Stream Mapparr

A Dispatcharr plugin that automatically matches and assigns streams to channels based on intelligent name matching, quality prioritization, and timezone filtering.

Features

• Intelligent Stream Matching: Automatically finds and assigns streams to channels using sophisticated name-matching algorithms
• OTA Callsign Matching: Direct callsign extraction and matching for Over-The-Air broadcast channels
• Multiple Streams Per Channel: Assigns all matching streams to each channel, sorted by quality
• Quality Prioritization: Sorts matched streams by quality (4K → FHD → HD → (H) → (F) → (D) → SD → Slow)
• Channel Visibility Management: Automatically enables/disables channels based on stream assignments and duplicate detection
• Timezone Filtering: Automatically excludes West/Pacific coast feeds unless explicitly requested
• Networks.json Integration: FCC broadcast station database for OTA channel validation
• Channels.txt Integration: Distinguishes between similar channel names (e.g., FX vs FXX vs FX Movie Channel)
• Customizable Ignore Tags: Filter out unwanted tags during matching
• Profile & Group Filtering: Target specific channel profiles and groups
• Preview Mode: Dry-run CSV export to review matches before applying changes
• Comprehensive Logging: Detailed matching logic and debug information

Requirements

• Active Dispatcharr installation
• Admin username and password for API access
• A Channels Profile other than "All" (Profile Documentation)
• Multiple streams of the same channel available in your setup
• channels.txt file (curated channel list) - included
• networks.json file (FCC broadcast station database) - included for OTA support

Recommendation

It is recommended to use the Channel Mapparr Plugin before using this plugin to standardize channel names. Standardized channel names significantly improve matching accuracy.

Installation

1. Log in to Dispatcharr's web UI
2. Navigate to Plugins
3. Click Import Plugin and upload the plugin zip file
4. Enable the plugin after installation

Settings Reference

Setting	Type	Default	Description
Dispatcharr URL	string	-	Full URL of your Dispatcharr instance (e.g., http://192.168.1.10:9191)
Dispatcharr Admin Username	string	-	Username for API authentication
Dispatcharr Admin Password	password	-	Password for API authentication
Profile Name	string	-	Name of an existing Channel Profile to process (e.g., "Primary", "Sports")
Channel Groups	string	-	Comma-separated group names to process, or leave empty for all groups
Ignore Tags	string	-	Comma-separated tags to ignore during matching (e.g., 4K, [4K], [Dead])
Visible Channel Limit	number	1	Number of channels per callsign group that will be visible and have streams added

Usage Guide

Step-by-Step Workflow

1. Configure Settings    * Enter your Dispatcharr URL, username, and password    * Specify an existing Profile Name (cannot be "All")    * Optionally specify Channel Groups (leave empty to process all)    * Optionally configure Ignore Tags to filter out unwanted tags    * Set Visible Channel Limit (default: 1 channel per callsign group)    * Click Save Settings

2. Load and Process Channels    * Click Run on Load/Process Channels    * The plugin loads channels from the specified profile and groups    * Fetches all available streams (handles pagination automatically)    * Review the summary showing channel and stream counts

3. Preview Changes (Dry Run)    * Click Run on Preview Changes (Dry Run)    * Exports a CSV to /data/exports/stream_mapparr_preview_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv    * Review matched streams for each channel    * Shows which channels will be updated vs skipped    * Identifies channels without matches

4. Add Streams to Channels    * Click Run on Add Stream(s) to Channels    * Adds all matched streams to each channel (sorted by quality)    * Only updates channels within the visible channel limit    * Enables updated channels in the profile    * Triggers M3U refresh to update the GUI    * Exports results to /data/exports/stream_mapparr_results_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv

5. Manage Channel Visibility (Optional)    * Click Run on Manage Channel Visibility    * Disables all channels in the profile    * Enables only channels with 0-1 streams (not attached to other channels)    * Enables only the highest priority channel per callsign group    * Useful for cleaning up duplicate channels    * Exports visibility report to /data/exports/stream_mapparr_visibility_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv

