DocumentationAnalyticsStreaming media services guide

Content channel

Last update: May 28, 2026

CREATED FOR:

  • Developer

This page covers data collection for the Content channel variable. See Content channel for the corresponding reporting dimension.

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The content channel variable identifies the distribution station, network, or property where the content plays. It is required for all streaming media implementations. Any string is accepted. Typical values include a network name, a portion of a site path, or an internal property identifier.

Property
Value
Context data variable
a.media.channel
XDM collection field
xdm.mediaCollection.sessionDetails.channel
Audience Manager trait
c_contextdata.a.media.channel
Required
Yes
Sent with
Session start, session close
Web SDK

Set channel inside xdm.mediaCollection.sessionDetails when calling sendEvent:

code language-javascript 
alloy("sendEvent", {
  xdm: {
    eventType: "media.sessionStart",
    mediaCollection: {
      sessionDetails: {
        name: "video-123",
        length: 128,
        contentType: "vod",
        playerName: "HTML5 Player",
        channel: "Sports",
        streamType: "video"
      },
      playhead: 0
    }
  }
});
iOS

Set the channel through the tracker configuration when creating the tracker, using MediaConstants.TrackerConfig.CHANNEL. The channel is not part of the media object.

code language-swift 
var config: [String: Any] = [:]
config[MediaConstants.TrackerConfig.PLAYER_NAME] = "HTML5 Player"
config[MediaConstants.TrackerConfig.CHANNEL] = "Sports"

Media.createTrackerWith(config: config) { tracker in
    self.tracker = tracker
}
Android

Set the channel through the tracker configuration when creating the tracker, using MediaConstants.TrackerConfig.CHANNEL. The channel is not part of the media object.

code language-kotlin 
val config = HashMap<String, Any>()
config[MediaConstants.TrackerConfig.PLAYER_NAME] = "HTML5 Player"
config[MediaConstants.TrackerConfig.CHANNEL] = "Sports"

val tracker = Media.createTracker(config)
Roku

Set channel inside xdm.mediaCollection.sessionDetails when calling createMediaSession:

code language-brightscript 
m.aepSdk.createMediaSession({
    "xdm": {
        "eventType": "media.sessionStart",
        "mediaCollection": {
            "sessionDetails": {
                "name": "video-123",
                "length": 128,
                "contentType": "vod",
                "playerName": "Roku Player",
                "channel": "Sports",
                "streamType": "video"
            },
            "playhead": 0
        }
    }
})
Media Edge API

Call the sessionStart endpoint with channel inside xdm.mediaCollection.sessionDetails:

code language-json 
{
  "events": [{
    "xdm": {
      "eventType": "media.sessionStart",
      "mediaCollection": {
        "sessionDetails": {
          "name": "video-123",
          "length": 128,
          "contentType": "vod",
          "playerName": "HTML5 Player",
          "channel": "Sports"
        },
        "playhead": 0
      }
    }
  }]
}

Legacy implementation types (Analytics-only)

Media SDK JS 3.x

Set the channel on ADB.MediaConfig before creating the tracker:

code language-javascript 
var mediaConfig = new ADB.MediaConfig();
mediaConfig.trackingServer = "your.tracking.server";
mediaConfig.playerName = "HTML5 Player";
mediaConfig.channel = "Sports";

var tracker = ADB.Media.getInstance(mediaConfig);
Chromecast

Pass channel as a standard metadata key when calling trackSessionStart:

code language-javascript 
var mediaInfo = ADBMobile.media.createMediaObject("My Video", "video-123", 128,
  ADBMobile.media.StreamType.VOD, ADBMobile.media.MediaType.Video);
var metadata = { "a.media.channel": "Sports" };
ADBMobile.media.trackSessionStart(mediaInfo, metadata);
Media Collection API

Include media.channel in the params object of your sessionStart POST request:

code language-json 
{
  "playerTime": { "playhead": 0, "ts": 1699523820000 },
  "eventType": "sessionStart",
  "params": {
    "media.channel": "Sports"
  }
}

See the Media Collection API sessions reference for the full request structure.

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