Content Management

This article provides a comprehensive guide to setting up and managing TV and video-on-demand (VoD) services using the SmartTUBE platform. It covers key steps such as adding TV channels, managing electronic program guides (EPG), bundling channels into pricing plans, and configuring advanced features like Catch-up, nPVR, and Pay-Per-View (PPV) services. Additionally, it explains how to integrate VoD content from internal and external providers, automate metadata imports, and promote content using banners, recommendations, and showcases within the SmartTUBE apps.

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Setting up TV Services

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Get Started

The SmartTUBE Admin Console allows you to manage a wide variety of TV channel metadata:

• View the channel list
• Add channels
• Manage the Electronic Program Guide (EPG)
• Set broadcast sources for different devices
• Set a channel access level
• Add channels to bundles
• Configure the stream and record encryption
• Manage the TV service cost
• Blackout some channel (stop streaming immediately), and much more

In order to provide TV services to your subscribers with SmartTUBE, you need to complete 4 steps:

Delivering the TV content must be allowed to you by the right holders. So, before providing it, reach an agreement with the owners.

Delivering the TV content must be allowed to you by the right holders. So, before providing it, reach an agreement with the owners.

1. Add channels

1. On the Channels > Channels page, click Add and enter the channel parameters you have received from the right holders. For some settings explanation, see below.
2. Set the Published flag for the channel
3. Click the Save button
4. If you are editing a single channel, to apply changes on end-user devices click the Refresh button
5. If you edit multiple channels sequentially, to apply changes on devices click the Refresh button on the Channels > Channels page after you have finished editing all channels. This way you will avoid a negative impact on the service.

2. Create or import EPG

Here you have 2 options: Manual and Automatic.

Manual

This method allows you to add EPG metadata for programs manually via SmartTUBE Admin Console — one by one:

1. On the Channels > EPG page, select a channel.
2. On the EPG pane, click the Add button and add program metadata.

Automatic

Manually adding metadata for all programs and channels can seem quite cumbersome. So we recommend you to automatically import and update EPG metadata from any EPG provider for all channels. To configure the automatic EPG import, read the section Importing EPG.

The imported EPG metadata must conform to the one of the formats supported by SmartTUBE.

3. Add channels to bundles

In a multi-tenant architecture, you should first create an empty price list(s) on the Pricing plans > Pricing plans page, since the Pricing offer field on bundles will be required in this case. If you remove any bundle from all the tenant’s pricing plans, it will disappear from the list of services available to subscribers.

1. Contact your Commercial Manager for information about the bundles you need to create for your subscribers.
2. On the Pricing plans > TV bundles page, click the Add button and create a new bundle. For more info on how to create a bundle, please see here.
3. On the bundle editing page, in the pane to the right, select the channels you want to add.
4. If needed, configure the Catch-up and nPVR services by following the instructions.

4. Add bundles to pricing plan

To make the channels from the bundle be available for a subscriber, this subscriber must be subscribed to the pricing plan including this bundle. You may set the bundle active by default, otherwise a subscriber will need to activate a corresponding service in the SmartTUBE App to get access to the channel.

1. On the Pricing plans > Pricing plans page, click the Add button and create a new pricing plan.
2. On the pricing plan editing page in the Services area, click the Add button and add the bundle created in Step 3.
3. Define the pricing rules for the bundle on the pane on the rig

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Importing EPG

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You can manage the TV listings that are displayed in the SmartTUBE apps, and you can do it either manually in the SmartTUBE Admin Console > Channels > EPG, or automatically.

To configure automatic importing and updating of the EPG, follow the steps below:

1. Obtain the link to the EPG file from your EPG provider

The XMLTV and SmartLabs EPG XML formats are supported. Only HTTP is supported as the EPG delivery protocol.

2. Set the automatic EPG import

Set the job in Administration > Scheduled jobs with one of the following method and guiding the field tooltips:

• EPG import (in xmltv format) with channel identifier in request (xmltvepgimport#doimport) — allows you to import EPG by channel in the XMLTV format.
• EPG import with channel identifier in request (epgimport#doimport) — allows you to import EPG by channel in the SmartLabs EPG XML format.
• EPG import: all from xml (epgimport#doheapimport) — allows you to import EPG for all channels at once in the SmartLabs EPG XML format.

Please take into account that the language of the EPG you are importing must be defined in Dictionaries > Languages. Make sure that the Language ID in SmartTUBE corresponds to the language ID specified in the EPG file.

