Create channels from templates and organise packs

A starting point based on your library

Channel templates propose useful recipes from complete collections already shared by Odyssey. They do not supply films, obtain missing episodes or publish a ready-made subscription. A template succeeds only when your permitted collections contain enough eligible programmes.

You need a managed profile, the appropriate owner access and complete shared collections. Features that depend on watch history or classification also need that evidence. Unknown history is not treated as unwatched, and missing metadata does not automatically satisfy a template.

Open the template workspace

1. Open Settings → Odyssey Channel Studio → Open Channel Studio.
2. Choose Channel Templates.
3. Scan the authorised QR code, or choose Open Online Editor where available.
4. In the browser, open Templates if the template panel is not already selected.
5. Choose the Shared collections to evaluate.

The web tool allows between one and sixteen shared collections for a template evaluation. If it says no complete collections are shared yet, prepare a permitted collection in Odyssey before retrying.

Evaluate before creating

1. Use Find a template to narrow the list, or browse the available templates.
2. Select the templates you want to evaluate. Already-created templates are marked and disabled.
3. Choose Preview selected templates. The web tool accepts one to thirty-two proposals in this step.
4. Read each eligible proposal and its admitted programme count. Empty proposals are omitted.
5. Choose Create selected channels only when the preview is the set you want.
6. Select a new channel, enable it where required, review its schedule and publish it separately.

The batch saves selected channels together. Nothing plays merely because the template batch was saved. Existing channels remain; publication is a later, channel-specific decision.

A worked example

You have shared a mixed collection from a home server and want a focused evening channel. Evaluate a genre template and an unwatched template against that collection. The genre proposal may qualify while the unwatched one does not if current profile history is unavailable.

That difference is useful information. Do not interpret an omitted proposal as proof that no unwatched programmes exist anywhere. It means this evaluation did not establish enough eligible programmes in the selected collections with the available evidence.

Seasonal templates use the channel timezone and actual eligibility rules. A seasonal name alone does not guarantee that every month or region will produce the same result.

Organise channels with packs

Packs groups existing shared channels. A channel can belong to more than one pack, so you can organise “Weekends” and “Films” without duplicating the underlying channel.

1. Open Packs in the browser workspace.
2. Choose an existing pack or Create a new pack.
3. Enter Pack name, select its channels and adjust their order if needed.
4. Choose Create pack or Save pack.

In Live’s Channel Studio section, use Packs to filter the lineup. Choose All Channels to clear that filter. Remove pack, keep channels removes the grouping while retaining every channel and its schedule.

Transfer recipes carefully

Import & export transfers recipe instructions and eligible pack information. Export excludes media links, credentials, bookmarks, device identities, private library paths and generated guides.

Imports use the receiving profile’s current sources and require mapping and a fresh review. A recipe file does not grant provider access. The tool can create copies or restore settings to matching current channels; its restore mode does not resurrect a deleted channel by an old identity.

Common problems and next steps

No template has enough programmes: choose a more suitable collection or a less restrictive template. Missing metadata and profile restrictions can reduce eligibility.

A previous batch needs confirmation: use Retry previous change before starting another batch. The profile changed while evaluating: reopen the panel in the intended profile to obtain a current evaluation.

Can I cancel? Close the panel before committing a batch. After channels are saved, manage them as saved recipes. Where are my new Live channels? Open each saved channel, review and publish its schedule. Use the publication guide for that final step.