Custom Channel Setup

[chassett 0]

Good afternoon,

 

I have a very specific idea in mind and was wondering if MediaBrowser (or any other Media Server) would be able to accomplish it.

 

I would like to fully integrate a media platform to use "channels" that I would be able to program using media from OTA Live TV, streaming video from specific folders, and streaming audio from specific folders.  The end result would look something like this:

 

ch 01: NBC

ch 02: ABC

ch 03: CBS

ch 04: Fox

ch 05: New Release Movies (steaming from NAS folder)
ch 06: Comedy Movies (steaming from NAS folder)

ch 07: SciFi Movies (steaming from NAS folder)

ch 08: Kids Movies (steaming from NAS folder)

ch 09: Rock Music (steaming from NAS folder)

ch 10: Pop Music (steaming from NAS folder)

 

The point of this is to replicate a traditional TV watching experience, and be able to "flip" throught the channels. I would want the "steaming" media to progress accordingly when not being watched, that way when flipping through the "channels", you might land on that one part of the movie you like! I have a lot of movies saved and have watched them all at one point or another, some are classics that I'll dedicate the two hours to watch, others I like, but not enought to watch the whole thing or queue up to a specific favorite part.

 

Another benefit of this would be ease of use.  My wife and young children are not tech savy, and I want something that is intuitive and familiar.

 

I have build HTPCs in the past that have gotten outdated,and ultimatly retired. I haven't started anything on this build, as I want to make sure it is a feasible goal. I've done some searching to research, and haven't found anything that specifically addresses my goals with this project.

 

I appreciate any information or help anyone in this community could provide specifically on the needed hardware and software.

 

Thank you!

[Rayger 14]

Just wait till Ebr releases MBTV for MB3.

[bigjohn 753]

Right, but chassett also wants to continuously stream (or at least simulate continuously streaming) content from several folders at once and provide them as "channels" as well.  It is not just about live tv.

[chassett 0]

Right, but chassett also wants to continuously stream (or at least simulate continuously streaming) content from several folders at once and provide them as "channels" as well.  It is not just about live tv.

 

 

You understand!!!! Thank you!!!

 

Now... how do we do that??

[BATTLE DONKEY 98]

I dont think that's possible right now but it does sound like a cool idea for a theme. Having all those channels playing in the background at the same time sounds like it may be taxing on a htpc but I guess it could be possible to have each channel set to a media collection have the theme play all randomly so it only loads a file from that media collection once the channel is entered to keep the PC from bogging down

[bigjohn 753]

Probably not something that is on the road map, it is a very specialized scenario.  It is an interesting idea, though.

[pmac 143]

I thought about having a similar experience back when I was on MB2. MBPlus was as close as it came, but it didn't have any "Live" streaming capabilities.

 

You should chime in on the thread @@ebr started asking if people would be interested in an MB3 version of MBPlus. With LiveTV being implemented into the server already, and devs working on bringing it to their respective clients. I'd imagine MB3Plus would eventually incorporate LiveTV, if not right out of the gate.

 

If I were to take a guess, this would allow you to set up channels that incorporate LiveTV, and local collection channels (ie. movies sorted by genre, studio, etc. as well as the same sorting for TV shows). But I don't foresee "Live" streaming media from your own collection happening in the near future. The hardware/software strain would be enormous, unless someone could figure out some sort of workaround like a sort of "timer" running in the background for each channel that would cue up the movie on the selected channel to a certain point, depending on what time it is. Not sure if that can be worked into an ASX file somehow or not.

 

I'd definitely love a feature like this though! I think setting up custom channels like this in MBT would be the end-all for competing software

[trusselo 225]

so you would like to have several "channels" all "playing" content continuously in-case you change to that "channel".

 

this would have many hurdles to overcome

 

it would be impossible to actually have these 'playing' in the background with no machine watching the channel, number 1 this would wear out your hard-drives like no tomorrow if it were done. the more that is 'Playing', the more system resources needed and wear-n-tear occurs.

and simulating playing, as, having a timer counting, simulating the channel playing, would require a playlist, a set order of what files to play on each channel. otherwise MB would not know how far into what file, and how long that file is,  (im 18:minutes into a 14 minute show..??).

 

Secondly many of MB clients require transcoding of file formats to play, it would be pointless to have the movie playing the whole time, when you end up using a machine that requires transcoding, needing to restart, and transcode the movie.

 

However, it may be just as good, perhapse better, to have each of these "channels"  play random file from each folder.