Matching Logic

OTA Channel Matching (Priority Method)

For broadcast channels like "CBS - IN South Bend (WSBT) [HD]":

1. Callsign Extraction: Parses channel name BEFORE any cleaning to extract callsign    * Pattern: NETWORK - STATE City (CALLSIGN) [Quality]    * Example: CBS - IN South Bend (WSBT) [HD] → Callsign: WSBT

2. Direct Callsign Matching: Searches all streams for the exact callsign using word boundaries    * Matches: US CBS 22 (WSBT) South Bend/Elkhart Area (H)    * Matches: CBS: IN SOUTH BEND WSBT    * Excludes: WSBTV (different callsign)

3. Fallback to Networks.json: If direct matching fails, validates against FCC database    * Confirms network affiliation    * Validates state and callsign combination    * Searches streams for validated callsign

4. Quality Sorting: All matched streams sorted by quality precedence

Standard Channel Matching

For non-OTA channels, the plugin uses a multi-stage process:

1. Exact Match After Cleaning: Matches channel names after removing quality tags    * Example: "TBS [FHD]" → "TBS" matches "US: TBS"

2. Word Boundary Matching: Ensures complete word matches to avoid false positives    * Example: "FX" matches "US: FX" but NOT "FXX" or "WFXR"

3. Longer Channel Filtering: Uses channels.txt to distinguish similar names    * Example: "FX" does NOT match "FX Movie Channel" (different channel)

4. Call Sign Filtering: Excludes local TV station call signs    * Example: "FX" does NOT match "WBKB FX (WBKBDT4)" (local FOX affiliate)

5. Timezone Filtering: Automatically excludes West/Pacific feeds    * Example: "SYFY [HD]" matches "US NBC SYFY (East)" but NOT "US NBC SYFY (West)"

Channel Grouping and Priority

Channels are grouped by callsign (OTA) or cleaned name (regular):

• Within each group, channels are sorted by quality tag priority:   * [4K] → [FHD] → [HD] → [SD] → [Unknown] → [Slow] → No tag
• Then by channel number (ascending)
• Only the highest priority channels (up to Visible Channel Limit) receive streams

Quality Sorting

Matched streams are automatically sorted by quality precedence:

• 4K: [4K], (4K), 4K
• FHD: [FHD], (FHD), FHD
• HD: [HD], (HD), HD, (H)
• SD: [SD], (SD), SD
• Other: (F), (D)
• Slow: Slow, [Slow], (Slow)

Example Transformations

OTA Channels (Callsign Matching)

Channel: CBS - IN South Bend (WSBT) [HD]   Matched Streams: US CBS 22 (WSBT) South Bend/Elkhart Area (H), US CBS 22 (WSBT) South Bend/Elkhart Area (F), CBS: IN SOUTH BEND WSBT

Channel: CBS - CA Monterey (KION) [FHD]   Matched Streams: US CBS 46 (KION) Monterey (H), US CBS 46 (KION) Monterey (F), CBS: CA MONTEREY KION, US: FOX Monterey (KION)

Channel: CBS - NM Albuquerque (KRQE) [HD]   Matched Streams: US FOX (KRQE) Albuquerque Santa Fe (H), US CBS 13 (KRQE) Albuquerque Santa Fe (H), US FOX (KRQE) Alburquerque (F), US CBS (KRQE) Albuquerque (F), CBS: NM ALBUQUERQUE KRQE, FOX: ALBUQUERQUE NM KRQE, US: CBS 13 Albuquerque (KRQE), US: FOX 13 Albuquerque (KRQE)

Standard Channels

Channel: TBS [FHD]   Matched Streams: USA: TBS, US: TBS, US: TBS

Channel: FX (East) [HD]   Matched Streams: US: FX, US: FX, US FX (East) (S), US FX (East) (H), US FX (East) (A), US (F2) FX (East)   Excluded: US: FX Movie Channel, (US) (FOX1) WBKB FX (WBKBDT4)

