Pluto TV script

Chris G

Here is my custom Pluto TV script for TVHeadand.
It requires Streamlink and makes use of TVHeadends useful pipe options.
It queries the Pluto TV API directly (so you need to have access to Pluto TV for this to work).

Copy the attached script to a location of your choice (assessable by TVH).
Enable the socket EPG grabber (External: XMLTV) and make a note of its “path”.
Edit the “SOCKET” path inside the script to match the path of the grabber.
Create an automatic IPTV network.
Set the URL to the location of the script, e.g.: pipe:///config/scripts/plutotv.py.
Set “Maximum timeout (seconds)” to a high number, I use “120”.
I always disable “Scan after creation” and set “Service ID” to “1” on IPTV networks.

Whenever the network is refreshed by TVHeadend (default 60 minutes), it will also push the EPG data to the socket grabber.
When the adverts start, the stream will freeze and because of the timeout we set on the network, the stream will stay alive.
Once the adverts end, the stream will continue:

spawn: Executing "/usr/bin/streamlink"
spawn: [cli][info] Found matching plugin pluto for URL https://pluto.tv/live-tv/64ff1d3d3a0d7ddsf8b110e9
spawn: [cli][info] Available streams: 240p (worst), 360p, 480p_alt, 480p, 720p (best)
spawn: [cli][info] Opening stream: 720p (hls-pluto)

This is where the stream will freeze:

spawn: [stream.hls][info] Filtering out segments and pausing stream output

And resume here:

spawn: [stream.hls][info] Resuming stream output

This script works without modification inside the Linuxserver.io TVH Docker image.

Script:

#!/usr/bin/python
import requests
from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
import socket
import io

# CONFIG #############################################################################################
SOCKET = "/config/epggrab/xmltv.sock"  # Path to your UNIX socket
######################################################################################################

now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
start_time = now - timedelta(
    minutes=now.minute % 30, seconds=now.second, microseconds=now.microsecond
)
stop_time = start_time + timedelta(hours=8)
epg_begin = start_time.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S-00:00")
epg_end = stop_time.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S-00:00")

data = requests.get(
    f"https://api.pluto.tv/v2/channels?start={epg_begin}&stop={epg_end}"
).json()

m3u = "#EXTM3U\n"
root = ET.Element("tv")
programmes = []

for channel in data:
    channel_element = ET.SubElement(root, "channel", id="pluto-" + channel["_id"])
    ET.SubElement(channel_element, "display-name").text = channel["name"]
    ET.SubElement(channel_element, "channel-number").text = str(channel["number"])
    ET.SubElement(channel_element, "icon").text = channel.get("colorLogoPNG", {}).get(
        "path", ""
    )

    m3u += f'#EXTINF:-1 tvg-ID="{"pluto-" + channel["_id"]}" tvg-chno="{channel["number"]}" tvg-name="{channel["name"]}" tvg-logo="{channel.get("colorLogoPNG", {}).get("path", "")}", {channel["name"]}\n'
    m3u += (
        f"pipe://streamlink 'https://pluto.tv/live-tv/{channel['_id']}' best --stdout\n"
    )

    for programme in channel["timelines"]:
        programme_data = {
            "start": programme["start"],
            "stop": programme["stop"],
            "channel": "pluto-" + channel["_id"],
            "title": programme["title"],
            "episode": programme.get("episode", {}),
        }
        programmes.append(programme_data)

for programme in programmes:
    start_time = datetime.fromisoformat(programme["start"]).strftime(
        "%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000"
    )
    stop_time = datetime.fromisoformat(programme["stop"]).strftime("%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000")

    programme_element = ET.SubElement(
        root,
        "programme",
        start=start_time,
        stop=stop_time,
        channel=programme["channel"],
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "title").text = programme.get("title", "Untitled")
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "sub-title").text = programme["episode"].get(
        "name", ""
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "desc").text = programme["episode"].get(
        "description", ""
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "episode-num").text = (
        f'S{programme["episode"].get("season", 0)}E{programme["episode"].get("number", 0)}'
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "category").text = programme["episode"].get(
        "genre", ""
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "category").text = programme["episode"].get(
        "subGenre", ""
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "category").text = programme.get("category", "")