EG: change to kids channel, it plays all files from folder, random order

change to rock music channel, starts playing all files from folder, random order

Edited February 14, 2014 by trusselo

[bigjohn 753]

So a random playlist is generated each day (week?) and you start based on where you are in the playlist when the "channel" is accessed.  Start at the nearest chapter in the scheduled playlist.

[AdrianW 1058]

I don't think there'd be any need for any videos to be constantly playing on the non-watched channels. Assuming each channel has a playlist, then all you'd need to do when switching channels is skip the elapsed time amount through the playlist. So, say you had a channel consisting of a bunch of 90 minutes movies - if you switched to that channel after 100 minutes, you'd start playback of the second movie at the 10 minute mark.

 

Although, I really can't see the point of this. It's been years since I've been tied to the TV programmers schedules - I'd much rather choose exactly what and when I watch everything.

[trusselo 225]

that was my point exactly about simulating playing with a playlist, not really feasible.

 

though my other idea was to have a randomly generated playlist start when you change to that channel... still.. not for me.

 

i agree. i hate being on someone elses schedule.  though a 'kids channel' would be handy... they dont care, just want moving colors.

[chassett 0]

I really like AdrianW's idea. Put a system file in the folder with a timestamp to track where to start when that channel is accessed. That seems like it would solve the streaming resources issue.

 

I don't dissagree about being on the cable company's schedule. I haven't had network television for years. I do, however, miss the mindless flipping through channels. I thought if i could dictate the content on said channels, it would enrich my experience. Especially when I only have 20—30 min to flip.

 

Thank you everyone for replying.

[trusselo 225]

so you would like to have several "channels" all "playing" content continuously in-case you change to that "channel".

 

this would have many hurdles to overcome

 

it would be impossible to actually have these 'playing' in the background with no machine watching the channel, number 1 this would wear out your hard-drives like no tomorrow if it were done. the more that is 'Playing', the more system resources needed and wear-n-tear occurs.

and simulating playing, as, having a timer counting, simulating the channel playing, would require a playlist, a set order of what files to play on each channel. otherwise MB would not know how far into what file, and how long that file is,  (im 18:minutes into a 14 minute show..??).

 

Secondly many of MB clients require transcoding of file formats to play, it would be pointless to have the movie playing the whole time, when you end up using a machine that requires transcoding, needing to restart, and transcode the movie.

 

However, it may be just as good, perhapse better, to have each of these "channels"  play random file from each folder.

EG: change to kids channel, it plays all files from folder, random order

change to rock music channel, starts playing all files from folder, random order

 

 

I don't think there'd be any need for any videos to be constantly playing on the non-watched channels. Assuming each channel has a playlist, then all you'd need to do when switching channels is skip the elapsed time amount through the playlist. So, say you had a channel consisting of a bunch of 90 minutes movies - if you switched to that channel after 100 minutes, you'd start playback of the second movie at the 10 minute mark.

 

Although, I really can't see the point of this. It's been years since I've been tied to the TV programmers schedules - I'd much rather choose exactly what and when I watch everything.

 

 

I really like AdrianW's idea. Put a system file in the folder with a timestamp to track where to start when that channel is accessed. That seems like it would solve the streaming resources issue.

 

I don't dissagree about being on the cable company's schedule. I haven't had network television for years. I do, however, miss the mindless flipping through channels. I thought if i could dictate the content on said channels, it would enrich my experience. Especially when I only have 20—30 min to flip.

 

Thank you everyone for replying.

yeah adrians idea. sure.

[ebr 16169]

Although, I really can't see the point of this. It's been years since I've been tied to the TV programmers schedules - I'd much rather choose exactly what and when I watch everything.

 

My feeling exactly.  This functionality was requested way back when before I created MBTV/MBPlus and I just never understood why anyone would want to truly simulate that kind of experience.

 

To me, the whole point of all of this stuff we have is to get to exactly what we want to watch when we want to watch it.  But, I was never a channel flipper either so maybe that is part of why I don't get it.

[chassett 0]

Sorry trusselo, I'm catching up on this thread while standing in amusement park lines...

 

I guess I'm thinking of these channels as sort of a Pandora for tv. I know whats in the folder, but not exactly whats on right now. I would still be able to go to a specific file and play, if I know exactly what I want to watch.

[ebr 16169]

Pandora isn't constantly streaming and you don't pick up in the middle of a song on one of your stations.  Pandora is just a very intelligent smart-playlist engine.  So, if that's what you really want then I think, eventually, we'll get there.

[trusselo 225]

or do  what i do, and hover the mouse over family guy, press play button, select 'play random'.