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.
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.
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).
- 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 recommend 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-2) for the country
- 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
- 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)
- 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.
- paste the country code into `tvg-country` attribute of the channel description
- commit all changes and send a pull request
If a channel is broadcasted in several countries at once, you can specify them all through a semicolon, like this:
```xml
#EXTINF:-1 tvg-country="US;CA",CNN
http://example.com/cnn.m3u8
```
If a channel is broadcast for an entire region, you can use one of the [supported region code](#supported-region-codes) to avoid listing all countries. In this case the channel will be added to the playlists of all countries from that region.
In case the channel is broadcast worldwide you can use the code `INT`:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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/)
- 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
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.
## 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-2) for the country
- 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
- 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
| `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) |
| `COUNTRY` | The code of the country in which the channel is broadcast. The code of the country must conform to the standard [ISO_3166-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-2). If the channel is broadcast in several countries you can list them separated by a semicolon. You can also use one of these [region codes](#supported-region-codes). (optional) |
| `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). If the channel is broadcast in several languages you can list them separated by a semicolon. (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) |
