Plex Live TV Channels M3U?

[BryanChannelsDVR]

Seems better for sure. Not 100% there but it's a lot better. It does release the CPU when it's done. It seems to check the scheduler and rerun every every ten minutes but it only takes 5 minutes to run, at least from the logs.

2025-02-17T14:04:37.781255573Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-17_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:04:39.732979352Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-18_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:04:41.462078286Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-19_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:04:43.143950266Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-20_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:04:44.980010121Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-21_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:04:46.714604076Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-22_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:04:48.330967501Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-23_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:04:49.864227021Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-17_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:04:56.513680598Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-18_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:05:02.943133769Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-19_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:05:10.645793388Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-20_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:05:18.104506087Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-21_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:05:24.449471840Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-22_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:05:30.421398685Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-23_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:05:35.969662697Z [DEBUG - PLEX] EPG FIle Created Elapsed time: 58.24 seconds.
2025-02-17T14:05:40.882833893Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Compressed EPG FIle Created Elapsed time: 4.91 seconds.
2025-02-17T14:05:40.891282044Z [DEBUG - PLEX] EPG Call Complete
2025-02-17T14:05:40.893130884Z [INFO - PLEX] EPG Scheduler Complete
2025-02-17T14:15:41.759769144Z [INFO - PLEX] Running EPG Scheduler for plex
2025-02-17T14:15:41.759959365Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Running EPG Call
2025-02-17T14:15:41.777391776Z [INFO - PLEX] Reading channel id list cache for all geo locations
2025-02-17T14:15:41.778613009Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Number of channels 615
2025-02-17T14:15:41.779107006Z [DEBUG - PLEX] EPG Pass 3
2025-02-17T14:15:41.779135561Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-17
2025-02-17T14:15:41.779308634Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-17
2025-02-17T14:15:41.779373467Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-18
2025-02-17T14:15:41.779529577Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-18
2025-02-17T14:15:41.779627632Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-19
2025-02-17T14:15:41.779803465Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-19
2025-02-17T14:15:41.779854557Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-20
2025-02-17T14:15:41.780006648Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-20
2025-02-17T14:15:41.780049537Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-21
2025-02-17T14:15:41.780219851Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-21
2025-02-17T14:15:41.780261221Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-22
2025-02-17T14:15:41.780439442Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-22
2025-02-17T14:15:41.780459998Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-23
2025-02-17T14:15:41.780640311Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-23
2025-02-17T14:15:41.835111178Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-17_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:15:43.729256986Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-18_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:15:45.431661204Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-19_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:15:47.276215246Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-20_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:15:49.031069566Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-21_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:15:50.742635598Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-22_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:15:52.331456132Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-23_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:15:53.827618387Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-17_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:16:00.493097883Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-18_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:16:06.942158889Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-19_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:16:13.406507786Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-20_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:16:21.983443039Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-21_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:16:28.343407258Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-22_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:16:34.437515570Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-23_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:16:40.031681608Z [DEBUG - PLEX] EPG FIle Created Elapsed time: 58.25 seconds.
2025-02-17T14:16:44.963720967Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Compressed EPG FIle Created Elapsed time: 4.93 seconds.
2025-02-17T14:16:44.973914867Z [DEBUG - PLEX] EPG Call Complete
2025-02-17T14:16:44.975299803Z [INFO - PLEX] EPG Scheduler Complete
2025-02-17T14:16:44.975503579Z [INFO - PLEX] Checking scheduler thread
2025-02-17T14:26:45.844105183Z [INFO - PLEX] Running EPG Scheduler for plex
2025-02-17T14:26:45.844290590Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Running EPG Call
2025-02-17T14:26:45.860148344Z [INFO - PLEX] Reading channel id list cache for all geo locations
2025-02-17T14:26:45.861339651Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Number of channels 615
2025-02-17T14:26:45.861861574Z [DEBUG - PLEX] EPG Pass 0
2025-02-17T14:26:45.861917981Z [INFO - PLEX] Update Today's EPG data
2025-02-17T14:27:28.059186901Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] 2025-02-17 Station API Calls completed - Count 615: Elapsed time: 42.20 seconds.
2025-02-17T14:27:37.321156026Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] 2025-02-17 MediaContainer XML completed 615: Elapsed time: 9.26 seconds.
2025-02-17T14:27:39.743282624Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Number Stations identified: 615
2025-02-17T14:27:39.743376975Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Number Programs identified: 18870
2025-02-17T14:31:40.072912645Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Generate EPG Style completed: Elapsed time: 240.40 seconds.
2025-02-17T14:31:53.545964245Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-17
2025-02-17T14:31:53.546082170Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-17
2025-02-17T14:31:53.546215392Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-18
2025-02-17T14:31:53.546389150Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-18
2025-02-17T14:31:53.546442964Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-19
2025-02-17T14:31:53.546653500Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-19
2025-02-17T14:31:53.546747648Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-20
2025-02-17T14:31:53.546927869Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-20
2025-02-17T14:31:53.546964405Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-21
2025-02-17T14:31:53.547093349Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-21
2025-02-17T14:31:53.547151941Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-22
2025-02-17T14:31:53.547315700Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-22
2025-02-17T14:31:53.547367162Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Collect data for 2025-02-23
2025-02-17T14:31:53.547523791Z [NOTIFICATION - PLEX] Using Saved Data for 2025-02-23
2025-02-17T14:31:53.602646341Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-17_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:31:57.165231144Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-18_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:31:58.996836218Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-19_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:32:00.748092675Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-20_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:32:02.469114225Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-21_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:32:04.312065118Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-22_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:32:06.005002026Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Channels from 2025-02-23_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:32:07.405294177Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-17_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:32:14.126310991Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-18_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:32:20.596707977Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-19_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:32:29.229511763Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-20_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:32:35.737870276Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-21_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:32:42.110675104Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-22_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:32:48.167221969Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Processing Programs from 2025-02-23_epg.xml...
2025-02-17T14:32:53.874768072Z [DEBUG - PLEX] EPG FIle Created Elapsed time: 60.33 seconds.
2025-02-17T14:32:58.815262742Z [DEBUG - PLEX] Compressed EPG FIle Created Elapsed time: 4.94 seconds.
2025-02-17T14:32:58.839811091Z [DEBUG - PLEX] EPG Call Complete
2025-02-17T14:32:58.841116453Z [INFO - PLEX] EPG Scheduler Complete
2025-02-17T14:32:58.841657191Z [INFO - PLEX] Checking scheduler thread

