How does one determine if a title is available for streaming? Lots of Alf users would like me to add an indication when titles are available to watch in this way.
I note /categories/formats refers to a variety of different formats, including "digital", "h264" and "flv", but when I attempt to filter by any of those formats no results are returned. In addition, even expand=all, individual titles do not appear to contain any indication that they can be streamed.
Hi David & lewi42, this feature is not currently available via our open API. At present we are not able to provide streamed content via the open API - only via our official devices. For this reason, we are not exposing the ability to see whether a title is available to stream - as there is no logical action we can then support (other than the currently available add to the physical rental list). We are working on some related improvements so may be able to consider providing this information in our backlog next year. Many thanks - we appreciate your feature requests.
Hi Kate, take your point about not being able to watch the films through the API. It would be nice to be able to show users that the film is available online or not though. I'd like people using my app to know whether they can watch the film now or not, for me this is a big deal as one of the biggest problems with the online rental model is that you have to wait to see what shows up and when it does it might not match your mood. If you can see that you can watch it online now that's pretty cool and I think it would encourage people to sign up with lovefilm (otherwise your losing them to filmflex or sky box office or whatever). I'd redirect them to lovefilm.com to actually watch the film (or they could use their playstation or other official device of course).
Anyway, I know your devs are busy and they can't just react to our every whim, but just wanted to explain my rationale.
I too am looking for a way to indicate to my users if a title is available to stream. Some users are on a streaming only plan, and I want recommend movies based on what is available to them. How they then view the stream is of little consequence in this case.
I would add that other providers do supply this information (read Netflix) in their respective API. Is there a possibility this may be provided in the future?
I second PaulFairless, I also have access to the Netflix API and they allow distinction between what content is available to stream and what is available as a physical DVD rental.
I'm only at R&D stage for an app at the moment but would really like to be able to search/refine for streaming content.
It also appears that premium/pay-per-view titles are not available via the lovefilm player on my internet sony TV:
- is this also the case for players on ps3/xbox/other?
- are there plans to add PPV to the these devices?
- is it the exact same catalog (streaming subscription) for desktop and across devices?
(any streaming search may also need to be refined by device).
(@katemorris) thanks for your post above, any update on the 'backlog'!
I completely understand that only official lovefilm devices are able to stream (DRM etc), but have to agree with PaulFairless its the search refinement that useful, how a user ultimately streams is up to them (web/tv/ps3 etc), all a 3rd party app should do is include a link to the correct page on lovefilm.com.
I also have a requirement to refine searches based on video you can "watch now". I have no intention of actually streaming the data but I would like to show users what is available.
How does one determine if a title is available for streaming? Lots of Alf users would like me to add an indication when titles are available to watch in this way.
I note /categories/formats refers to a variety of different formats, including "digital", "h264" and "flv", but when I attempt to filter by any of those formats no results are returned. In addition, even expand=all, individual titles do not appear to contain any indication that they can be streamed.
Message edited by David 7 months ago
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lewi42 – 2 years ago
I'd like to add that I think this would be very useful also.
katemorris – 2 years ago
Hi David & lewi42, this feature is not currently available via our open API. At present we are not able to provide streamed content via the open API - only via our official devices. For this reason, we are not exposing the ability to see whether a title is available to stream - as there is no logical action we can then support (other than the currently available add to the physical rental list). We are working on some related improvements so may be able to consider providing this information in our backlog next year. Many thanks - we appreciate your feature requests.
lewi42 – 2 years ago
Hi Kate, take your point about not being able to watch the films through the API. It would be nice to be able to show users that the film is available online or not though. I'd like people using my app to know whether they can watch the film now or not, for me this is a big deal as one of the biggest problems with the online rental model is that you have to wait to see what shows up and when it does it might not match your mood. If you can see that you can watch it online now that's pretty cool and I think it would encourage people to sign up with lovefilm (otherwise your losing them to filmflex or sky box office or whatever). I'd redirect them to lovefilm.com to actually watch the film (or they could use their playstation or other official device of course).
Anyway, I know your devs are busy and they can't just react to our every whim, but just wanted to explain my rationale.
PaulFairless – 1 year ago
Hi,
I too am looking for a way to indicate to my users if a title is available to stream. Some users are on a streaming only plan, and I want recommend movies based on what is available to them. How they then view the stream is of little consequence in this case.
I would add that other providers do supply this information (read Netflix) in their respective API. Is there a possibility this may be provided in the future?
zupsaltd – 1 year ago
I second PaulFairless, I also have access to the Netflix API and they allow distinction between what content is available to stream and what is available as a physical DVD rental.
dcube – 1 year ago
Hi,
I'm only at R&D stage for an app at the moment but would really like to be able to search/refine for streaming content.
It also appears that premium/pay-per-view titles are not available via the lovefilm player on my internet sony TV: - is this also the case for players on ps3/xbox/other? - are there plans to add PPV to the these devices? - is it the exact same catalog (streaming subscription) for desktop and across devices? (any streaming search may also need to be refined by device).
(@katemorris) thanks for your post above, any update on the 'backlog'! I completely understand that only official lovefilm devices are able to stream (DRM etc), but have to agree with PaulFairless its the search refinement that useful, how a user ultimately streams is up to them (web/tv/ps3 etc), all a 3rd party app should do is include a link to the correct page on lovefilm.com.
any additional info much appreciated. thanks
lancesh – 1 year ago
bump
I also have a requirement to refine searches based on video you can "watch now". I have no intention of actually streaming the data but I would like to show users what is available.
John Adcock – 7 months ago
bump
would like this too.