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Content Sources

Content sources define the content (media items) that will be used in the sequential schedule. Content sources include:

Search content sources use ErsatzTV's search engine to dynamically find content matching your criteria (query).

content:
  - search:
    key: "SATURDAY_CARTOONS"
    query: "type:episode AND show_title:\"Looney Tunes\""
    order: shuffle

Search parameters​

  • key (required) - Unique name that can be used to reference this content throughout the sequential schedule definition.
  • query (required) - Search expression that will be used to find content.
  • order (required) - Playback order; only chronological and shuffle are currently supported.

Common search patterns​

# Find all episodes of a specific show
query: "type:episode AND show_title\"The Simpsons\""

# Find movies from a specific decade
query: "type:move AND release_date:[20000101 TO 20091231]"

# Find content with specific tags
query: "type:other_video AND tag:bumpers"

# Complex searches with multiple criteria
query: "type:episode AND (show_title:\"Friends\" OR show_title:\"Seinfeld\")"
note

Before using search queries in a sequential schedule, test them in the search interface to make sure they return the expected content. This helps to avoid empty content sources or unexpected scheduling results.

Show​

Show content sources target specific shows using external identifier metadata, giving precise control over content selection.

content:
  - show:
    key: "FRIENDS_EPISODES"
    guids:
      - source: "tvdb"
        value: "79168"
      - source: "imdb"
        value: "tt0108778"
    order: "chronological"

Show parameters​

  • key (required) - Unique name that can be used to reference this content throughout the sequential schedule definition.
  • guids (required) - List of show identifiers (source and value pairs)
  • order (required) - Playback order; only chronological and shuffle are currently supported.

Show identifiers​

Show identifiers can be any GUID that is present in your metadata. You can verify GUID metadata using Search in the form source:value, e.g. tvdb:79168 or imdb:tt0108778.

Collection​

Collection content sources reference existing Collections, letting you reuse content you have already organized.

content:
  - collection: "Saturday Morning Cartoons"
    key: "CARTOONS"
    order: "shuffle"

Collection parameters​

  • collection (required) - The name of the existing Manual Collection.
  • key (required) - Unique name that can be used to reference this content throughout the sequential schedule definition.
  • order (required) - Playback order; only chronological and shuffle are currently supported.

Multi Collection​

Multi Collection content sources reference existing Multi Collections, letting you reuse content you have already organized.

content:
  - multi_collection: "All Comedy Shows"
    key: "COMEDY"
    order: "shuffle"

Multi Collection parameters​

  • multi_collection (required) - The name of the existing Multi Collection.
  • key (required) - Unique name that can be used to reference this content throughout the sequential schedule definition.
  • order (required) - Playback order; only chronological and shuffle are currently supported.

Smart Collection​

Smart Collection content sources reference existing Smart Collections, letting you reuse content you have already organized.

content:
  - smart_collection: "Recent Movies"
    key: "NEW_MOVIES"
    order: "chronological"

Smart Collection parameters​

  • smart_collection (required) - The name of the existing Smart Collection.
  • key (required) - Unique name that can be used to reference this content throughout the sequential schedule definition.
  • order (required) - Playback order; only chronological and shuffle are currently supported.

Playlist​

Playlist content sources reference existing Playlists, letting you reuse content you have already organized.

content:
  - playlist: "My Favorites"
    playlist_group: "Personal Lists"
    key: "FAVORITES"

Playlist parameters​

  • playlist (required) - The name of the existing Playlist.
  • playlist_group (required) - The name of the existing Playlist Group that contains the named Playlist.
  • key (required) - Unique name that can be used to reference this content throughout the sequential schedule definition.

Marathon​

Marathon content sources create dynamic playlists that intelligently mix content from multiple shows or searches.

content:
  - marathon:
    key: "COMEDY_MARATHON"

    # Option 1: Use specific show IDs
    guids:
      - source: "imdb"
        value: "tt0108778"    # Friends
      - source: "imdb"
        value: "tt0098904"    # Seinfeld
    
    # Option 2: Use search queries
    searches:
      - "type:episode AND show_title:\"Friends\""
      - "type:episode AND show_title:\"Seinfeld\""
      - "type:episode AND show_title:\"The Office\""
    
    group_by: "show"          # or "season"
    item_order: "shuffle"     # or "chronological"
    play_all_items: false     # Cycle through shows
    shuffle_groups: true      # Randomize show order

Marathon parameters​

  • key (required) - Unique name that can be used to reference this content throughout the sequential schedule definition.
  • guids - List of external content identifiers (source and value pairs).
  • searches - List of search expressions.
  • group_by (required) - Tells the sequential scheduler how to group the combined content (returned from all guids and searches). Valid values are show, season, artist and album.
  • item_order (required) - Playback order within each group; only chronological and shuffle are currently supported.
  • play_all_items - When true, will play every item from a group before moving to the next group. When false, will play one item from a group before moving to the next group.
  • shuffle_groups - When true, will randomize the order of groups. When false, will cycle through groups in a fixed order.