After setting the job, SmartTUBE will send to the EPG provider the following import request at the specified time and day:

• <job’s field epg-import.url>?channel=<channel’s external ID> — if the epgimport#doimport or xmltvepgimport#doimport methods are used.
• <job’s field epg-import.url> — if the epgimport#doheapimport method is used.

3. Check the EPG import for correctness

After importing the EPG make sure that the import has been performed correctly:

• Check that the EPG is displayed in the SmartTUBE Admin Console and in SmartTUBE Apps.
• Scan the log of the SmartTUBE Server SmartSDPCompContainer.log for errors.

4. Set the automatic deletion of obsolete EPGs

To delete old EPG from database, set the job in Administration > Scheduled jobs with the method Delete expired EPG (garbagecollector#deleteexpiredepg) and guiding the field tooltips.

In the current implementation of SmartTUBE app for large-screen devices, when the next program starts at a channel, the user device checks for how many future programs for EPG are loaded to the device for each channel. If there are less than 3, the device requests for the EPG for 24 hours forward for this channel. If the request fails, the device tries again (not more often than in 30 minutes for a channel).

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Catch-up and nPVR Services

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The SmartTUBE platform allows you to launch Catch-up and nPVR services for your subscribers. Each service has a specific configuration described below.

Catch-up Services

Catch-up services — Pause Live, Start Over, and Time Shift — allow subscribers to watch current or finished TV programs for a certain period after they are aired. This period is determined by the operator.

Pause Live and Start Over

To configure the services Pause Live (pause the broadcast, continue watching, rewind within the current TV program) and Start Over (watch the current TV program from the beginning), follow these steps:

1. Add the channel into the DVR bundle.
2. Set the checkbox Use Pause Live on the bundle.
3. Set the Record duration value > 0.
   Record duration is the period within which Catch-up services are available. For example, if this parameter is set to “1 hour”, the subscriber will not be able to start watching the current TV program from the beginning if it started more than an hour ago.
4. Configure the DVR URL parameter in the Streams tab on the channel.

For the Catch-up services to work correctly, the channel must be recorded on a video server and the Record duration value should be shorter or equal to the recording window set by video server settings. If you are using SmartMEDIA, see the SmartMEDIA part — chapter “Basic Settings” — parameter Recording window.

Time Shift

In addition to the Pause Live and Start Over services you can set the Use TSTV checkbox to allow subscribers to watch finished TV programs.

When you set the Use TSTV checkbox, the Use Pause Live checkbox is automatically set too, since the TSTV service cannot be used without Pause Live.

SmartTUBE apps allow subscribers to search through finished TV programs. But if the TSTV service is not enabled for the channel, its programs will be hidden for subscribers.

nPVR Service

nPVR service allows recording finished, current, and future TV programs at the subscriber request.

General Configuration

To configure the nPVR service for specific channel, follow these steps:

1. Add the channel into the NPVR bundle.
2. Set the Recording time quota — limits the maximum duration of all subscriber recordings.
3. Set the Records storage time — limits the storage duration of subscriber recordings.
4. Configure Video server name in the Streams tab on the channel.
5. Configure DVR channel ID, which must match the channel ID in the video server settings. If you are using SmartMEDIA, see the SmartMEDIA part — chapter “Basic Settings” — parameter ID.

This configuration will allow recording of future TV programs.

You can specify the time added to the beginning and end of the TV program set by the subscriber to record in advance. Thus, in case of discrepancy between the actual start/end time of the program and its schedule in the EPG, the chances of recording the TV program in full are increased. See the chapter “system.conf”, description of the npvr.add.delta.incMin and npvr.add.delta.decMin parameters.

To enable the ability to schedule nPVR recordings in case if subscribers are going to exceed the Recording time quota set the Quota overspending limit parameter. In this case, when the subscriber is going to record a TV program or TV series and thus exceeds the Recording time quota:

• The SmartTUBE app displays a corresponding warning.
• The TV program is queued for recording, but is physically recorded by the video server only after the quota is released.
• Once the recording queue exceeds the Quota overspending limit, programs are no longer added to it.

Also pay attention to the recordseries.job.record.newEpisodesOnly settings in the SmartTUBE SDP configuration file system.conf, which are responsible for the feature of recording only new episodes of TV series.

Current and Past Broadcast Recording

To enable the ability to record the current TV program or finished TV programs, follow these steps:

1. Set the Allow current NPVR or/and Allow past NPVR checkboxes, respectively.
2. Set the NPVR Duration value > 0.
   NPVR duration — the period within which the recording of finished TV programs is allowed. If the duration is not set, the default setting in the SmartTUBE Server configuration file system.conf is applied:

channels.list.npvrDuration.default = 7200 # The default period within which nPVR recording of finished TV programs is allowed (in seconds).

