Using the Global Channel Search Script to Integrate with Dispatcharr and Emby for Full Guide Data

Dispatcharr Information https://github.com/Dispatcharr/Dispatcharr

First Download the script with the instructions at https://github.com/jesmannstl/global-channel-search or if using the docker version https://hub.docker.com/r/jesmann/global-channel-search

Launch the script and the first time setup will begin:

Channels DVR server is not required as the base cache included has virtually all United States, Canada and United Kingdom stations built in but if you need other countries (See Available Countries at end) and have a Channels DVR server you can add the IP and Port on this setup by pressing y or bypass by pressing n and hit Enter.

Main Menu:

First time setup:

Choose option “4) Settings” by pressing 4 then ENTER

Settings Menu:

Setup Dispatcharr and Emby Integration:

From the Settings menu press “2) Integration Configuration” and ENTER

Now at the Integration Menu you can choose “1) Channels DVR Configuration” to setup or change those settings if you had not previously. “2) Dispatcharr Configuration” to link to Dispatcharr to add Gracenote ID to your Dispatcharr Channels as well as update Channel Name, tvg-id to standard Guide Call Sign and logo if so desired. “3) Emby Integration” to add lineup ID’s to Emby automatically with the Gracenote IDs listed.

Dispatcharr Configuration

From the Integration Configuration Menu press 2 for Dispatcharr Configuration and press Enter to go to the Dispatcharr Integration Setup

Step 1 Choose 1 then ENTER to Enable Integration

Step 2 Enter your IP Address to where your Dispatcharr is located

Step 3 Enter your Port for Dispatcharr (Default is 9191)

Step 4 Enter your Dispatcharr admin username then password

Step 5 Press y and ENTER to Save and Test the connection

Once successful press ENTER to go back to the Integration Configuration Menu

Emby Configuration

From the Integration Configuration Menu press 3 for Emby Configuration and press Enter to go to the Emby Integration Setup

Step 1 Choose 1 then ENTER to Enable Integration

Step 2 Enter your IP Address to where your Emby Server is located

Step 3 Enter your Port for Emby Server (Default is 8096)

Step 4 Enter your Emby username then password

Step 5 Press y and ENTER to Save and Test the connection

Once successful press ENTER to go back to the Integration Configuration Menu

Now that Integration is setup from the Integration Configuration Menu choose “q) Back to Settings” to go back to the Settings Menu then from the Settings Menu choose “q) Back to the Main Menu” to go back to the Main Menu

Using Dispatcharr Integration

From the Main Menu choose “2) Dispatcharr Integration” and press ENTER

If you just want to go through your Channels in Dispatcharr to ONLY add the Gracenote ID (aka Station ID) choose option “1) Match Missing Station IDs”

If you want to update channels (or even create new channels to add streams to) changing the Name, adding or changing tvg-id (also known as Call Sign), Gracenote ID and/or updating logo choose option “2) Channel Management”

If you want to change groups in Dispatcharr choose option “3) Group Management”

Channel Management

This is what I consider the easiest setup to choose option “a) Populate Dispatcharr Fields” and press ENTER to bring up this Menu

If this is your first time setup and you need to process All Channels choose option “1) Process All Channels”

If you want to update channels missing certain fields (Name, TVG-ID, Gracenote ID etc) choose option “2) Process Channels Missing Specific Fields”

If you just want to edit a Specific Channel choose option “3) Process Specific Channel” and follow the prompts to select the channel

Option “4) Automatic Complete Data Replacement” USE AT YOUR OWN RISK

For this setup I’m using option “2) Process Channels Missing Specific Fields”

This will be your preference but option “4) Missing Any of the Above…” gives you the greatest control options

After choosing Option 4 the script will scan Dispatcharr for channels missing data and display the results:

To begin processing choose “y” and press ENTER

Now you will be presented with each channel and the option “c) Continue…” or “k) Skip…” or “q) Quit…” Press “c” then ENTER

The Script will attempt to match the channel automatically but a match depends on how the channel was labeled in Dispatcharr or you may need to do a manual search

If you have a potential match choose the letter next to it or “n) next page” if needed. If no match choose “s) Search with a different term” to search another way.

Once you selected the appropriate listing you will get the options to update fields

If the choice is correct press “y” to continue

These are personal preference to change the Name, TVG-ID and Update Logo but add the Gracenote ID (TVC Guide Station ID)

Continue the process for all of your channels.

Once you are done choose option “q) Back to Dispatcharr Menu”

Then choose option “q) Back to Main Menu”

Emby Integration

First you need to setup Emby with the M3U from Dispatcharr

In Dispatcharr choose M3U and select under TVG-ID Source: Gracenote Station ID then Copy the Generated URL

Then go to Emby Settings to Live TV and Add TV Source and choose M3U

Paste your M3U from Dispatcharr as the File or URL. Make sure the tvg_id_source=gracenote is included in the URL.

Everything else can be default and preferred channel image source is your preference if you want the logos saved in Dispatcharr or the Emby Guide Data logos and press Save. DO NOT ADD AN EPG SOURCE

Go back to the Script

From the Main Menu choose option “3) Emby Integration” and press ENTER

Most will use option “1) Populate Missing Lineup IDs

This may take time with a lot of channels the script is scanning the Gracenote ID from each channel to match to a LineupID including each channel.

Once Complete you’ll see a confirmation of how many lineups will be added press y and ENTER to add them to Emby

Once complete you will get a confirmation and press ENTER to finish

A
t this point you are finished with the script and can select “q) Back to Main Menu” then “q) Exit” to close the Script or Docker

You can go back to the Emby Live TV Setup and see the Guide Data Providers have been added.

Then go to Channels and see they were automatically matched.

I
t will take a few minutes for the guide to download and update.

Other Settings

In the Live TV Setup go to Advanced and change the days from Auto to 14 days then Save at the bottom.

From the Emby Guide press the three lines above the channels to get the Menu where you can change the display order and settings such as showing the “LIVE”, “NEW”, “PREMIERE” and/or “REPEAT” tags and use a colored guide for News, Sports, Movies, Childrens programs.

Completed Guide Example

You can also use the script for other Countries in Database Management. (Channels DVR integration required to setup)
Countries Available include:

`


*` Countries for which 2-letter country code is used in place of postal code.

`**` Countries with single valid postal code, shown here.

`***` Colombian lineups are currently listed together under 2-letter country code, but will be modified in near future to separate geographic regions in Colombia using postal codes or other geographic distinction.