URL Format for HLS Access

Description of the URL formats for accessing HLS streams, covering live, time-shifted (DVR), and on-demand (VOD) content.

All URLs are relative to the OTT server: http://<server-address>:<ott-port>. The OTT port is set in the configuration wizard and can be changed in Settings → HTTP Servers.

1. URL Structure

Base path: /<channel_name> (e.g., /discovery)
Variant path (multi-bitrate): /<channel_name>/<variant> (e.g., /discovery/1080p)
Filenames (default, configurable in HLS Access):
- index.m3u8: Main access point for both live and on-demand content
  - Without parameters: Streams live content
  - With start parameter: Provides time-shifted content
- media.m3u8 – Direct access to live content without session creation
- vod.m3u8 – Direct access to on-demand content without session creation; URL includes start and duration parameters

2. Index Playlist (Stream Mode)

URL:

  /<channel_name>/index.m3u8

or with optional parameters:

/<channel_name>/index.m3u8?start=<time>&duration=<sec>

start (optional):
- Relative: Seconds before now (e.g., -300)
- Absolute: Unix timestamp (e.g., 1747485787)
duration (optional): Playback length in seconds

Examples:

# 5 minutes ago to now
/discovery/index.m3u8?start=-300

# 40-second segment from a timestamp
/discovery/index.m3u8?start=1747485787&duration=40

2.1. Index Playlist with Embedded Timestamp (Flussonic-like behavior)

Alternative syntax where parameters are embedded in the filename instead of query string. Both index- and archive- prefixes are supported for compatibility with Flussonic-like behavior.

URL:

/<channel_name>/index-<timestamp>-<duration>.m3u8

/<channel_name>/archive-<timestamp>-<duration>.m3u8

timestamp: Unix timestamp (e.g., 1747485787)
duration: Playback length in seconds (use now for unlimited/live)

Examples:

# 15-minute segment from specific timestamp
/discovery/index-1747485787-900.m3u8

# Live stream from specific timestamp (increased constantly)
/discovery/index-1747485787-now.m3u8

# Same using `archive-` prefix
/discovery/archive-1747485787-900.m3u8

3. Media Playlist (Live)

URL:

/<channel_name>/<variant>/media.m3u8

Streams current live segments
No query parameters
Use variant path for multi-bitrate playback

4. VOD Playlist (On-Demand)

URL:

/<channel_name>/<variant>/vod.m3u8?start=<time>&duration=<sec>

start: Relative or absolute
duration: Required

Examples:

# 30s clip from 100s ago for SD variant
/discovery/sd/vod.m3u8?start=-100&duration=30

# 30s clip from timestamp using variant
/discovery/hd/vod.m3u8?start=1747485787&duration=30

5. Query Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description
`start`	relative/absolute	Playback start time (offset or Unix time)
`duration`	seconds	Length of playback

6. Response Codes

Code	Description
`400`	Invalid URL or parameters. For example, `vod.m3u8` without `start` and `duration`
`403`	Access denied by authorization
`404`	Channel not found or not running
`410`	Media data is not ready yet
`425`	Playlist is not ready yet. Wait a few seconds after channel start or restart

7. Playback Notes

Access: Public by default. Enable authentication if needed.
Pause/Seek:
- Index: Limited rewind
- VOD: Full seek within requested range
Multi-bitrate:
- index.m3u8 lists available variants
- media.m3u8 and vod.m3u8 URLs with the variant name force a specific variant. index.m3u8 is available only without variant
Archive: Access to VOD or time-shifted index requires archive to be enabled (Storage must be assigned in channel settings)