iptv/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md

# Contributing Guide

## Feature Requests

If you have an idea how to improve the project create an [issue](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/issues/new?assignees=&labels=discussion&template=feature-request.md&title=Propose%3A+xxx) with a detailed description of your idea.

## Report a Broken Stream

To report a broadcast that is not working, create an [issue](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/issues/new?assignees=&labels=broken+stream&template=broken-stream.md&title=Fix%3A+xxx) with a description of the channel (**IMPORTANT:** an issue should contain a report for only one channel, otherwise it will be closed immediately).

## Add or Replace a Stream

If you would like to replace a broken stream or add a new one, please do the following:

- Make sure that the link you want to add works by using a program like [VLC media player](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html).
- Check if the channel is working outside your country by using a vpn or use a service we highly reccomend like [streamtest.in](https://streamtest.in/).
- Find out from which country the channel is being broadcasted. This information can usually be found on [lyngsat.com](https://www.lyngsat.com/search.html) or [wikipedia.org](https://www.wikipedia.org/) If you are unable to determine which country the channel belongs to, add the channel onto the `channels/unsorted.m3u` playlist.
- Find the corresponding ISO_3166-2 code for the country. You can find a full list of codes here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-2
- Open the `/channels` folder and find the file that has the same code in its name and open it
- If broken, find the broken link in this file and replace it with working one.
- If new, at the very end of this file add a link to the channel with a description.
- Commit all changes and send a pull request.

## Request a Stream for a Channel

To request a channel, create an [issue](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/issues/new?assignees=&labels=channel+request&template=channel-request.md&title=Add%3A+xxx) and complete all details requested. (**IMPORTANT:** the issue should contain a request for only one channel, otherwise it will be closed immediately). Understand that our community of volunteers will try to help you, but if a public link cannot be found, there is little we can do.

## Sort channels from `channels/unsorted.m3u`

- find out the full name of the channel and from which country it is being broadcasted. This information can usually be found on [lyngsat.com](https://www.lyngsat.com/search.html) or [wikipedia.org](https://www.wikipedia.org/)
- update the channel name if necessary
- find the corresponding ISO_3166-2 code for the country. You can find a full list of codes here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-2
- open the `channels/` folder and find a file with the same name as the country code
- at the very end of this file add a link to the channel with a description
- commit all changes
- send a pull request

## Add a Category to a Channel

- find the file that contains the channel. You can use a [GitHub Search](https://github.com/search/advanced?q=CHANNEL_NAME+repo%3Aiptv-org%2Fiptv+path%3A%2Fchannels&type=Code) to do this.
- open the file
- find the channel description
- specify the appropriate category in the `group-title` attribute. A complete list of supported categories can be found [here](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv#playlists-by-category).
- commit all changes
- send a pull request

## Add a Language to a Channel

- find the file that contains the channel. You can use a [GitHub Search](https://github.com/search/advanced?q=CHANNEL_NAME+repo%3Aiptv-org%2Fiptv+path%3A%2Fchannels&type=Code) to do this.
- open the file
- find the channel description
- specify the appropriate language in the `tvg-language` attribute. The name of the language must comply with the [ISO 639-3](https://iso639-3.sil.org/code_tables/639/data?title=&field_iso639_cd_st_mmbrshp_639_1_tid=94671&name_3=&field_iso639_element_scope_tid=All&field_iso639_language_type_tid=51&items_per_page=500) standard.
- commit all changes
- send a pull request

If a channel is broadcasted in several languages at once, you can specify them all through a semicolon, like this:

```xml
#EXTINF:-1 tvg-language="English;Chinese",CCTV
http://example.com/cctv.m3u8
```

## Add an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) Source

- check which country the EPG is intended for
- check that this source is not already listed in the playlist. To do this, find the country in this [table](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv#playlists-by-country) and see if there is any other link. If not, continue.
- find the corresponding [ISO_3166-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-2) country code.
- open the `channels/` folder and find a file with the same name as the country code
- in the header of the playlist, next to `#EXTM3U`, add an `x-tvg-url` attribute with a link to the EPG source.

The result should be something like this:

```xml
#EXTM3U x-tvg-url="https://example.com/epg.xml.gz"
```

## Setting up A Channel to Use an EPG

- find out which country the channel belongs to. This information can usually be found on [lyngsat.com](https://www.lyngsat.com/search.html) or [wikipedia.org](https://www.wikipedia.org/)
- find the corresponding [ISO_3166-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-2) country code.
- open the `/channels` folder and find the file that has the same code in its name and open it
- check that the EPG source is specified in the file. To do this, just look at the header of the playlist. If the `x-tvg-url` attribute is present and has a link in it, everything is fine.
- open the file specified in the `x-tvg-url`
- find the channel list in the file. Usually it looks like this:

  ```xml
  <tv>
    <channel id="cnn">
      <display-name>CNN</display-name>
    </channel>
    <channel id="nbc">
      <display-name>NBC</display-name>
    </channel>
    ...
  </tv>
  ```

- find the channel you are interested in
- copy the `id` and paste it into the `tvg-id` attribute of the channel description
- copy the `<display-name>` tag value and paste it into the `tvg-name` attribute of the channel description. The result should be something like this:

  ```xml
  #EXTINF:-1 tvg-id="cnn" tvg-name="CNN",CNN
  http://example.com/cnn.m3u8
  ```

- commit all changes
- send a pull request

If you did everything right, then by opening a playlist in a player that supports EPG, you should see the program guide for all updated channels. In some cases, it may also be necessary to manually specify the EPG source in the player itself. Note: Playlists are updated only once per 24 hours.

