Strmlnk files for HBO Max on Apple TV 4k not working

[jlfmn]

Hoping someone can help as I have been trying for three days to get them to work again

I have read and reread many posts here and online. The files are named correctly based on the documentation and they show up in Channels DVR with perfect match and metadata. They will play from within the Channels web interface but will not play from my Apple TV 4k device. I tried installing Stream Links Manager for Channels and that worked fine as well but still the link files would not open HBO Max and play the episode.

Channels DVR Server on newer Windows 11 PC
Channels App on Apple TV 4k device
Using only Channels DVR I created a strm.lnk file for an HBO Max program “Task” season 1 episode 2 and placed it in the Imports/TV folder of Channels

"C:\channels-data\Imports\TV\Task\Season 1\1x02.strmlnk"

The content in the strmlnk file is: using https

(play.hbomax.com/episode/urn:hbo:episode:993bfd3b-72e9-4184-adc8-4fedc8e3325b/bdedd0d5-ce3b-4139-8a36-a9dd80b4a7bf)

The link works and plays the episode in the Channels DVR web interface but will not play on my Apple TV 4k box.

I have rebooted all devices-pc, router, Apple TV 4k. several times
I have tried different episode naming such as S01E02, 1x02, 01x02 and have verified that the file containing the link from HBO Max is saved as a .strmlnk file.

*Update: strmlnk files open Amazon Prime in both the web interface and in the app on the Apple Tv 4k device but does not go to the respective show/episode

[tmm1]

Prob related to Max getting renamed. Will take a look

[jlfmn]

Thanks for taking a look. I have tried various HBO Max episodes and movies and none work. Trying Amazon Prime for episodes and movies will work but don't always go to the episode or movie but they do open the Prime Video app on my Apple TV 4k

[jlfmn]

I was mistaken. The strmlnk files on Amazon Prime do not work either. I thought that they were but they are only opening the Amazon Prime app to the "home page" , not the episode.

[jlfmn]

Discovered that using the Channels app on my Google Pixel phone, it correctly opens the stream link and the respective episode plays as expected. Still no luck using the Channels app on Apple TV 4k or iPad. Have read about possible SSL issues and "deep link" issues with tvos and ipados. Still trying to get this resolved.

[jlfmn]

Still unable to get it to work. This is what I have tried:

Uninstalled and reinstalled Channels DVR server and the Channels App on the ATV box, restarted all. I factory reset ATV 4k. I have gone through a Windows 11 reinstall, verified folder/file permissions, turned off all firewalls, antivirus etc. Tried different DNS

Reinstalled the Channels DVR server, reinstalled the Channels app on the ATV box, verified the folder structure etc. I set up new recording passes and tested that I can record live tv. I created a new .stmlnk file and added it to the Imports folder as the documentation describes.

I updated to the beta release of Channels and have tried the suggestion of using the .strm file extension and changing the link to the hbomax:// rather than https:// without success. Frustrating as the .strmlnk files worked perfectly earlier this year in April/May. I did discover that .strmlnk for a Amazon Prime tv show worked somewhat but it only opens the Amazon Prime Video app, but does not go to the specific show.

I do not have any other devices to test with and am thinking that I have reached the limit of what I can do. Disappointing in that Babsonsnexus Stream Link Manager is so well done and it is the perfect method to accomplish what I am trying to do. Channels on Apple TV 4k just delivers perfect functionality and picture quality. Far superior to Plex, Jellyfin etc.

[jlfmn]

An update… .strmlnk for a movie and a tv show episode from Apple TV+ worked perfectly! Same attempt from Prime Video resulted in only being taken to the Prime app. When trying the tv episode and a movie from HBO Max did not work.

One thing I noticed was that the meta data on the ones from Apple TV+ and HBO Max contained the number of minutes of the videos, however, that info was not present for the Prime ones.

[jlfmn]

I have to believe that the issue is that HBO Max changed they way it handles deeplinks. Prime is likely doing the same. HBO Max links worked in May now they don't. I am done chasing a workaround and done with trying almost everything else. Plex got me almost there but even with Direct Play, picture quality was not good most of the time and the UI is messy and hard to navigate. At least the Discover did find my HBO Max show and it worked to open the HBO Max app and play the respective video Tried various others such as Infuse, Playon, Justwatch. Have uninstalled apps, updated everything, power cycled and on and one. Embarrassed that I spent so much time trying. Channels really is the gold standard in my opinion. I will continue to use it without stream links until the providers fix their issues or at least admit that they will not allow deeplinks for .strmlnk.