tree = ET.ElementTree(root)
ET.indent(tree, space="\t", level=0)

xml_bytes = io.BytesIO()
tree.write(xml_bytes, encoding="UTF-8", xml_declaration=True)

try:
    with socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as s:
        s.connect(SOCKET)
        xml_bytes.seek(0)
        s.sendall(xml_bytes.read())
except:
    pass
    # with open("pluto.xmltv", "wb") as file:
    #     tree.write(file, encoding="utf-8", xml_declaration=True)

print(m3u)

Chris G

If you are using the Linuxservers.io Docker image, you can install Streamlink as follows:

Following the instructions here: https://docs.linuxserver.io/general/container-customization/#custom-scripts
You can create a mount for custom start up scripts, e.g:

- /a/local/path/startup-scripts:/custom-cont-init.d

Inside this folder, create the following file, "streamlink.sh":

apk add py3-pip && pip install streamlink --break-system-packages

This script will ensure Streamlink is installed whenever the image is updated.

roisiano2

Hello:

When I create a mux in an Automatic IPTV network, with a URL like this:

pipe://opt/bin/streamlink https://pluto.tv/es/live-tv/60218baa464ef900073168c1 best --stdout

It Works.

But when I use a script similar to yours:

/storage/videos/plutotv.py
with this code:

#!/opt/bin/python
import requests
from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
import socket
import io

# CONFIG #############################################################################################
SOCKET = "/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/service.tvheadend43/epggrab/xmltv.sock"  # Path to your UNIX socket
######################################################################################################

now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
start_time = now - timedelta(
    minutes=now.minute % 30, seconds=now.second, microseconds=now.microsecond
)
stop_time = start_time + timedelta(hours=8)
epg_begin = start_time.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S-00:00")
epg_end = stop_time.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S-00:00")

data = requests.get(
    f"https://api.pluto.tv/v2/channels?start={epg_begin}&stop={epg_end}"
).json()

m3u = "#EXTM3U\n"
root = ET.Element("tv")
programmes = []

for channel in data:
    channel_element = ET.SubElement(root, "channel", id="pluto-" + channel["_id"])
    ET.SubElement(channel_element, "display-name").text = channel["name"]
    ET.SubElement(channel_element, "channel-number").text = str(channel["number"])
    ET.SubElement(channel_element, "icon").text = channel.get("colorLogoPNG", {}).get(
        "path", ""
    )

    m3u += f'#EXTINF:-1 tvg-ID="{"pluto-" + channel["_id"]}" tvg-chno="{channel["number"]}" tvg-name="{channel["name"]}" tvg-logo="{channel.get("colorLogoPNG", {}).get("path", "")}", {channel["name"]}\n'
    m3u += (
        f"pipe:///opt/bin/streamlink 'https://pluto.tv/live-tv/{channel['_id']}' best --stdout\n"
    )

    for programme in channel["timelines"]:
        programme_data = {
            "start": programme["start"],
            "stop": programme["stop"],
            "channel": "pluto-" + channel["_id"],
            "title": programme["title"],
            "episode": programme.get("episode", {}),
        }
        programmes.append(programme_data)

for programme in programmes:
    start_time = datetime.fromisoformat(programme["start"]).strftime(
        "%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000"
    )
    stop_time = datetime.fromisoformat(programme["stop"]).strftime("%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000")

