thats to an internal nvme over a 2.5gbe connection, not the rust spinners...

it must be doing something to process them as they get written.

i did drag and drop to the ugreen app rather than ssh, so perhaps there is a buffering issue somewhere. it went pretty fast when i added all my large media files to rust spinners.

blkpanthr · May 28, 2026, 11:36pm

i guess this is why. should have zipped it first and unzipped on the nas.

"If transferring thousands of tiny documents, photos, or code snippets, your file transfers will drop to a crawl. Every single file requires its own system overhead (checking permissions, locating disk space), overwhelming the system's input/output."

blkpanthr · May 29, 2026, 12:53am

yup, that was stupid. over 2 hours and only 75%

just zipped it transferred it up, and decompressed in less than a minute....

KineticMan · May 29, 2026, 12:54am

New version pushed - 4.0.0

New Sources

Frndly TV — live TV scraper with targeted EPG enrichment; requires credentials; disabled by default (Premium badge)
Fubo TV FAST — has access to most premium channels, but also their FAST channels. Credentials required, but if you sign up for a trial account then cancel, it gives you choice to downgrade to free FAST channels.

Plex Fixes

Fixed duplicate channels caused by server-prefix rotation — deduplicates on boot and carries forward the active stream URL
Fixed dead EPG endpoint — updated to current API
Fixed channels with no category — name-inference fallback now consults the full override table (this release)

Pluto TV

Re-exposed the local region selector in the UI (had been hidden); local region sorts to the bottom of the list

Stream Audit / Playback

Fixed DRM false positive for CMAF multi-DRM streams — Widevine+SAMPLE-AES combos no longer wrongly marked as DRM-only
WURL DRM channels now rejected at resolve time instead of silently failing
5xx CDN errors during stream audit treated as transient (not permanent dead)

Admin / UI

DB restore-from-backup endpoint and UI page
Stream preview in the custom channel editor
Channels DVR push: test connection button, better error UX
Dead channel modal: option to delete when the scraper has also lost the channel

Bug Fixes

~60 Fubo category overrides corrected across all content types
Several smaller category overrides
Favicon added; noisy health-check endpoints suppressed from access logs

blkpanthr · May 29, 2026, 1:05am

edit: i hosed the copy. retrying.

ok, that worked. had to restart the container a couple times. it coulnd find the network on initial startup, but on a restart it found it.

blkpanthr · May 29, 2026, 1:37am

any way to add a dynamic list of enabled, but unassigned sources to the feed screen?

with so many sources, and more coming all the time, its hard to keep track of what i have and havent added to the feeds.

Waffles · May 29, 2026, 1:57am

On the Channels tab, click the drop down for Feeds...