[Andrew_Zimmern]

still seeing many channels missing large chunks of guide data for plex only. on 4.03 but i've seen it for a month or two now.

[rpaulmerrell]

If you are using Stream link manager for channels, Bring up the channels in question and assign gracenote data under parent stations.
I use the xumo docker and most of the epg is useless.
I just fired up the latest release here and it is looking much better.
I will check things in the morning.

[joagomez]

Can you provide examples of missing data and also if that data for the date/time shows up on the Plex live tv guide so that i can compare if the data is present and on getting processed or if Plex does not have guide data for that station and time

[Bobby_Vaughn]

I was getting an error on recording from Plex. I don't know it it was a one time error or an issue. Here is the error:

2025/02/19 20:38:39.179794 [ERR] Failed to start stream on channel 11091 via M3U-Plex: M3U: Could not fetch playlist from epg.provider.plex.tv: GET: https://epg.provider.plex.tv/library/parts/5e20b730f2f8d5003d739db7-5f91c4ea96a391002df9a664.m3u8?X-Plex-Token=None: 401 Unauthorized
2025/02/19 20:38:39.182912 [DVR] Error running job 1740015000-ch11091 Kids Diana Show: could not start stream on channels=[11091]: M3U: Could not fetch playlist from epg.provider.plex.tv: GET: https://epg.provider.plex.tv/library/parts/5e20b730f2f8d5003d739db7-5f91c4ea96a391002df9a664.m3u8?X-Plex-Token=None: 401 Unauthorized

[Andrew_Zimmern]

the plex guide looks fine. channels shows either completely missing guide data, or just says the channel name. when the guide data is completely missing, you can't even select the channel from the guide.

no issues with your pluto container or some others i use.

[chDVRuser]

Two things come to mind that may fix it;

1. Let Channels DVR assign the channel numbers
2. Delete and Recreate the guide database

[Andrew_Zimmern]

yea, delete and recreate will fix it from what i've seen before. this isn't the first time it's happened though, so i'm just curious why it seems to get into this state eventually.

i did upgrade the image a few times so maybe something got screwed up from that. using 4.03 and the new URL, and after rebuild it's all matching the actual plex guide now.

thanks!