For the Current and Past nPVR features to work correctly, the channel must be recorded on a video server and the NPVR duration value should be shorter or equal than the recording window set by video server settings. If you are using SmartMEDIA, see the SmartMEDIA part — chapter “Basic Settings” — parameter Recording window.

If the channel is present in several NPVR bundles, the maximum value of the NPVR duration is used. If the channel is present in several NPVR bundles and the Allow current NPVR flag is set on at least one of them, the service is considered active. The same is true for the Allow past NPVR flag.

Instant nPVR Playback

Typically current and past broadcast recordings become available for playback after some time (5–10 minutes). To enable the ability to play the recording immediately after the recorded TV program is finished, configure the DVR URL parameter in the Streams tab on the channel.

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Catch-up Content Library

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Catch-up Content Library is the SmartTUBE feature that allows you to record selected TV programs and provide them to subscribers as a content rail in the SmartTUBE Apps. Typically, this feature is available in the ULTRA version of SmartTUBE 8.4 and later and works in conjunction with SmartMEDIA recording server only.

In brief, the logic of how this feature works is as follows:

1. When importing EPG, SmartTUBE SDP selects TV programs with a special tag for the day ahead.
2. These TV programs are sent to the recording queue of the SmartMEDIA server. Technically, this is similar to recording future nPVR programs on request from subscribers.
3. Upon completion of recording, the programs become available to users in SmartTUBE Apps via content rails on the Home screen.

To provide this feature to your subscribers, follow the steps below.

Configuring the ‘Catch-up Content Library’ Feature

1. Mark TV programs to be provided as VoD

In the imported EPG file, mark the programs with the tag <details><public_npvr>1</public_npvr></details>. See examples here.

Currently, the SmartLabs EPG XML format is only supported by this feature.

2. Enable processing of tagged programs

If you already have EPG import set up, you need to do the following:

1. Go to Administration > Scheduled jobs and find the job(s) you are using to import EPG.
2. Make sure the job(s) uses the Method = EPG import with channel identifier in request (epgimport#doimport) or EPG import: all from xml (epgimport#doheapimport)
3. Enable the option Record ‘Time Shift as VoD’ programs. In this case, the processing of the tagged programs starts immediately after the EPG import is completed. If you want to separate these processes over time, uncheck this option and create a new job with Method = Record public NPVRs job (npvrpublicjob#record).

If you haven’t set up EPG import yet, you can read about how to do it here.

3. Create a special nPVR bundle

In the Pricing plans > Bundles & Packages > NPVR, create an nPVR bundle taking to account the field tooltips and the following instructions:

1. Name: Give the bundle an arbitrary, meaningful name.
2. Recording time quota: Maximum duration of recordings. Typically, an unlimited recording duration is used for the ‘Catch-up Content Library’ feature. Thus leave this field clear.
3. Recording storage time: Storage duration of recordings. Set a reasonable value depending on your business ideas and the capabilities of your content storage system.
4. Product offers: List of pricing plans the bundle is included to. Leave it clear at this step.
5. Notification quota level, Quota overspending level: Leave these fields clear.
6. Billing mode: Leave the default value — One stage.
7. Allow current nPVR, Allow past NPVR, NPVR duration: Due to the recording for the ‘Catch-up Content Library’ feature is made for one day ahead from the EPG import date, you can leave these fields clear.
8. Channels: List of channels for which the ‘Catch-up Content Library’ feature need to be enabled.
9. Other fields: You can fill in them depending on your requirements or leave them clear.

For the feature to work properly, the channel recording window on a video server must be longer than the possible maximum duration of a single recorded program. If you are using SmartMEDIA, see the SmartMEDIA Admin Console documentation > parameter Recording window.

4. Create a special Pricing plan

In the Pricing plans > Pricing plans, create a pricing plan and add the created NPVR bundle to it — click  in the Services section. When setting up the bundle within the pricing plan, follow the field tooltips and the following instructions:

1. Service: Select the created NPVR bundle from the list.
2. Device type, Duration, Default state, A subscriber can manage the service, Hide at unsubscription, Hide, Account state when unsubscribe: Leave it clear.
3. Start date: It makes sense here to set a start date of testing the ‘Catch-up Content Library’ feature before it is commercially launched.
4. End date: Set the most distant date here, unless you plan to provide this feature for a limited period of time.
5. Price lists section: Leave it clear, do not add any price list.
6. Other fields: You can fill in them depending on your requirements or leave them clear.

Also, make sure the Pricing Plan contains an active TV bundle that includes a channel intended for the ‘Catch-up Content Library’ recordings.

