The Odyssey glossary

Sources, catalogues and metadata

Source: a media service, server or playlist you connect to Odyssey. Your source supplies the media and controls your access to it. Odyssey organises and plays what that connection permits; it supplies no media itself.

Catalogue: the list of titles, episodes or channels a source makes available. Refreshing a catalogue asks for updated listings. It does not create a provider subscription or repair expired access.

Metadata: information about a title, such as its name, cast, director, artwork, genre and episode descriptions. A title can have metadata even when none of your permitted sources offers a playable copy.

Playback source: a particular available stream or version for the item you selected. Two versions may have different cuts, languages or durations. Choose the correct episode and release rather than assuming every result is interchangeable.

Provider: the organisation or service that supplies a connected source. Provider credentials, playback permissions and media rights remain separate from your Odyssey account.

Connect a source →

Accounts, profiles and permissions

Management Code: the private code used to connect devices and browser management to a managed Odyssey setup. Treat it as account access, not as a public invitation. Do not include it in a support screenshot.

Profile: a viewer’s place within a setup, with its own supported progress, preferences and restrictions. If your favourites or progress look different on two devices, check which profile is active before changing anything.

Permission: a rule deciding whether a profile, device or connected service may perform a particular action. A source may play successfully while recording or sharing is unavailable.

Sync: the exchange of supported account or profile state between connected devices. It does not mean every local device setting or locally added credential is copied automatically.

PIN: a code used for a specific protection, such as protected Adult content, a locked profile or a configured Series Lock override. These are separate checks; entering one PIN is not a promise of unrestricted access everywhere.

Kids Mode: a restricted viewing configuration that hides Adult content. It does not change the website’s requirement that users be aged 18 or over.

Understand accounts and sync →

Tracks, releases and viewing progress

Embedded subtitles: subtitle tracks supplied with the selected video. They are generally the best starting point because they belong to that media file or stream. A track’s presence, language and quality still depend on the source.

Downloaded subtitles: a separate subtitle file you choose manually. It must match the episode and release. A matching title alone is not enough: another cut can have scenes of different lengths or a different opening.

Release: the particular edition or preparation of a video. Release labels can help you match subtitles to its timing. They do not establish that you have permission to view the media.

Audio track: one of the sound streams supplied with a video, such as another language or commentary. An audio language is independent of the subtitle language.

Continue Watching: a route back to eligible unfinished viewing for your active profile. A saved position still needs an accessible playback source.

Rail or shelf: a row of titles or collections. The Settings label is Rails on the inspected touch/desktop layout and Shelves in the Apple TV Settings menu.

Choose subtitles →

Live TV and Channel Studio

EPG: electronic programme guide. It associates channels with programme names and scheduled times. A channel stream and its guide data are separate, so one can work while the other is missing.

Channel recipe: a saved Channel Studio definition describing the media selection and scheduling choices. Saving a recipe is separate from publishing its channel to Live.

Published channel: a channel with an accepted schedule made available to the relevant Live experience. It still relies on accessible sources and profile permissions.

Source binding: the connection between a saved channel’s selection and the source identity that supplies it. Replacing a source can leave old bindings needing reconnection even if the replacement has a similar name.

Time zone: the local clock used to interpret a channel schedule. Check it before planning a particular evening slot, especially when different devices or viewers are in different regions.

Premiere window: a configured time range for eligible episode debuts in the supported scheduling flow. It cannot make unavailable or unreleased media playable.

Understand recipes and publishing →

Series Lock, Watch Party and sharing

Series Lock: a shared episode-progress rule for participating profiles or accepted friends. It helps you keep pace with one another. It is distinct from parental protection and from synchronising an active playback session.

Together: the Series Lock mode that shares watched completion among the participants. Separately lets each participant complete episodes individually. Choose the mode that reflects how you actually watch.

Waiting episode: an episode whose playback is being held by a Series Lock because the relevant prior progress is incomplete for another participant. Use the lock controls to understand who is waiting.

Watch Anyway: the explicit Series Lock override for the challenged episode. The inspected implementation authorises that episode for the playback attempt, with a profile PIN when the lock requires it. It is not an app-wide unlock.

Watch Party: coordinated movie or episode playback using each participant’s own permitted source. It does not require Home DVR and does not give a guest access to the host’s provider account.

Live TV SharePlay: Odyssey’s separate Live TV sharing flow using a connected supported Home DVR service and the source’s sharing permission. Do not assume the Watch Party prerequisites cover it.

Plan a Watch Party →

DVR and recording

DVR: digital video recorder. In this context, a supported connected service or the Home DVR companion handles recording. A recording button depends on that service and the applicable permissions.

Companion: the Home DVR software running on a supported computer or server. Installing its desktop app is one step; the service still needs its connection, source access and storage configured.

Scheduled recording: a request to record at a future programme time. An accepted schedule is not proof that the final recording completed: the service, source and storage must remain available.

Recording: saved media produced by the configured recording service. Availability and any permitted management actions depend on that service and its current state.

Restreaming: forwarding an authorised stream through a supported service to a recipient. Sharing permissions and media rights still apply. An invitation is not permission to redistribute media you are not entitled to share.

Set up DVR →