    programme_element = ET.SubElement(
        root,
        "programme",
        start=start_time,
        stop=stop_time,
        channel=programme["channel"],
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "title").text = programme.get("title", "Untitled")
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "sub-title").text = programme["episode"].get(
        "name", ""
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "desc").text = programme["episode"].get(
        "description", ""
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "episode-num").text = (
        f'S{programme["episode"].get("season", 0)}E{programme["episode"].get("number", 0)}'
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "category").text = programme["episode"].get(
        "genre", ""
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "category").text = programme["episode"].get(
        "subGenre", ""
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "category").text = programme.get("category", "")

tree = ET.ElementTree(root)
ET.indent(tree, space="\t", level=0)

xml_bytes = io.BytesIO()
tree.write(xml_bytes, encoding="UTF-8", xml_declaration=True)

try:
    with socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as s:
        s.connect(SOCKET)
        xml_bytes.seek(0)
        s.sendall(xml_bytes.read())
except:
    pass
    # with open("pluto.xmltv", "wb") as file:
    #     tree.write(file, encoding="utf-8", xml_declaration=True)

print(m3u)

And I try to scan the automatic IPTV network:

pipe:///storage/videos/plutotv.py

tvheadend says:

2024-12-06 22:30:25.271 spawn: Executing "/storage/videos/plutotv.py"

2024-12-06 22:30:25.520 iptv: unknown playlist format for network 'Pluto'

My system:

CoreELEC 21.1.1 (Kodi-linux system)
Tvheadend addon for CoreELEC
SOCKET is here for tvheadend CoreELEC addon: "/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/service.tvheadend43/epggrab/xmltv.sock" # Path to your UNIX socket
streamlink installed using:

opkg install python3-pip
pip3 install streamlink

Streamlink works, so I suppose that I should change something in the plutotv.py, but I don't know what.

Thanks in advance and kind regards

roisiano2

I reply myself.

In my case, it is necessary to indicate the path to python in pipe:
pipe:///opt/bin/python /storage/videos/plutotv.py

NOW IT WORKS.

Thanks for the script

Chris G

I didn't think about python being installed some place else, good job.
You could just edit the first line in the script, but either works.
I would edit the first post, but I'm not allowed.

Eric S

I would love to get Pluto TV working on TVHeadEnd again but I don't think I know enough about what is going on. I added the script you have to the Networks option but it just shows no Muxes. I am familiar with the server and where stuff goes but apparently not enough. Can you please give me some 'dummy' instructions from scratch?
Thanks,
Eric

Chris G

Just put the script some place on the same system as TVHeadend.
Configure the netowrk like this:

Change the URL to match the path when you saved the script.
Mine is /config/scripts/plutotv.py.
You may need to adjust the command to pipe://python /config/scripts/plutotv.py if python is not installed in /usr/bin/python.

Eric S

Chris G
Despite setting it up and referring it to the location where I have the script it doesn't detect anything. I am sure I am doing something wrong I just don't know what it is.

Chris G

First, I suggest you disable scan after creation and set service ID to 1.
These options mean TVH won't try to tune each mux and test it.
Testing the streams is pointless here, and is for most IPTV services.

What does the log say?
Click the double ^ in the bottom right of the TVH web UI.

Depending on where your system has Python installed, the script could fail.
Try pipe://python /storage/downloads/plutotv.py.

Eric S

This is what the log said, I am not sure what it means. But it is pretty sad that I didn't know you could see the log like that.
2024-12-09 21:12:59.338 spawn: Executing "/storage/downloads/plutotv.py"
2024-12-09 21:12:59.582 iptv: unknown playlist format for network 'Pluto TV (IPTV)'

roisiano2

Eric S

I suggest you check where python is on your system, on the command line:
which python

Then it will tell you the path of python, for example:
/usr/bin/python

Then, put that in the IPTV list URL of tvheadend. For example:
pipe:///opt/bin/python /storage/downloads/plutotv.py

I bet you are using CoreELEC (like me) or maybe LibreELEC.

DeltaMikeCharlie

Depending on your installation, the python executable could be called python3.

Chris G

Also, you can try running the script manually in a terminal python /storage/downloads/plutotv.py.
You should see it print out a m3u playlist.

