**iptv-org** is more than just a repository for sharing currently available links in a playlist format. After years of commitment and moderation practices it has evolved into a knowledge base for [streams](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/tree/master/streams), [feeds and their descriptions](https://iptv-org.github.io/), [program guide sources](https://github.com/iptv-org/epg) and even the [API](https://github.com/iptv-org/api) updated daily for semi-automated distribution and moderation. Thus, to keep all available data in order, strict structural requirements must be followed and some contribution standards must be set. Learn more in the following topic [How iptv-org works](https://github.com/orgs/iptv-org/discussions/1318)
Before submitting a new stream make sure to acknowledge the [Requirements](#requirements) section and follow the [Validation](#validation) section of this Guide.
🤚 Requests that do not comply with those sections will be closed immediately!
- Create a new request by manually filling 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.
- Use https://iptv-org.github.io/ to submit a stream for appropriate feed of the channel. To do that find a channel and press the feed link.
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)
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 we'll verify and remove it.
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 double-check this, please follow our [Testing](#testing) guidelines.
Follow the [Testing](#testing) guide. [VLC media player](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/) 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. Clone this repository, 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:
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.
Before submitting new streams you should verify the following:
- Make sure the link has not been submitted into the repository before. This can be done by searching the [repository](https://github.com/search?q=repo%3Aiptv-org%2Fiptv+http%3A%2F%2Fexample.com&type=code) or [iptv-org website](https://iptv-org.github.io/).
- Each submitted stream link must have a registered Channel & Feed ID (eg: Channel@Feed) in the [iptv-org's Database](https://iptv-org.github.io). If it's not present, please follow the [Database Contributing Guide](https://github.com/iptv-org/database/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md) to add it. Otherwise, your stream links won't be delivered into automated playlists and won't be sorted out properly.
- User-submitted links to stream URLs shall be intended to be publicly available by stream provider and the copyright holders.
- Channels under DMCA takedown notices or broadcasting copyrighted content (such as the Champions League) at any time will not be accepted, see the [Channel blocklist](https://iptv-org.github.io/?q=is_blocked%3Atrue) and the [History of related issues](https://github.com/iptv-org/database/blob/master/data/blocklist.csv) for details.
- The same applies to channels that are known to partially or fully broadcast NSFW content (nudity & extreme acts), see the [Channel blocklist](https://iptv-org.github.io/?q=is_nsfw%3Atrue), the [History of related issues](https://github.com/iptv-org/database/blob/master/data/blocklist.csv) and https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/issues/15723 for more details.
- User-submitted links must not have any effective restrictions that limit viewers by authorization, by viewer count or by designated IP.
- Test period links are not permitted.
- User-submitted links must open in VLC media player (see the [FAQ](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/blob/master/FAQ.md) for more details).
- If the host server requires a specific user-agent and/or a referer, is geo-blocked or may have downtimes, you should represent that in your contribution (see the [Stream Description Scheme](#stream-description-scheme)).
- If possible please provide an adaptive link that covers every available resolution for a broadcast.
- Follow the [Playlist Structure](#playlist-structure) in case of contributing by pull requests.
Make sure you can find the origin of the broadcast using your favourite search engine or by following the domain of broadcast. If you used to see the channel under paywalls or subscription offers, it may likely be a copyright infringement. If you see a service with a probe period and available plans or you have found an unrecognizable link in someone else's playlist, it's likely to expire soon. Streams or services that have publicly available videoplayers are likely to perform publicly-intended broadcasts. Odds are your link will still be session protected and will only be available to you.
### Examples
✅ Valid links usually have a format like so
- ```https://cdn.domain.com/channelname/chunks or playlist or any other name.m3u8 or mpd```
If changing channelID to almost any value within a range of hundreds or thousands of IDs results in a valid stream from a different channel, then it likely comes from a leaked account or a trial account
Switch to Headers tab and scroll down to copy the user-agent and the referer if needed (see the [Stream Description Scheme](#stream-description-scheme)).
- Watch the broadcast for at least a few minutes. Make sure playback is stable and does not stop abruptly at some point.
- Try restarting the stream. Make sure it's not looping on a repeating segment and is still available.
- Try starting a stream simultaneously on a different device or network (e.g. mobile network or via [proxy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_server) or [VPN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network)).
- Alternatively, you can use https://streamtest.in/tools/stream-test.
- To check if the stream link is geo-blocked you can use https://check-host.net/check-http and make sure the link provided is not returning errors globally.
| `STREAM_ID` | Stream ID consisting of channel ID and feed ID. Full list of supported channels with corresponding ID can be found on [iptv-org.github.io](https://iptv-org.github.io/). | Optional | `<channel_id>` or `<channel_id>@<feed_id>` |
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:
- Playlists by country of origin — indicate that the studio broadcasting the channel is headquartered in a particular country. This does not necessarily mean that the stream is intended for viewers in that same country.
- Playlists by source - imply that all the containing streams comes from the same server or infrastructure and broadcast on behalf of the same provider.
All links in playlists are sorted automatically according to the information used from our [Database](https://iptv-org.github.io/) so there is no need to sort them manually. For more info, see [Scripts](#scripts).
- Strictly follow the [Stream Description Scheme](#stream-description-scheme) and pass linter checks from [check workflow](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/blob/master/.github/workflows/check.yml)
- Use CRLF file endings and use UTF-8 encoding without BOM
- `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.
- `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.
- `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.
