Concepts

The Service List Registry is based on some simple core concepts that support the online discovery of audiovisual media services through a Unified Service Platform.

Discover

Find available service lists from trusted sources based on location, language, and device capabilities.

Registry

An online information system that allows any compatible device, display, or application to request lists of available audiovisual media services by a simple query to a well-known address. The response will provide links to available lists of services, depending on the location, language, or capabilities of the client device, display, or application. The registry allows clients connected to the internet to discover services without requiring a traditional tuner to scan for broadcast transmissions. Users may be able to choose from multiple competing lists of services.

Choose

Adopt a curated collection of services organised for a specific audience, territory, or purpose.

List

An ordered set of audiovisual media services that is offered by a service provider or operator, typically aimed at a particular territory or community of interest. A service list may define regions, allowing services, ordering, and availability to vary by location. It may be designated as being regulated by a national authority to indicate conformance with relevant regulations, including the prominence of services of public value. Services within a list can be identified by logos and genre categories. They may have unique logical numbers to enable numeric selection.

Select

Pick a specific service from an ordered list. Services may be live, on demand, or interactive.

Service

An editorially distinct audiovisual media service within a list. A service can correspond to a traditional television channel or radio station but is not limited to broadcast services. It may be scheduled or available on demand. It can also link to an interactive application with its own user interface. A service may be free or part of a subscription. It may be intended for a particular geographic region or may have different regional variants.

Play

Access a selected service through an instance supported by the device or network.

Instance

A reference to a specific delivery method or format of a service. These may include satellite, terrestrial, mobile, or fixed networks. A service may have multiple instances each with a preferred priority specified by the provider. This enables a provider to offer a consistent and coherent service proposition over various networks or facilitate long-term transition between them, allowing a service to be received by devices and displays according to the networks they can access.