## Make changes to README.md

- open `.readme/template.md`
- make the necessary changes
- commit the updated file
- send a pull request

## Make changes to this Guide

- open `.github/CONTRIBUTING.md`
- make the necessary changes
- commit the updated file
- send a pull request

## Request Channel Removal

- publish your DMCA notice somewhere
- create an issue using this [link](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv/issues/new?assignees=&labels=DMCA&template=remove-channel.md&title=Remove%3A+xxx) and add a link to the DMCA notice in it

## Project Structure

- `.github/`
  - `ISSUE_TEMPLATE/`
    - `broken-stream.md`: issue template for reporting a broken stream.
    - `channel-request.md`: template for channel request.
    - `feature-request.md`: template for feature request.
    - `remove-channel.md`: template for channel deletion request.
  - `workflows/`
    - `auto-update.yml`: contain actions that automatically updates all playlists every day.
  - `CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md`: rules you shouldn't break if you don't want to get banned.
  - `CONTRIBUTING.md`: file you are currently reading.
- `.readme/`
  - `_categories.md`: automatically generated list of all categories and their corresponding playlists.
  - `_countries.md`: automatically generated list of all countries and their corresponding playlists.
  - `_languages.md`: automatically generated list of all languages and their corresponding playlists.
  - `config.json`: config for the `markdown-include` package, which is used to compile everything into one `README.md` file.
  - `preview.png`: image displayed in the `README.md`.
  - `template.md`: template for `README.md`.
- `channels/`
  - `ad.m3u`: country specific playlist.
  - ...
  - `unsorted.m3u`: playlist with channels not yet sorted.
- `scripts/`
  - `categories.json`: list of supported categories.
  - `format.js`: used within GitHub Action to sort channels and remove duplicates from each playlist.
  - `generate.js`: used within GitHub Action to generate all additional playlists.
  - `parser.js`: contains functions for parsing playlists.
  - `regions.json`: list of supported region codes.
  - `test.js`: script for channel testing.
  - `update-readme.js`: used within GitHub Action to update the `README.md` file.
  - `utils.js`: contains functions that are used in other scripts.
- `index.m3u`: main playlist that contains links to all playlists in the `channels/` folder.
- `README.md`: project description generated from the contents of the `.readme/` folder.

## Channel Description Scheme

Channels should be added to playlists using the following template.

```
#EXTINF:-1 tvg-id="EPG_ID" tvg-name="EPG_NAME" tvg-language="PRIMARY_LANGUAGE;SECONDARY_LANGUAGE" tvg-logo="LOGO_URL" group-title="CATEGORY",FULL_NAME STREAM_TIME_SHIFT (ALTERNATIVE_NAME) (STREAM_RESOLUTION) [STREAM_STATUS]
STREAM_URL
```

| Attribute            | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `EPG_ID`             | Channel ID that is used to load EPG. Must match `id` from the EPG file specified in the playlist header. (optional)                                                                                                                                                                              |
| `EPG_NAME`           | Channel name that is also sometimes used to load EPG. Must match `<display-name>` from the EPG file specified in the playlist header. (optional)                                                                                                                                                 |
| `PRIMARY_LANGUAGE`   | Channel language. The name of the language must conform to the standard [ISO 639-3](https://iso639-3.sil.org/code_tables/639/data?title=&field_iso639_cd_st_mmbrshp_639_1_tid=94671&name_3=&field_iso639_element_scope_tid=All&field_iso639_language_type_tid=51&items_per_page=500). (optional) |
| `SECONDARY_LANGUAGE` | If the channel is broadcast in several languages. (optional)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| `LOGO_URL`           | The logo of the channel that will be displayed if the player supports it. (optional)                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| `CATEGORY`           | The category to which the channel belongs. The list of currently supported categories can be found [here](https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv#playlists-by-category). (optional)                                                                                                                    |
| `FULL_NAME`          | Full name of the channel. It is recommended to use the name listed on [lyngsat](https://www.lyngsat.com/search.html) or [wikipedia](https://www.wikipedia.org/) if possible. May contain any characters except plus sign, minus sign, round and square brackets.                                 |
| `STREAM_TIME_SHIFT`  | Must be specified if the channel is broadcast with a shift in time relative to the main stream. Should only contain a number and a sign. (optional)                                                                                                                                              |
| `ALTERNATIVE_NAME`   | Can be used to specify a short name or name in another language. May contain any characters except round and square brackets. (optional)                                                                                                                                                         |
| `STREAM_RESOLUTION`  | The maximum height of the frame with a "p" at the end. In case of VLC Player this information can be found in `Window > Media Information... > Codec Details`. (optional)                                                                                                                        |
| `STREAM_STATUS`      | Specified if the broadcast for some reason is interrupted or does not work in a particular application. May contain any characters except round and square brackets. (optional)                                                                                                                  |
| `STREAM_URL`         | Channel broadcast URL.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |

Example:

```xml
#EXTINF:-1 tvg-id="example.ua" tvg-name="Example TV" tvg-language="Ukrainian;Russian" tvg-logo="https://i.imgur.com/bu12f89.png" group-title="Kids",Example TV +3 (Пример ТВ) (720p) [not 24/7]
https://example.com/playlist.m3u8
```

Also, if necessary, you can specify custom HTTP User-Agent or Referrer via the `#EXTVLCOPT` tag:

```xml
#EXTINF:-1 tvg-id="exampletv.us" tvg-name="Example TV" tvg-language="English" tvg-logo="http://example.com/channel-logo.png" group-title="News",Example TV
#EXTVLCOPT:http-referrer=http://example.com/
#EXTVLCOPT:http-user-agent=Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64)
http://example.com/stream.m3u8
```