Eric S

The command 'which python' returned the path /usr/bin/python which apparently it can be run from anywhere.
In attempting to run plutotv.py from a PuTTY windows I received the following:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/storage/downloads/plutotv.py", line 2, in <module>
import requests
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'requests'

I am not super fluent in python but apparently the first problem is that my LibreElec OS (11.0.6) doesn't have the proper modules to allow the script to function.

Can someone help me with the instructions on how to download the modules and make them available to the python script?

Thanks,
Eric

Chris G

Most instances of Python come with requests pre-installed these days.
To install it, you can use pip: https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/tutorials/installing-packages/.
Then its pip install requests.

Mehdi

Sorry for noob question:
1.Is Pluto tv api free? And how can I get one?

Is there a list of channels?

Chris G

It is free, but I think it is geo restricted.
If this URL works for you, then you can probably get it: https://api.pluto.tv/v2/channels

Eric S

To assist, I am running LibreElec 11.0.6 on a Generic-legacy.x86_64.

Okay, I know it is getting a little off topic, but I do want to make this work. I tried to find instructions for installing pip on LibreElec and it looks like there isn't any. I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction, when I attempted to install pip I downloaded the script get-pip.py and attempted to run it, this is what I get:

Defaulting to user installation because normal site-packages is not writeable
Collecting pip
Using cached pip-24.3.1-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (3.7 kB)
Collecting setuptools
Using cached setuptools-75.6.0-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (6.7 kB)
Using cached pip-24.3.1-py3-none-any.whl (1.8 MB)
Using cached setuptools-75.6.0-py3-none-any.whl (1.2 MB)
Installing collected packages: setuptools, pip
ERROR: Exception:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/tmp/tmpdew4zs1j/pip.zip/pip/_internal/cli/base_command.py", line 105, in _run_wrapper
status = inner_run()
^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/tmp/tmpdew4zs1j/pip.zip/pip/internal/cli/base_command.py", line 96, in_inner_run
return self.run(options, args)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/tmp/tmpdew4zs1j/pip.zip/pip/internal/cli/req_command.py", line 67, in wrapper
return func(self, options, args)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/tmp/tmpdew4zs1j/pip.zip/pip/internal/commands/install.py", line 457, in run
installed = install_given_reqs(
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/tmp/tmpdew4zs1j/pip.zip/pip/internal/req/init.py", line 70, in install_given_reqs
requirement.install(
File "/tmp/tmpdew4zs1j/pip.zip/pip/internal/req/req_install.py", line 867, in install
install_wheel(
File "/tmp/tmpdew4zs1j/pip.zip/pip/_internal/operations/install/wheel.py", line 732, in install_wheel
install_wheel(
File "/tmp/tmpdew4zs1j/pip.zip/pip/internal/operations/install/wheel.py", line 621, in _install_wheel
assert os.path.exists(pyc_path)
AssertionError

Chris G

I asked ChatGPT to replace requests with urlib3:

#!/usr/bin/python
import urllib3
import json
from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
import socket
import io

# CONFIG #############################################################################################
SOCKET = "/config/epggrab/xmltv.sock"  # Path to your UNIX socket
######################################################################################################

now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
start_time = now - timedelta(
    minutes=now.minute % 30, seconds=now.second, microseconds=now.microsecond
)
stop_time = start_time + timedelta(hours=8)
epg_begin = start_time.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S-00:00")
epg_end = stop_time.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S-00:00")

