M3U Source Prioritization
Stream-Mapparr allows you to prioritize streams from specific M3U providers, ensuring your preferred sources are always selected first, regardless of quality metrics.
How It Works
When you specify M3U sources in the "📡 M3U Sources" setting, streams are sorted using a multi-level hierarchy:
- M3U Priority (0 = highest) - Based on order in your comma-separated list
- Quality Tier - High (HD+FPS) > Medium > Low > Dead
- Resolution - Higher resolution preferred within tier
- FPS - Higher framerate preferred within tier
Example Scenario
Settings:
M3U Sources: Premium Sports, Backup Provider, Free Streams
Matched Streams for "ESPN":
- ESPN HD (Premium Sports, 1920x1080, 60fps) → Priority 0, High Quality
- ESPN UHD (Free Streams, 3840x2160, 60fps) → Priority 2, High Quality
- ESPN SD (Premium Sports, 854x480, 30fps) → Priority 0, Low Quality
- ESPN FHD (Backup Provider, 1920x1080, 30fps) → Priority 1, Medium Quality
Sorted Order:
- ESPN HD (Premium Sports) - Priority 0, High Quality ← Best overall
- ESPN SD (Premium Sports) - Priority 0, Low Quality ← Same provider
- ESPN FHD (Backup Provider) - Priority 1, Medium Quality
- ESPN UHD (Free Streams) - Priority 2, High Quality ← Despite being 4K, sorted last
Configuration
- Navigate to the Stream-Mapparr plugin settings
- Find the "📡 M3U Sources (comma-separated, prioritized)" field
- Enter your M3U provider names in priority order, separated by commas:
Premium IPTV, Local M3U, Backup Provider
- Save settings and run "Load/Process Channels" or "Sort Alternate Streams"
Use Cases
- Primary/Backup Providers: Prioritize premium providers over backup sources for reliability
- Regional Preferences: Prioritize local M3U sources for better geographic performance
- Quality Control: Use specific providers known for better encoding/stability
- Cost Optimization: Prioritize cheaper sources when quality differences are negligible
Notes
- Leave the M3U Sources field empty to disable prioritization (streams sort by quality only)
- Order matters: the first M3U in the list gets highest priority
- Prioritization applies to both "Match & Assign Streams" and "Sort Alternate Streams" actions
- Streams from unspecified M3U sources receive lowest priority (999)