5. Enable the feature on the SmartTUBE SDP side

In the SmartTUBE SDP configuration file system.conf, add the following setting:

epg.list.fetchPublicNpvr.enabled = true

6. Create custom rails on the Home screen in SmartTUBE Apps

Now you need to present the recorded programs to your subscribers. Currently, the ‘Catch-up Content Library’ content can be displayed in SmartTUBE Apps on the Home screen only. To do this follow the guidelines in Article “Configuring Custom Content Rails on Home Screen” (chapter “TV Program Rail”).

7. Check if this feature works correctly in SmartTUBE Apps

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PPV (Pay-Per-View) Programs

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Pay-per-view (PPV) — a service allowing your subscribers to pay for watching individual TV shows. Such shows are usually provided by 3rd-party content providers and are marked in the EPG import file.

To enable this service, please follow the steps below.

Currently PPV is only supported by the SmartTUBE app for STBs. It wouldn’t work in the web and mobile apps, including Android APK packages (for Android TV and Android AOSP devices).

1. Create PPV package

1. Go to SmartTUBE Admin Console > Pricing plans > PPV Packages.
2. Click the Add button and create a new PPV package guiding the tooltips.

Please pay attention to these fields:

• External ID — an ID of the PPV package in the EPG import file. Thus it should match to the <ppv_ext_id> tag contents.
• Billing mode — choose Two-step, if you need online interaction with the billing system of a 3rd-party content provider that provides PPV content of this package.
• Prices tab >  Price for program checkbox — set this checkbox if you want to charge the set fee for watching the entire program. If you want to charge this fee for every minute of watching, remove it.2

2. Add PPV package to Pricing plan

1. Go to Pricing plans > Pricing Plans.
2. Select the pricing plan the PPV package you want to include to or create a new one with the Add button.

Please pay attention to the following:

• If you want the customers can use the PPV package without additional subscription commands, set the Default state field to Active.
• If you want to allow subscribers to subscribe to the PPV package for an additional fee, create a Price list for it.

3. Add or check PPV markers in EPG

1. If you are preparing the EPG import file yourself, add the package External ID to this file (using the <ppv_ext_id>  tag).              
2. If you are using a 3rd-party EPG provider, please check that the PPV markers in the import file match the External IDs of the corresponding PPV packages.

4. Schedule the EPG import

Create a schedule for the regular EPG import.

5. Check PPV labels in the SmartTUBE app

Now you should see PPV icons on the PPV programs’ posters in the SmartTUBE app and the purchase dialog box when clicked.

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Setting up xVoD Services

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The SmartTUBE SDP enables operators to consolidate movies and series from various sources into a unified catalog, offering the following management capabilities:

• view content list,
• add content,
• set a content access level,
• add content to bundles,
• configure content encryption,
• manage services cost, and more.

Each content unit can contain 1 or more assets (i.e. media files)  There are two types of content providers:

• Internal provider. Content is stored on SmartTUBE servers and played back from the operator’s equipment or using a CDN. Content metadata is entered manually via the Admin Console.
• External provider. Content is stored on the servers of an external provider and played back from its equipment. Typically, content metadata is imported automatically using the provider API.

Getting Started with xVoD Services

To launch VoD services, you need to follow these steps:

1. Add movies and series to catalog
2. Configure VoD bundles
3. Configure media assets
4. Configure price lists
5. Configure regular import of VoD metadata

1. Adding VoD Content

Depending on the type of provider follow the steps below to play content on end-user devices.

External Provider

1. Import VoD metadata using provider’s API

To configure automatic import of the external content provider metadata, please reach out SmartLabs Support.

The following items will be automatically created in the Admin Console after import:

• VoD bundle (if not already created).
• Content unit card, including:
  • content unit parameters;
  • asset parameters;
  • TVOD or SVOD price list with a linked VoD bundle.

If necessary, you can edit some data, such as a bundle name in different languages. However, keep in mind that when you re-import, the manually changed fields will regain the imported values.

2. Add a VoD bundle to the pricing plan

Select or create a new pricing plan on the Pricing plans > Pricing plans page. Add the VoD bundle in the Services section.

Depending on the content provision rule (see the topic “VOD Bundling”), the bundle settings in the pricing plan differ. The following settings are typical, but they may differ for different providers:

• TVOD: uncheck the A subscriber can manage the service flag, the Default state is Active.
• AVOD and FVOD: uncheck (if the bundle is required) or check (if optional) the A subscriber can manage the service flag, the Default state is Active. If necessary, set the pricing rules for the bundle in the Price lists* section, having previously agreed them with the provider.
• SVOD: check the A subscriber can manage the service flag, set the pricing rules for the bundle in the Price lists section, having previously agreed them with the provider.

