# Working with channels


A channel assembles your source manifests into a linear stream. Each channel contains one or more outputs that correspond to your package configurations.

 First you create a channel, then you add your VOD sources and live sources to the channel's schedule by creating *programs*. Each program is associated with a VOD source or a live source.

**Topics**
+ [

# Create a channel using the MediaTailor console
](channel-assembly-creating-channels.md)
+ [

# Using source groups with your channel's outputs
](channel-assembly-source-groups.md)
+ [

# Delete a channel using the MediaTailor console
](channel-assembly-starting-stopping-channels.md)

# Create a channel using the MediaTailor console
Create a channelUpdated content on creating channels

Added information about program rules when creating channels.Updated manifest settings

Added information about passthrough tags, depending on the chosen Ad markup type.New linear playback mode

Added a new linear playback mode.New Tier information

Added information about the modes and source types that each Tier supports.

 The following procedure describes how to create a channel using the MediaTailor console. <a name="create-channel-procedure"></a>

**To create a channel**

1. Open the MediaTailor console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/mediatailor/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/mediatailor/).

1. In the navigation pane, choose **Channel assembly** > **Channels**.

1. On the navigation bar, choose **Create channel**.

1. Under **Channel details**, enter details about your channel:
   + **Name**: Enter a name for your channel.
   + **Tier**: The tier determines what features the channel supports and how much it costs to run the channel. For more information about pricing, see the [Channel Assembly pricing page](https://aws.amazon.com/mediatailor/pricing/#Channel_Assembly_Pricing). MediaTailor supports the following tiers:
     + **Basic** - The Basic tier supports both the Linear and Loop playback modes, and does not support live sources.
     + **Standard** - The Standard tier supports live sources, and requires the Linear playback mode.

       When you select **Standard** in** Channel details**, you can define the audiences under **Audiences details**. These audiences will be used for programRules when you are going to create audienceMedia for your default program..
       + Choose **Add**.
       + Enter the **Audience** name in the text box. It must be between 1 and 32 alphanumeric characters long.
       +  Choose **Confirm**.
       + Choose **Next**.
   + <a name="playback-mode"></a><a name="playback-mode.title"></a>**Playback mode**: The playback mode sets the channel's playback behavior. MediaTailor supports the following playback modes:
     + **Loop** - The programs in the schedule play back-to-back in an endless loop. After the last program plays in a schedule, playback loops back to the first program. Playback continues looping until you stop the channel.
     + **Linear** - Each program in the schedule plays once, back-to-back.

1. <a name="filler-slate"></a>For **Filler slate**, select the **Source location name** referencing the slate location, and the **VOD source name** to use as slate. MediaTailor uses the slate to fill gaps between programs in the schedule. If the duration of the slate is less than the duration of the gap between programs, MediaTailor loops the slate. You must configure filler slate field is if your channel uses the linear playback mode. MediaTailor doesn't support filler slate for the loop playback mode.

1. Choose **Next**.

1. Specify audience details under program rules.

1. When you select **Standard** in** Channel details**, you can define the audiences under **Audiences** details. These audiences will be used for **programRules** when you are going to create **audienceMedia** for your default program:
   + Select **Add**, and then add an Audience in the text box, then select **Confirm**.
**Note**  
Enter a name that's no longer than\$1 32 alphanumeric characters.
   + **Output type**: Select the streaming format for the channel. DASH and HLS are supported.
   + **Source group**: Enter the name of the source group that you created in your package configuration, as described in [Adding VOD sources to your source location](channel-assembly-add-vod-source.md).

1. Select **Next**.

1. Under **Manifest settings**, enter additional information about your manifest settings:
   + **Manifest window (sec)**: The time window,in seconds, contained in each manifest. The minimum value is 30 seconds, and the maximum value is 3600 seconds.
   + **Ad markup type(HLS outputs only)**: The type of ad tags that appear in VOD program ad breaks. Select `Daterange` to have MediaTailor insert ad breaks into VOD programs with `EXT-X-DATERANGE` tags. Select `Scte35 Enhanced` to have MediaTailor insert ad breaks into VOD programs using `EXT-X-CUE-OUT` and `EXT-X-CUE-IN` tags. For more information about these tag types, see [SCTE-35 messages for ad breaks](ca-scte-35-messages.md). For live workflows, MediaTailor always passes through `DATERANGE` tags, and doesn't pass through any Enhanced Scte35 tags, regardless of the selected Ad markup type.

1. If you want to configure multiple channel outputs, under **Outputs** choose **Add**. Then, configure the details for your output by completing the steps 6 and 7 in this procedure.

1. Choose **Next**.

1. Under **Channel policy**, choose your channel's IAM policy settings:
   + **Do not attach channel policy**: Restrict playback to only those who have access to this account's credentials.
   + **Attach custom policy**: Define your own policy and restrict access to as few or as many as you want. 
   + **Attach public policy**: Accept all incoming client requests to a channel's output. You must use this option if you want to use MediaTailor ad insertion.

1. Choose **Next**.

1. Review your settings on the **Review and create** pane.

1. Choose **Create channel**.
**Note**  
Channels are created in a stopped state. Your channel won't be active until you start it with the MediaTailor console or the MediaTailor StartChannel API.

# Using source groups with your channel's outputs


A source group associates a package configuration with an output on a channel. When you create the package configuration on the source, you identify the source group's name. Then, when you create the output on the channel, you enter that same name to associate the output with the package configuration. VOD sources and live sources that are added to a program on a channel must belong to the source group that's identified in the output.

 For example:
+ VOD sources 1 and 2 both have three package configurations that have the source groups: **HLS**, **DASH**, and **HLS-4k**.
+ VOD source 3 has two package configurations with source groups **HLS** and **DASH**.





 If channel A has two outputs with source groups **HLS** and **DASH**, the channel output can use all three VOD sources. That's because VOD sources 1, 2, and 3 all have package configurations with source group labels **HLS** and **DASH**.

If channel B has two outputs with source groups **HLS** and **HLS-4k**, it can use VOD source 1 and 2, but not 3. This is because VOD sources 1 and 2 both have package configurations with source group labels **HLS** and **HLS-4k**.

If channel C has a single output with the source group **DASH**, it can use all three VOD sources. All three VOD sources have package configurations with the **DASH** source group.

# Delete a channel using the MediaTailor console
Delete a channel

 To delete your channel, complete the following procedure. <a name="delete-channel"></a>

**To delete your channel**

1. Open the MediaTailor console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/mediatailor/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/mediatailor/).

1. In the navigation pane, choose **Channel assembly** > **Channels**.

1. Select the channel that you want to delete.

1. If your channel is running, from the **Actions** drop-down menu, choose **Stop**. You must stop your channel before you can delete it.

1. When your channel is stopped, from the **Actions** drop-down menu, choose **Delete**.