Well-organized metadata is essential for effective digital products; it’s the data that describes information about an app. Metadata acts as a way to categorize and present the app to users, but moreover it summarizes application traffic at a higher, abstract level. Here’s everything you need to know about metadata on our platform.
The power of metadata
Integrating your app’s metadata with the Platform makes it faster and easier for users to find content in your app via:
Enhanced Discoverability: Help users find content more easily by providing detailed information such as genre, cast, and release date.
Personalized Recommendations: Suggest content based on user preferences and viewing history, improving their engagement and satisfaction.
Improved Content Management: Organize and managing large libraries of content, making it easier to track and update your content offerings.
Better Search Engine Optimization: Improve the visibility of your content in search engines, driving more traffic.
Efficient Rights Management: Ensure that content is distributed and monetized correctly according to associated content rights.
Enhanced User Experience: Help users make informed choices, enhancing their overall viewing experience.
On its own, metadata integration makes it easier for users to find content in your app. However, metadata integration also acts as a foundation needed to build additional Platform capabilities (e.g., Continue Watching, Voice Commands) that elevate your user’s experiences. Integrating metadata gives your app a head start towards features that are crucial for app identification and user engagement.
Metadata specifications overview
Below is an overview of our metadata specifications, designed to help you maximize your application's reach, discoverability, and seamless integration across various platforms and services. By adhering to these guidelines, you'll enable your app to be accurately categorized, searched, and understood by users and third-party systems.
Program types
Our Platform metadata systems are able to ingest the following metadata content Program Types which represent specific categories of content:
- Movie: A film that is primarily theatrical, made-for-TV, direct-to-video, or streaming-first.
- SeriesMaster: A top-level ID for sets of two or more programs, which are typically episodes but can also be SportingEvent or Other; SeriesMaster also stores data that applies to the entire series.
- TvSeason: A season of episodes within a TV series.
- Episode: An individual airing of a TV series, linked to a SeriesMaster, typically ordered through episode number and linked to a TvSeason.
- SportingEvent: An athletic event or other team-vs-team game, not including pre/post-game shows, documentaries, or specials.
- Other: A one-time-only (OTO) program that is not an Episode, Movie, SportingEvent, or SeriesMaster (for example, the Oscars).
There are also short form program types that are tied to longer content. Some short form types include:
- Preview: A collection of scenes for viewers to see what a piece of content is about, such as a teaser or trailer for an upcoming movie.
- Extra: An additional or bonus piece of content, such as a behind-the-scenes interview or deleted scene for a program.
Metadata syntax
Our platform uses Golden Media RSS (GMRSS) syntax, which is an amalgam of MRSS XML and Merlin-specific extensions to aid ingest. Your GMRSS XML should be using RSS Version 2.0. To see supported fields and values on our platform, check out our Full Specifications.
Metadata validator
To ensure your syntax is correct before ingestion, you can use the Metadata Validator as a tool to scan your Golden Media RSS (GMRSS) for syntax errors within the Platform’s supported metadata content types. For instructions on using the tool, refer to our guide on Validating Your Metadata Syntax.
Integrating metadata
Once you’re ready to integrate Metadata, refer to our Metadata Integration Guide. This guide will show you how to identify your content catalog and feed details, then build, test, and deliver your feed.