In order for the bundle content to be available to the subscriber, this subscriber must be subscribed to the pricing plan that includes this bundle.

Internal Provider

Before configuring content, make sure that asset files are located on SmartTUBE video servers and are available over the network.

1. Get content distribution rights from copyright holders

The copyright holders should allow you to provide content to subscribers.

2. Create one or more VoD bundles

Content must be included in one or more VoD bundles. If necessary, create a new package on the “Pricing plans” – “VoD bundles” page (see the chapter “VOD Bundling”).

3. Add VoD bundles to the pricing plan

Select or create a new pricing plan on the Pricing plans > Pricing plans page. Add the VoD bundle in the Services section.

Depending on the content provision rule (see the chapter “VOD Bundling”), define the following settings:

• TVOD: uncheck the A subscriber can manage the service flag, the Default state is Active.
• AVOD, FVOD, SVOD (at the operator’s discretion). Example:
  • for a free bundle (typically AVOD, FVOD): uncheck the A subscriber can manage the service flag, the Default state is Active, do not set the pricing rules for the bundle in the Pricing lists section.
  • for a paid package (typically SVOD): check the A subscriber can manage the service flag, set the pricing rules for the bundle in the Pricing lists section.

Repeat for all bundles containing content.

In order for the bundle content to be available to the subscriber, this subscriber must be subscribed to the pricing plan that includes this bundle.

4. Add the content you are going to provide to your subscribers

To add a series/movie, click the Add button on the Content > Series or Movies page and specify the following parameters:

• content parameters received from the copyright holders,
• assets,
• price lists.

Information on setting up assets and price lists is provided in the chapter “Configuring Assets and Price Lists in the Content Unit Card“.

After filling in all the parameters, check the Published flag and save changes.

2. VoD Bundling

When adding a VoD bundle please pay attention to the parameters below.

Parameters of the external provider’s VoD bundle are usually filled in automatically, their description is provided for reference.

• External ID

Bundle ID used for integration with external systems, for example, with billing – to identify the bundle when sending requests to subscribe / unsubscribe the bundle from the subscriber. This field is not used for interaction with an external content provider. Instead, the settings on the right panel of the VoD bundle card are used.

• Content delivery rule

This field defines:

• for end-user devices — the method of providing a content bundle;
• for SmartTUBE server — if the provider is external, the package to place the content during import. See the description of the parameter “Service plan ID at provider’s”

Valid values:

• TVOD – paid, purchase;
• SVOD – paid, subscription;
• FVOD – free, subscription;
• AVOD – free, subscription, with advertising.

• Content provider

The Content provider values are passed from the Administration > Content Providers dictionary accessible for users with the Administrator role only.

• Service plan ID at provider’s

Bundle ID on the provider side. Used only for external providers.

On the SmartTUBE side, VoD bundles, into which the content is placed, are created in advance or when importing metadata. If the provider does not place content into packages on its side, the SmartTUBE sets the following values for the created bundles in this field when importing:

• DEFAULT_FREE_SVOD – for AVOD and FVOD;
• DEFAULT_SVOD – for SVOD;
• DEFAULT_TVOD – for TVOD.

• Information Fields

The following fields are only relevant, if the content is packaged by an external provider. They allow you to understand, what a package is on the provider side, and they are not passed to the end-user devices:

• The provider’s content title. Bundle name.
• The provider’s content duration. Content delivery duration after the subscription.
• The provider’s price. Bundle price.
• The provider’s content synopsis. Description of the bundle.

The values of the following fields are passed to devices (they can be edited in agreement with the provider, except for the TVOD price list):

• Name
• Comment
• Duration and price from the TVOD price list (for TVOD content) / pricing plan (for SVOD content)

3. Configuring Assets & Price Lists

A content unit can have one or more assets. Usually, the movie and TV series assets are specified in a similar way. So for the movie, a full description of filling in the parameters is provided (see the chapter “Configuring Movie Assets”), and for the series – only differences from the movies (see the chapter “Configuring Series Assets”).

Depending on the provider type – external or internal, – asset parameters are filled in differently. Since the parameters of external provider assets are typically filled in automatically, their description is provided here for reference.

To make the asset available to subscribers, you should add the price list(s) for it. For an external provider, price lists are added and configured automatically during import. So, changing them manually in Admin Console makes sense only for test purposes.