[chDVRuser]

Kudos on v4.03
I took it for a spin and it's working great!
Very low memory usage and quick updates.

[BryanChannelsDVR]

Just want to say that 4.03 seems to be much better on length of time it holds onto CPU and Mem.

That being said, would you mind sharing why every few minutes it starts a new "EPG Pass x"? Only takes a couple of minutes to complete but I am curious what the internal scheduler is doing and why every few minutes?

Not sure how many passes it takes to fully complete but it just seems like it's about every 10 minutes.

[chDVRuser]

Yep, about every 10 minutes.
I think he said previously it's looking for any programming changes for todays schedule.
Found his post here

Plex Live TV Channels M3U?

Simple answer - if it has pulled data for tomorrow already it will not do so again until tomorrow. Basically, The logic is to pull day 1 API, the next time the scheduler is called it will pull day 2 (tomorrow), third call will pull day 3 and so on until there is data for every day up to 4 days worth of EPG data. If no data is pulled during any of those first four days, it would reattempt that day on the subsequent pull. After that the scheduler will pull todays data again on the next attempt. T…

Only now it does 7 days instead of 4.

[joagomez]

I have the scheduler set to run every 10 minutes up until it has a complete EPG listing (currently set to 7 days) after the complete listing is full, it should then change to only pull updates every 40 minutes.

as for the 7 days worth I chose that arbitrarily until I have this memory thing figured out as the more days I collect the more memory the container wants to use. Plex does have 14 days worth so once I am confident I can keep the memory usage low I can see about increasing that to the 14 days

[joagomez]

Not sure why token was missing. I assume it was because the container got restarted hadn't generated a token before attempting to play the station, which is something I noticed happening now during other troubleshooting. I am working code for such a case to verify the token has been generated after a restart

[Bobby_Vaughn]

I did a fresh install on docker and will be checking it out tonight. Other channels on Plex recorded last night fine. That channel is scheduled to try again in about 2 hours. I'm not sure if the watchtower update might have caused an issue or not. Thanks.

[Andrew_Zimmern]

my guide still looks good, but i noticed plex channels aren't showing the air date any longer in the guide. not sure if this is from rebuilding the guide db or something else. anyone else see this?

EDIT: now i see missing blocks in the guide again. why do i have to keep rebuilding the guide db for this container specifically?

EDIT EDIT: i was on the "recent" category. i went to another category and back and they showed. the guide data actually looks good when i check it, so this looks like a channels issue.

[chDVRuser]

@joagomez

I have the scheduler set to run every 10 minutes up until it has a complete EPG listing (currently set to 7 days) after the complete listing is full, it should then change to only pull updates every 40 minutes.

The schedule seems to be fine, but it always updates every ten minutes, hasn't changed to every 40 minutes. Been running it since v4.03 a couple days ago. Just saw v4.03a is available, so will pull that.
Looks like it just updates python and removes some regions.

[joagomez]

The scheduler still runs every 10 minutes, but pulls data from the server on the 4th call of the scheduler once 7 days worth of data has been collected.
So
Call 0 - pulls day 0 and 1
Call 1 - pulls day 2
Call 2 - pulls day 3
Call 3 - pulls day 4
Call 4 - pulls day 0 (in case of updates) and 5
Call 5 - day 6
Call 6 - no call to plex server
Call 7 - no call to plex server
Call 8 - day 0

It still generates the main epg file from the cached data every 10 minutes, but it does not necessarily make calls to the server every 10 minutes.

This logic was required to reduce the calls to the API server as you would start getting 429 errors from all the calls done to the servers (600+ calls for each channel for each day)

[radioboy]

I updated to the latest container, and it says it's running (logs show it's working and pulling data), but I can't view the container and the m3u and xml files are no longer reachable by Channels. Not sure what could have happened. All I did was update the container. It looks like, according to the log, that it's running on port 7777 but I have an env request for it to run on 5555... but it's not because it says in portainer it should be 7779... either way, 7777 is reserved for my Fubo container. It seems I can't control the port config anymore for the Plex For Channels container?

[joagomez]

@radioboy

env request for it to run on 5555

What ENV Variable are you using - it was changed to PORT no longer PLEX_PORT