Watch Next guidelines for TV providers

In addition to the Watch Next guidelines for app developers, Live TV providers must follow these guidelines when inserting content into the Watch Next channel.

Live TV programs

Use the Watch Next API only to add movie and TV items. For example, if the user watches 45 minutes of the movie Deadpool, add the movie.

Don't use the channel-level entity. For example, if the user stops watching the channel TBS at 4:30pm, don't add the channel.

Unfinished content

Include Live TV items in Watch Next if one of the following is true:

  • The user pauses a live broadcast and it is still on when the Play Next row renders. In this case, resume the content from the paused timestamp.
  • The user has on-demand or DVR entitlements to that item. In this case, resume the content from the point the user left off. This supersedes the live broadcast.

New episodes

If the user starts a series, as described in the guidelines for app developers, and is fully caught up, then add a new episode into the Watch Next channel with WATCH_NEXT_TYPE_NEW.

Remove a program

For all the previous scenarios, if a currently live program is added to the user’s Play Next row, remove it once the live program completes unless one of the following is true:

  • It is available on the user’s digital video recorder (DVR).
  • It is available on the service as a video on demand (VOD).

Digital video recorder (DVR) programs

Add DVR recordings to the Play Next row only if one of the following is true:

  • The user starts watching the recording but does not complete it.
  • The recorded program is a new episode, as described in another section in this guide.

TV on demand (TVOD) providers

Providers of on-demand TV content must follow the guidelines in this section.

Rentals

If the user rents a piece of content from your service, add it to the Watch Next channel under the following conditions:

  • The user has rented the content but has not yet viewed it. Use WATCH_NEXT_TYPE_NEW to add the content and set lastEngagementTimeUtcMillis as the timestamp when the user rented the content.
  • The rental is about to expire. In this case, add it to the Watch Next channel 48 hours before the expiration time and set the type to WATCH_NEXT_TYPE_NEW.

If the user starts watching the content and leaves it unfinished, follow the guidelines for unfinished content.

Purchases

If the user purchases a piece of content from your service, add it to the Watch Next channel. Use WATCH_NEXT_TYPE_NEW and set lastEngagementTimeUtcMillis as the timestamp when the user purchased the content.

If the user starts watching the content and leaves it unfinished, follow the guidelines for unfinished content.

Non-purchased and non-rented content

Don't use the Watch Next API to surface new content the user has not already rented or purchased. For example, if the user rents one episode of a show and finishes watching it, don't push the next episode to Watch Next unless the user rents or purchases it.

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