Asset parameters in the content unit card

Configuring Movie Assets

1. Add assets on the Assets tab

Set the following parameters for each asset:

• File name (for internal provider only)

This field defines the URL that the end-user device requests to play content. URL is as follows:

<provider_prefix>/<filename>.<provider_postfix>

This field can contain either an absolute path to the file or a relative path. In the second case, the prefix and postfix are specified on the Administration > Content providers > [any provider] page. This page is accessible for users with the Administrator role only.

The URL of all assets of the same provider must be specified in the same way.

You can set the asset path in the following ways:

• As absolute path in the File name field:

http://111.1.11.11/hls/VOD/smartlabs/movie.m3u8

• As relative path or <filename> only in the File name field, and <provider_prefix> with <provider_postfix> on the Content providers > [any provider] page:

File name: /hls/VOD/smartlabs/movie
Asset file prefix: http://111.1.11.11
Asset file postfix: .m3u8

File name : movie
Asset file prefix: http://111.1.11.11/hls/VOD/smartlabs/
Asset file postfix: .m3u8

• External content ID (for external provider only)

String ID of the content unit on the external provider side. Used by the SmartTUBE server to match content when importing data from the provider, and by the subscriber application to play the content. Filled in automatically when importing a movie.

Do not edit the asset external ID after it is created. If you do this after a subscriber purchases content, the content will no longer be available to that subscriber.

• Encryption type

The system with which the asset is encrypted (for example, Widevine). If not encrypted, leave Not Selected.

• Content provider
  • INTERNAL – for internal content provider;
  • {External content provider ID}

• DRM identifier

DRM identifier used for encryption (should be provided by the party that encrypted the content).

• Available on mobile devices

If this check box is selected, this content will be available on mobile devices running iOS and Android.

• Set the price list(s) for each asset

• TVOD (one-time purchase). Create A TVOD price list, specify the VOD bundle, the price, the duration of the movie (if the duration is not specified, the asset will be sold as EST (indefinitely)), and the quality of the asset.
• SVOD (subscription). Create a price list in the Movie packages tab, specify the VoD bundle in it. The price for SVOD content is set in the pricing plan.

• After filling in all the asset parameters, check the Ready checkbox.

This means that the asset file is ready for playback on end-user devices. If the asset is not ready (for example, it is damaged), uncheck this checkbox, and the asset will not be streamed to devices. A movie without ready-to-play assets will not appear on devices.

Configuring Series Assets

To make a series available to subscribers follow these steps:

1. Add the series on the Series > [any series] > Provider relation tab. Set the required parameters:
   • Content provider – select Internal (since only the internal provider needs to manually fill in the parameters).
   • External content ID​ – arbitrary value (for example, ID of the series).
   • Add a TVOD or SVOD price list (the Movie packages tab), specify the VoD bundle and other parameters, similar to the movie. This price list will be used for billing the series as a whole.
   • Check the Ready checkbox.

2. Add at least 1 published season.
3. Add at least 1 published episode for each published season.
4. Add at least 1 ready asset for each published episode. Episode assets data is used to play content. Specify the asset parameters for each episode in the same way as for movies paying attention to the following rules:
   • Set the TVOD or SVOD price list to the episode only if you want subscribers to buy it separately from the entire series.
   • If an episode has a price list set and the subscriber has purchased the entire series that includes this episode, it also becomes available for watching by the subscriber.
   • If you want subscribers to buy each episode separately (without the ability to buy the entire series), set the TVOD price list for each episode and place the entire series into a hidden active SVOD bundle (i.e., set the Hide checkbox and the Default state = Active field for the bundle in the corresponding pricing plan).

4. Configuring VoD Import

On the Administration > Scheduled jobs page, you can create a job for regular VoD importing.

List of methods for regular execution

In the Method field you can choose one of the available importers:

• CableLabsFormat VOD IMPORT with vod identifier in request (cablelabsformatvodimport#doimport) — supports the SmartLabs VoD Metadata Format (based on Cablelabs 3.0) and importing from one provider.
• Import metacontent from external sources (metacontentimport#doimport) — supports the HBO VoD Metadata Format (based on Cablelabs 3.0) and importing from multiple providers.

For a description of the HBO and SmartLabs VoD metadata formats, see the chapter “VoD Content Import”.

Import of VoD Metadata in HBO Format

To perform an import using the metacontentimport#doimport method, specify the following parameters in the Method parameters field:

1. Metadata processing logic

Format:

“{external provider ID in lowerCase format}.use.provider.logic”: “{external provider ID whose logic should be used}”

The “logic” here means a set of settings and rules for processing metadata specific to each provider. Thus, in the example below, the FBOD provider will download content from the FTP server (access details are indicated below), with the same folder naming rules, using the same logic and in the same XML format as the HBO provider.

