DocumentationAnalyticsStreaming media services guide

Network

Last update: May 28, 2026

CREATED FOR:

  • Developer

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

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shade-box

The network variable is the broadcast network or channel name (for example, "Fox", "ESPN", or "HBO"). Use it to compare engagement across networks within the same streaming property.

Property
Value
Context data variable
a.media.network
XDM collection field
xdm.mediaCollection.sessionDetails.network
Audience Manager trait
c_contextdata.a.media.network
Required
No
Sent with
Session start, session close
Web SDK

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

code language-javascript 
alloy("sendEvent", {
  xdm: {
    eventType: "media.sessionStart",
    mediaCollection: {
      sessionDetails: {
        network: "ESPN"
      },
      playhead: 0
    }
  }
});
iOS

Pass the network name as a metadata key in the HashMap argument to trackSessionStart. Use MediaConstants.VideoMetadataKeys.NETWORK.

code language-swift 
var metadata: [String: String] = [:]
metadata[MediaConstants.VideoMetadataKeys.NETWORK] = "ESPN"

tracker.trackSessionStart(info: mediaObject, metadata: metadata)
Android

Pass the network name as a metadata key in the HashMap argument to trackSessionStart. Use MediaConstants.VideoMetadataKeys.NETWORK.

code language-kotlin 
val metadata = HashMap<String, String>()
metadata[MediaConstants.VideoMetadataKeys.NETWORK] = "ESPN"

tracker.trackSessionStart(mediaInfo, metadata)
Roku

Use createMediaSession to set network inside sessionDetails:

code language-brightscript 
m.aepSdk.createMediaSession({
    "xdm": {
        "eventType": "media.sessionStart",
        "mediaCollection": {
            "sessionDetails": {
                "network": "ESPN"
            },
            "playhead": 0
        }
    }
})
Media Edge API

Call the sessionStart endpoint with network 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",
          "network": "ESPN"
        },
        "playhead": 0
      }
    }
  }]
}

Legacy implementation types (Analytics-only)

Media SDK JS 3.x

Pass the network in the contextData object using ADB.Media.VideoMetadataKeys.Network:

code language-javascript 
var contextData = {};
contextData[ADB.Media.VideoMetadataKeys.Network] = "ESPN";

tracker.trackSessionStart(mediaInfo, contextData);
Chromecast

Use ADBMobile.media.VideoMetadataKeys.NETWORK to set the network name in the StandardMediaMetadata property of the media object before calling trackSessionStart:

code language-javascript 
var mediaInfo = ADBMobile.media.createMediaObject("My Video", "video-123", 128,
  ADBMobile.media.StreamType.VOD, ADBMobile.media.MediaType.Video);
var standardMetadata = {};
standardMetadata[ADBMobile.media.VideoMetadataKeys.NETWORK] = "ESPN";
mediaInfo[ADBMobile.media.MediaObjectKey.StandardMediaMetadata] = standardMetadata;
ADBMobile.media.trackSessionStart(mediaInfo, null);
Media Collection API

Include media.network in the params object:

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

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

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