To create a virtual linear channel with AWS Elemental MediaTailor, point a source location at your media origin, add VOD sources with compatible HLS or DASH package configurations, create a channel and output, arrange programs in the schedule, then start the channel and test its playback endpoint. Choose a Basic tier for VOD-only schedules; use Standard in Linear mode if the schedule must include live sources.
What you need before creating the channel
MediaTailor Channel Assembly organizes media already available from an origin; it does not replace the process of preparing and hosting that media. A source location describes where MediaTailor retrieves manifests. AWS examples include Amazon S3, a web server, a CDN such as CloudFront, or a packaging origin such as MediaPackage. See AWS source-location documentation.
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- Know the origin base URL and the relative paths to your media manifests.
- Prepare VOD sources with at least one package configuration each. A package configuration identifies the format, manifest path, and source group used by channel outputs.
- Choose HLS, DASH, or both according to the playback clients you need to support.
- Check that assets grouped within a package configuration have equal manifest-determined durations and the same number of child streams. AWS recommends a consistent encoding template; per-title or automated ABR is unsuitable when it breaks these constraints. See AWS VOD-source requirements.
- If following the ad-enabled getting-started path, prepare an ad slate. Personalized server-side ad insertion is optional, not required to create a scheduled channel.
Choose a tier and schedule mode
| Workflow | Tier and mode | Important constraint |
|---|---|---|
| VOD-only channel | Basic supports Loop or Linear mode. | Basic does not support live sources. |
| Schedule containing live sources | Standard tier in Linear mode. | Standard supports live sources and requires Linear mode. |
Confirm the tier and playback mode when creating the channel; the choice affects which source types the schedule can use. AWS documents the channel options in Create a channel using the MediaTailor console.
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- In the AWS Elemental MediaTailor console, open Channel Assembly > Source locations and choose Create source location.
- Enter a name and the origin base URL. Use a standard HTTP URL beginning with
http://orhttps://. - If the origin is Amazon S3, configure the optional SigV4 authentication setting when required for access.
- Create the location and confirm the origin and authentication details are correct before adding sources.
See AWS’s source-location creation steps.
Add VOD sources and package configurations
For each title, add a VOD source under the source location and create at least one package configuration. Select HLS or DASH, provide a source group, and enter the manifest path relative to the origin base URL. MediaTailor uses the source group when you configure a channel output.
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If your clients need both formats, configure HLS and DASH package configurations and expose each required source group through an appropriate channel output. Do not assume that two encodings are compatible simply because they represent the same title: within a package configuration, manifest-determined durations and child-stream counts must match. If per-title encoding or automated ABR creates differing durations or variant counts, use a consistent encoding template or otherwise prepare compatible assets before adding them. The AWS VOD-source guide describes these requirements.
Create the channel and its output
- In Channel Assembly, create a channel and select the tier and playback mode that fit your schedule.
- Configure the channel output with a source group corresponding to the package configurations you intend to serve, and specify a manifest name.
- Save the channel configuration. The output provides the format-specific playback endpoint that viewers or playback clients will use.
HLS and DASH outputs are separate format choices. Where both are needed, configure the relevant package configurations/source groups and outputs rather than expecting one endpoint to serve both formats. Follow the console steps in AWS’s channel creation guide.
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Build the schedule with programs
A program associates a source with the channel schedule; the order of programs determines what plays and when. Add VOD sources as programs and arrange them in the intended sequence. Live programs can be used only when the channel is Standard tier in Linear mode; consult AWS live-source guidance for source-specific setup.
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On a looping channel, edits to a program scheduled within the next 10 minutes may not appear until the next loop. Account for that behavior when making near-term schedule changes.
Start the channel and validate playback
- Start the channel in the MediaTailor console.
- Copy the output playback endpoint and open it with a player that supports the configured HLS or DASH format.
- Check that the manifest loads and that playback advances through the schedule in the intended order. If the channel is not playing the expected item, verify the program order, source group/output mapping, manifest paths, and that each source meets package-configuration compatibility requirements.
AWS’s getting-started tutorial includes starting, testing, and cleaning up a channel. The playback test described here is a validation step for your deployment, not a claim that a particular channel has been tested.
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Cost and operational considerations
The AWS getting-started guide gives an estimated charge of $0.10 per hour for an active channel and says inactive channels are not charged. Treat that as the estimate in that guide, not a guaranteed current rate: AWS pricing can vary by region and change, so check the current regional MediaTailor pricing page before budgeting. The quoted guide estimate is not a complete statement of every possible cost associated with origins, storage, delivery, or ad services.
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