Example:

“fbod.use.provider.logic”: “HBO”

2. List of providers to process

Format:

“providers”: “{external provider IDs separated by comma}”

Example:

“providers”: “PROVIDER_1,PROVIDER_2,PROVIDER_3”

This parameter is optional. If not set, the job performs import sequentially for all active providers in the Administration > Content providers dictionary. This dictionary is accessible for users with the Administrator role only.

3. Other parameters specific to each provider

Format:

“{external provider ID in lowerCase format}.{provider-specific parameter}”: “{parameter value}”

Example:

“provider_1.ftp.server”: “172.20.50.54”,
“provider_2.content-sortBy”: “popular”,
“provider_3.overrideOriginalName”: 1

Example of the Method parameters string for multiple providers:

{ “provider_1.providerSupportedLangsMap”: “ru=ru,en=en,lv=lv”, “provider_1.content-sortBy”: “popular”, “provider_1.overrideContentNames”: 1,  “provider_1.overrideOriginalName”: 1, “updatedLangName”: 1,  “updateNormalizedName” : 1, “updateLangDescription”: 1, “provider_2.providerSupportedLangsMap”: “en=en,cs=cs”, “provider_2.accessLevelRemoveAllButDigits”: 1, “provider_2.accessLevelPrefix”: “PEGI-“, “blabla1”: 5, “provider_3.appVersion”: “1234”, “provider_3.getPurchaseInfo.skipTestPrices”: false, “provider_3.providerSupportedLangsMap” : “ru=ru”, “provider_3.conflictProviders”: “PROVIDER_1”,  “provider_1.conflictProviders”: “PROVIDER_3” }

Notes

1. To successfully complete the job, all providers specified in its parameters must be present in the Administration > Content providers dictionary. This dictionary is accessible for users with the Administrator role only.
2. Parameters of steps a) and c) can be specified in the system.conf configuration file (in the metacontent section), observing the format: parameter = “value”

Example:

metacontent = { provider_1.use.provider.logic = “HBO” provider_1.ftp.server = “192.168.299.189” provider_2.providerSupportedLangsMap = “ru=ru,en=en,lv=lv” provider_2.content-sortBy = “popular” provider_2.overrideContentNames = 1 provider_2.overrideOriginalName = 1 }

Import of VoD Metadata in SmartLabs Format

To perform an import using the cablelabsformatvodimport#doimport method, specify the following parameters in the Method parameters field:

• Content provider to process

Format: “defaultContentProvider”: “{External ID of the Content provider in the SmartTUBE}“

Example: “defaultContentProvider”: “PROVIDER_2”

This parameter is optional. If not set, the job performs import for the provider INTERNAL.

• DRM mapping. Allows to change the assets’ Encryption type specified by the <content:EncryptionInfo> XML section when importing.

Format:

• “drmTypeNameMap”: “{Name of the Content provider in the SmartTUBE}|{External ID of the Encryption type set in the XML imported}={Name of the Encryption type in the SmartTUBE}“ or
• “drmTypeIdMap”: “{Name of the Content provider in the SmartTUBE}|{External ID of the Encryption type set in the XML imported}={ID of the Encryption type in the SmartTUBE}“

You can also specify DRM mapping for multiple providers by using the * character as a separator (see examples below).

Examples:

• “drmTypeNameMap”: “PROVIDER_3|widevine=widevine_provider3*INTERNAL|widevine=widevine”

It sets the widevine_provider3  Encryption type instead of the widevine for the PROVIDER_3 provider.

• “drmTypeIdMap”: “PROVIDER_3|widevine=247824302*INTERNAL|widevine=240419092”

Notes

1. To successfully complete the job, the providers specified in its parameters must be present in the Administration > Content providers dictionary. This dictionary is accessible for users with the Administrator role only.
2. The job parameters can be specified in the system.conf configuration file (in the metacontent section) as follows:

metacontent = { cablelabsformatvodimport.defaultContentProvider = “PROVIDER_2” cablelabsformatvodimport.drmTypeNameMap = “PROVIDER_3|widevine=widevine_provider3*INTERNAL|widevine=widevine” }

5. Enable Watching VoD Offline (optional)

To enable offline viewing for specific movies, series, or episodes for your subscribers in SmartTUBE Apps, follow the steps below:

1. Access SmartTUBE Admin Console and go to Content > Movies/Episodes.
2. Select the desired movie or episode.
3. Enable the Download enabled option for the chosen asset in the Assets tab:
   
4. Enable the Offline content option for the Pricing plans > Bundles & Packages > VoD bundle that includes the selected movie/episode:
   
5. Update the setup.json configuration file to set “isDownloadOfflineEnabled”: true for the target end-user devices using SmartTUBE Device Manager.
   