# Initialize urllib3 PoolManager
http = urllib3.PoolManager()

# Fetch data using urllib3
url = f"https://api.pluto.tv/v2/channels?start={epg_begin}&stop={epg_end}"
response = http.request('GET', url)
data = json.loads(response.data.decode('utf-8'))

m3u = "#EXTM3U\n"
root = ET.Element("tv")
programmes = []

for channel in data:
    channel_element = ET.SubElement(root, "channel", id="pluto-" + channel["_id"])
    ET.SubElement(channel_element, "display-name").text = channel["name"]
    ET.SubElement(channel_element, "channel-number").text = str(channel["number"])
    ET.SubElement(channel_element, "icon").text = channel.get("colorLogoPNG", {}).get(
        "path", ""
    )

    m3u += f'#EXTINF:-1 tvg-ID="{"pluto-" + channel["_id"]}" tvg-chno="{channel["number"]}" tvg-name="{channel["name"]}" tvg-logo="{channel.get("colorLogoPNG", {}).get("path", "")}", {channel["name"]}\n'
    m3u += (
        f"pipe://streamlink 'https://pluto.tv/live-tv/{channel['_id']}' best --stdout\n"
    )

    for programme in channel["timelines"]:
        programme_data = {
            "start": programme["start"],
            "stop": programme["stop"],
            "channel": "pluto-" + channel["_id"],
            "title": programme["title"],
            "episode": programme.get("episode", {}),
        }
        programmes.append(programme_data)

for programme in programmes:
    start_time = datetime.fromisoformat(programme["start"]).strftime(
        "%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000"
    )
    stop_time = datetime.fromisoformat(programme["stop"]).strftime("%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000")

    programme_element = ET.SubElement(
        root,
        "programme",
        start=start_time,
        stop=stop_time,
        channel=programme["channel"],
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "title").text = programme.get("title", "Untitled")
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "sub-title").text = programme["episode"].get(
        "name", ""
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "desc").text = programme["episode"].get(
        "description", ""
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "episode-num").text = (
        f'S{programme["episode"].get("season", 0)}E{programme["episode"].get("number", 0)}'
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "category").text = programme["episode"].get(
        "genre", ""
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "category").text = programme["episode"].get(
        "subGenre", ""
    )
    ET.SubElement(programme_element, "category").text = programme.get("category", "")

tree = ET.ElementTree(root)
ET.indent(tree, space="\t", level=0)

xml_bytes = io.BytesIO()
tree.write(xml_bytes, encoding="UTF-8", xml_declaration=True)

try:
    with socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as s:
        s.connect(SOCKET)
        xml_bytes.seek(0)
        s.sendall(xml_bytes.read())
except:
    pass
    with open("pluto.xmltv", "wb") as file:
        tree.write(file, encoding="utf-8", xml_declaration=True)

print(m3u)

Give it a try.
While requests is included with most versions of Python, I think urlib3 is even more common.

Eric S

Okay, we got farther than we did before.

When I ran the script in SSH it produced a list that I then put into an m3u file and put it into the network and it worked perfectly and instantly.

But when the python script was executed in the network even though it got past the imports there was another error.
I am hoping that if you have more experience with python that you can point me in the right direction. And if I can get this working I am going to work again on the EPG data. I had a script that I used in the past to download it and it is probably still good.

Here is the log entry.
2024-12-11 20:13:30.207 spawn: Executing "/usr/bin/python"
2024-12-11 20:13:31.646 spawn: Traceback (most recent call last):
2024-12-11 20:13:31.646 spawn: File "/storage/downloads/plutotv.py", line 95, in
2024-12-11 20:13:31.646 spawn: s.connect(SOCKET)
2024-12-11 20:13:31.646 spawn: FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
2024-12-11 20:13:31.646 spawn: During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:
2024-12-11 20:13:31.646 spawn: Traceback (most recent call last):
2024-12-11 20:13:31.646 spawn: File "/storage/downloads/plutotv.py", line 100, in
2024-12-11 20:13:31.646 spawn: with open("pluto.xmltv", "wb") as file:
2024-12-11 20:13:31.646 spawn: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2024-12-11 20:13:31.646 spawn: OSError: [Errno 30] Read-only file system: 'pluto.xmltv'
2024-12-11 20:13:31.952 iptv: unknown playlist format for network 'Pluto TV'

Thanks.