Bulk Adding Channel Tags. Possible?

[hamah 7]

I have 2 IPTV services feeding Emby. Each with it's own M3U and EPG source. The default way these channels are shown in the guide or by search result is confusing as there is almost 4000 channels on each service and most overlap. As an example this means I'll typically see 2 of each channel for a search result.

I'd like to be able to identify the channel source and I do see a metadata "Channel Tag" on each channel. Is there a way to create and bulk apply a tag to every channel from a specific source?

I plan to start testing M3U vs MPEG-TS so this means I'll potentially have 2 channel entrie for each of the 2 services and will see a total of 4 of the same channel when searching or looking at the guide.

[hamah 7]

I'd also like to have the tag visible as a sort option (like the image and or title display). Another option might be the ability to filter what's displayed in the guide or search using a tag. But the ability to create and apply a tag in bulk to a specific source I think is required first (editing metadata 1 channel at a time won't work with thousands of channels).

[Apotropaic 41]

Hi, there’s a plugin called ‘Bulky’ which allows you to bulk add/amend Live TV tags.

You can also apply tags when you setup the M3U and apply parental controls so you only see one set of channels for a given user.

[hamah 7]

4 hours ago, Apotropaic said:

Hi, there’s a plugin called ‘Bulky’ which allows you to bulk add/amend Live TV tags.

You can also apply tags when you setup the M3U and apply parental controls so you only see one set of channels for a given user.

Thanks very much! I've found Bulky in the Plugins catalog and will install it and play around with it. Are you using it for a similar purpose?

[hamah 7]

I've installed Bulky but it's not clear how to ue it. I managed to create a tag and apply to an M3U but can't figure out how to change the tag name. I then created a 3rd tag and changed the tag on the M3U to the new 3rd tag. I can't figure out how to delete a tag. Currently the M3U does not have anything in the tag field but I can't delete or edit a tag.

[Apotropaic 41]

3 hours ago, hamah said:

I've installed Bulky but it's not clear how to ue it. I managed to create a tag and apply to an M3U but can't figure out how to change the tag name. I then created a 3rd tag and changed the tag on the M3U to the new 3rd tag. I can't figure out how to delete a tag. Currently the M3U does not have anything in the tag field but I can't delete or edit a tag.

I'm not 100% clear on what you want with tags so I will explain the things that I have done so maybe that will make sense to you and you can adapt as needed.

Firstly, when you add a M3U source to emby using "Live TV - Add TV Source", there is a field there where you can add a tag and it will be added to all the channels imported from the M3U. It doesn't add any tags to the M3U file itself. See this post for more info.

 

The post is about making one user only seeing one provider by using the Parental Control feature but it's still relevant as now you will have the channels from each provider with a unique tag. So when you view the Live TV library at either the Programme or Guide level you will see the two tags and can select/unselect to view only the provider you want.

I'll make another post for the second usage of tags using the Bulky Plugin.

 

[Apotropaic 41]

For my second use case, my M3U provider includes some set tags which emby will show, but they are not always consistent or match correctly. This is where I use Bulky to remove the ones I don't want and add tags to channels I have selected.

When you open the Bulky plugin you should see all your emby libraries. Select the Live TV one.

This should then show you all your channels.

The text in red shows you the current tag/s already associated with the channel.

You can now use shift/control click to select the channels you want to manipulate, select as many as you want here. Then select 'Bulk Edit'.

Next you can add a new tag into the Tags box, then using that drop down you can choose to add that new tag to any existing ones, or to replace a tag, remove the tag or to delete them all. Next select the blue 'Save' button and the plugin will make the changes.

If you've done the correctly, then when you view your Live TV library the tags will be visible in the 'Programmes and Guide' views. If you select a tag the view will filter to show just those tagged channels.

 

Edited August 6, 2025 by Apotropaic

[hamah 7]

I had some weird forum behaviour earlier today. I had posted a response after my last one and it never showed up. huh. Anyway, I really appreciate your updates.

I did figure out your first use case and it was exactly what I was looking for to help me differentiate between service providers for those channels that appear from both. I wonder if I can use Bulky on MPEG-TS as well as M3U....I'll have to test that. I need to do some testing on an issue I'm having with recordings terminating early. Luke has suggested I might have better results with MPEG-TS over M3U and this will help me easily figure out which channel to record when I'm seeing the same channel from both providers and in both formats.

On your 2nd use case I'm wondering if replacing a tag would be the equivalent of renaming it? I'm also wondering if the "Remove Tag" function would be equivalent to deleting a tag. I know that sounds obvious but it seems that the way tags work by default (without Bulky) there is no way to delete a tag. Rather you would remove it from EVERY channel that has it assigned (imagine the work if you've got 7000ish channels with the tag you want to remove) and once the tag is no longer in use it just vanishes. I see that you can use Bulk Edit and find all the items using a specific tag. You then used shift/ctl click to select channels to apply the change to. If you shift/click any channel I believe it will select all the items in the folder.

And lastly I found a lot of really good info on the Bulky thread in the Plugins forum from the dev.

 

Edited August 7, 2025 by hamah

[GrimReaper 4739]

57 minutes ago, hamah said:

I had some weird forum behaviour earlier today. I had posted a response after my last one and it never showed up. huh.

How quickly after last post you've tried to post again, as your member group has flood control measure of 3 minutes between posts?

Otherwise, @Abobadermight take a look what has occurred.

[hamah 7]

5 hours ago, GrimReaper said:

How quickly after last post you've tried to post again, as your member group has flood control measure of 3 minutes between posts?

Otherwise, @Abobadermight take a look what has occurred.

that was likely what happened