Channel: SYFY [HD]   Matched Streams: USA SYFY, US: SYFY, US: SYFY, US NBC SYFY (East) (D)   Excluded: US NBC SYFY (West) (D)

Duplicate Channel Handling

Channels in Profile:

• CBS - AL Birmingham (WIAT) [FHD] ← Highest priority (enabled, receives streams)
• CBS - AL Birmingham (WIAT) [HD] ← Lower priority (skipped)
• CBS - AL Birmingham (WIAT) [Slow] [HD] ← Lower priority (skipped)

Result: Only the [FHD] channel receives streams and is visible

Action Reference

Action	Description
Load/Process Channels	Load channels from specified profile/groups and fetch all available streams
Preview Changes (Dry Run)	Export CSV showing which streams will be matched to each channel
Add Stream(s) to Channels	Apply matched streams to channels, enabling highest priority channels in each group
Manage Channel Visibility	Disable all channels, then enable only channels with 0-1 streams (excluding duplicates and attached channels)

File Locations

• Processing Cache: /data/stream_mapparr_processed.json
• Preview Export: /data/exports/stream_mapparr_preview_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv
• Results Report: /data/exports/stream_mapparr_results_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv
• Visibility Report: /data/exports/stream_mapparr_visibility_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv
• Plugin Files:   * /data/plugins/stream_mapparr/plugin.py   * /data/plugins/stream_mapparr/__init__.py   * /data/plugins/stream_mapparr/channels.txt   * /data/plugins/stream_mapparr/networks.json

CSV Export Format

Preview CSV

Column	Description
channel_id	Internal Dispatcharr channel ID
channel_name	Channel name
channel_number	Channel number
matched_streams_count	Number of streams matched
stream_names	Pipe-separated list of matched stream names
stream_ids	Comma-separated list of matched stream IDs
will_update	Yes if channel will be updated, No if skipped

Results CSV

Column	Description
channel_id	Internal Dispatcharr channel ID
channel_name	Channel name
channel_number	Channel number
matched_streams_count	Number of streams added
stream_names	Pipe-separated list of added stream names
stream_ids	Comma-separated list of added stream IDs
will_update	Yes if channel was updated, No if skipped
status	Updated, Skipped (over limit), No matches, or error details

Visibility Report CSV

Column	Description
channel_id	Internal Dispatcharr channel ID
channel_name	Channel name
stream_count	Number of streams attached to channel
reason	Why channel was enabled/disabled
enabled	Yes if channel is visible, No if hidden

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Profile Name must be configured"

• Enter an existing profile name in the settings
• Profile name is case-sensitive
• Cannot use "All" - must create a separate profile

"None of the specified groups were found"

• Verify group names are spelled correctly (case-sensitive)
• Check available groups in the error message
• Leave field empty to process all groups

OTA channels not matching streams

• Verify channel name format: NETWORK - STATE City (CALLSIGN)
• Example: CBS - IN South Bend (WSBT) [HD]
• Check that callsign exists in stream names
• Review logs for "Extracted callsign" and "Found callsign match" messages
• Ensure networks.json contains the station data (fallback method)

Too many duplicate channels visible

• Run "Manage Channel Visibility" action
• Adjust "Visible Channel Limit" setting (default: 1)
• Only highest priority channels per callsign group will remain visible

Channels not matching streams

• Run Channel Mapparr first to standardize channel names
• Check that streams exist for your channels
• Use Preview mode to see matching details in logs
• Verify channels.txt contains your channel names

Too many false positives

• Add entries to channels.txt to distinguish similar names
• Use Ignore Tags to filter out quality indicators
• Check logs for matching logic details

Debugging Commands

# Check plugin files
docker exec dispatcharr ls -la /data/plugins/stream_mapparr/

# Monitor plugin activity
docker logs -f dispatcharr | grep -i stream_mapparr

# View processing cache
docker exec dispatcharr cat /data/stream_mapparr_processed.json | jq

# Check OTA callsign extraction
docker logs -f dispatcharr | grep "Extracted callsign"

# Check stream matches
docker logs -f dispatcharr | grep "Found callsign match"