6. Test the offline viewing feature in SmartTUBE Apps to ensure functionality.

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Content Promotion

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The SmartTUBE platform provides the operator with a variety of features that enable the promotion of content or marketing activities within the user interface of SmartTUBE apps. Here they are:

• Banners
• Recommendations
• Showcases

Banners

Banners can be displayed on the Home screen above the Main menu and when content is paused in the player:

Regular Banner

Regular banner on the Home Screen

Regular non-clickable banner in the player when playback is paused
(available for SmartTUBE Apps v9.2 and higher)

Faded Banner

Faded banner on the Home Screen
(available for SmartTUBE apps v8.xx and higher)

Trailer-enabling Banner

The trailer-enabling banner is displayed at the top of the Home screen and starts playing the movie/series trailer a few moments after the user points to it.

Available for SmartTUBE apps v8.xx and higher.

Configuring Banners

Banners of all types are set up on the SmartTUBE Admin Console > Content > Banners page:

Banner upload areas

If you are using SmartTUBE apps 8.x and later, please upload Home screen banners considering the following guidelines:

Type of device	Upload area	“Image tag” parameter	Recommended banner size, pixels
Android smartphones	Tagged logos	androidPhone	1170×1664
Android tablets	Tagged logos	androidTablet	2048×930
iPhones	Tagged logos	v8	1170×1664
iPads	Tagged logos	v8	2048×930
Large-screen devices (STB, Smart TV, web browsers)	Logo	–	HD: 1280×480 Full HD: 1920×780

If you have not see such tags in the Tagged logos area, please add them in the Dictionaries > Image Tags dictionary

In addition, you can explicitly define the Device types the tagged banners should be displayed on.

Configuring Features for Banners Displayed in the Player when Paused

Banners for the player are uploaded to the Logo area with no Image tag. In the SmartTUBE Apps, they are stretched to fill the screen on the smaller side. When deciding on the resolution, please refer to the recommended banner width provided in the table above.

Configuring Features for Trailer-enabling Banners

The SmartTUBE apps v8.xx and later features top banners to play trailers when in focus. These banners are also faded.

If your SmartTUBE app is not configured this way by default, you can add the parameters below to its configuration files setup.json and home.json using SmartTUBE Device Manager:

setup.json

“showBannersTrailer” = true

home.json

{ “lines”: [ { “id”: “banners”, “component”: { “params”: { “showTrailers”: true } } } ] }

Configuring Features for Faded Banners

If you want to leave top banners only faded without playing trailers, apply the settings below:

setup.json

“showBannersTrailer” = false

home.json

{ “lines”: [ { “id”: “banners”, “component”: { “params”: { “showTrailers”: false } } } ] }

Make sure to place important information within the safe zone indicated in the mockups below to keep it visible and prevent it from being obscured by UI elements. Text outside the safe zone may become unreadable.

Mockup for large-screen devices

Mockup for tablets

Mockup for phones

Recommendations

Add recommended movies and series in Content > Recommendations. Recommendation rails usually shown on the Home screen below the Main menu.

Showcases

Menu Content > Showcases allows to create additional thematic lists of content displayed below the Main menu as poster rails. Compared to the Recommendations, showcases have an extended set of settings:

Settings	Description
Name	Name of the showcase.
External ID	External ID of the showcase, used to identify the showcase during the import process.
Content providers	Content providers, movies and series of which are displayed in this showcase. Used to filter the content by provider.
Age rating	Level of age restrictions.
Sort order	Showcase sort order on the main screen.
Show only icon	Indicates whether the showcase icon is displayed with or without a Name.
Selected icon	Image of the showcase icon selected in the SmartTUBE app. The image size should match the size of the main menu icons.
Icon	Image of the showcase icon not selected in the SmartTUBE app. The image size should match the size of the main menu icons.
Movies	List of movies to be shown in the showcase.
Series	List of serials to be shown in the showcase.

The banners, recommendations and showcases which refer to content with the highest access level in Dictionaries > Access levels (the highest access level is which has the highest Sort order) are not shown in the SmartTUBE apps’ UI.E.g., if 18+ has the highest value of Sort order field, the banners and recommendations which refer to content 18+ will not be shown, even if specified in Admin Console. To show such banners and recommendations, you may create the age restriction 21+ and set for it the higher Sort order. The output of banners, recommendations and showcases on the main screen are configured via the configuration files of the SmartTUBE apps and uploaded to end-user devices using SmartTUBE Device Manager.