1. Create a new request using this [form](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/issues/new?assignees=&labels=streams:add&projects=&template=1_streams_add.yml&title=Add%3A+) and if approved, the link will automatically be added to the playlist on the next update.
2. Add the link to the playlist directly using a [pull request](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/pulls).
Regardless of which option you choose, before posting your request please do the following:
- Make sure the link you want to add is stable, and works properly. To check this, open it in one of your usual players (for example, [VLC media player](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html)) and watch the broadcast for at least a minute (some test streams are interrupted after 15-30 seconds).
- Make sure the link is not already in the playlist. This can be done by [searching](https://github.com/search?q=repo%3Aiptv-org%2Fiptv+http%3A%2F%2Fexample.com&type=code) the repository.
- Make sure the link does not lead to a Xtream Codes server. [Why don't you accept links to Xtream Codes servers?](FAQ.md#why-dont-you-accept-links-to-xtream-codes-servers). If you're unsure, please check [How to distinguish a link to an Xtream Codes server from a regular one?](#how-to-distinguish-a-link-to-an-xtream-codes-server-from-a-regular-one)
- Find the ID of the channel you want on [iptv-org.github.io](https://iptv-org.github.io/). If your desired channel is not on the list, you must add it via a request [here](https://github.com/iptv-org/database/issues/new/choose).
- Make sure the channel is not blacklisted. It can also be done through [iptv-org.github.io](https://iptv-org.github.io/).
Most of the stream description (channel name, feed name, categories, languages, broadcast area, logo) is loaded from [iptv-org/database](https://github.com/iptv-org/database) using the stream ID.
First of all, make sure that the desired stream has the correct ID. A full list of all supported channels and their corresponding IDs can be found on [iptv-org.github.io](https://iptv-org.github.io/). To change the stream ID of any link in the playlist, just fill out this [form](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/issues/new?assignees=&labels=streams%3Aedit&projects=&template=2_streams_edit.yml&title=Edit%3A+).
If, however, you have found an error in the database itself, please refer to: [How to edit channel description?](https://github.com/iptv-org/database/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md#how-to-edit-channel-description)
### How to distinguish a link to an Xtream Codes server from a regular one?
Most of them have this form:
`http(s)://{hostname}:{port}/{username}/{password}/{channelID}` (port is often `25461`)
To make sure that the link leads to the Xtream Codes server, copy the `hostname`, `port`, `username` and `password` into the link below and try to open it in a browser:
If the link answers, you're with an Xtream Codes server.
### How to report a broken stream?
Fill out this [form](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/issues/new?assignees=&labels=streams:remove&projects=&template=3_streams_report.yml&title=Broken%3A+) and as soon as a working replacement appears, we will add it to the playlist or at least remove the non-working one.
The only thing before publishing your report is to make sure that:
- The link is still in our playlists. You can verify this by [searching](https://github.com/search?q=repo%3Aiptv-org%2Fiptv+http%3A%2F%2Fexample.com&type=code) the repository.
- The link really doesn't work and is not just [geo-blocked](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geo-blocking). To check this, you can either use a [VPN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network) or services such as [streamtest.in](https://streamtest.in/).
An issue without a valid link will be closed immediately.
For starters, you can just try to open the playlist in [VLC media player](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/). The player outputs all errors to the log (Tools -> Messages) so you'll be able to determine pretty accurately why a link isn't working.
Another way to test links is to use the NPM script. To do this, first make sure you have [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en) installed on your system. Then go to the `iptv` folder using [Console](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Console) (or [Terminal](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_(macOS)>) if you have macOS) and run the command:
```sh
npm run playlist:test path/to/playlist.m3u
```
This command will run an automatic check of all links in the playlist and display their status:
Also, if you add the `--fix` option to the command, the script will automatically remove all broken streams it finds from your local copy of playlists:
After that, all you need to do is report the broken streams you found via the [form](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/issues/new?assignees=&labels=streams:remove&projects=&template=3_streams_report.yml&title=Broken%3A+) or create a [pull request](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/pulls) with updated playlists.
To request removal of a link to a channel from the repository, you need to fill out this [form](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/issues/new?assignees=&labels=removal+request&projects=&template=6_copyright-claim.yml&title=Remove%3A+) and wait for the request to be reviewed (this usually takes no more than 1 business day). And if the request is approved, links to the channel will be immediately removed from the repository.
The channel will also be added to our [blocklist](https://github.com/iptv-org/database/blob/master/data/blocklist.csv) to avoid its appearance in our playlists in the future.
Please note that we only accept removal requests from channel owners and their official representatives, all other requests will be closed immediately.
## Stream Description Scheme
For a stream to be approved, its description must follow this template:
| `STREAM_ID` | Stream ID consisting of channel ID and feed ID. Full list of supported channels with corresponding ID could be found on [iptv-org.github.io](https://iptv-org.github.io/). | Optional | `<channel_id>` or `<channel_id>@<feed_id>` |
| `STREAM_TITLE` | Stream title consisting of channel name and feed name. May contain any characters except: `,`, `[`, `]`. | Required | - |
Also, if necessary, you can specify custom [HTTP User-Agent](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/User-Agent) and [HTTP Referrer](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/Referer) through `#EXTVLCOPT` directive:
-`act:check`: allows to run the [check](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/blob/master/.github/workflows/check.yml) workflow locally. Depends on [nektos/gh-act](https://github.com/nektos/gh-act).
-`act:format`: allows to test the [format](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/blob/master/.github/workflows/update.yml) workflow locally. Depends on [nektos/gh-act](https://github.com/nektos/gh-act).
-`act:update`: allows to test the [update](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/blob/master/.github/workflows/update.yml) workflow locally. Depends on [nektos/gh-act](https://github.com/nektos/gh-act).
-`playlist:format`: formats internal playlists. The process includes [URL normalization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/URI_normalization), duplicate removal, removing invalid ids and sorting links by channel name, quality, and label.
-`readme:update`: updates the list of playlists in [README.md](README.md).
-`report:create`: creates a report on current issues.
-`lint`: сhecks the scripts for syntax errors.
-`test`: runs a test of all the scripts described above.
## Workflows
To automate the run of the scripts described above, we use the [GitHub Actions workflows](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows).
Each workflow includes its own set of scripts that can be run either manually or in response to an event.
-`check`: sequentially runs the `api:load`, `playlist:check` and `playlist:validate` scripts when a new pull request appears, and blocks the merge if it detects an error in it.
-`format`: sequentially runs `api:load`, `playlist:format`, `playlist:lint` and `playlist:validate` scripts.
-`update`: every day at 0:00 UTC sequentially runs `api:load`, `playlist:update`, `playlist:lint`, `playlist:validate`, `playlist:generate`, `playlist:export` and `readme:update` scripts and deploys the output files if successful.
