Write the actual viewing sequence
A discussion or family screening may need a film, a selected episode and a personal introduction in a particular order. Write those actual items down before choosing a collection tool. The requirement is a sequence of existing library items, not a new source containing channel addresses.
Check that every participant has the intended access to the material and that the files are available on the server. A playlist is an organizational aid; it does not supply rights or manufacture media absent from the library. Give the sequence a title that explains the session’s purpose.
Use the documented mixed-item tool
Channels documents viewing Playlists containing movies, episodes and videos together, with their own continuation settings. The documentation identifies tvOS/iOS availability. Use the intended supported client for the final viewing check, especially if another household device presents different controls.
Add a small set of recognizable items in the desired order. Keep the first version manual so membership is obvious. A dynamic rule can serve a changing list later, but it makes a fixed screening harder to audit when the library or metadata changes between preparation and viewing.
Test the boundary that matters
Inspect the sequence, start from the intended first item and check what happens at its end. Confirm whether continuation is desired and whether the next item is the one in the written plan. A correctly ordered list can still produce an unsuitable experience if the operator expects a pause for discussion.
Include one boundary between different media types in the rehearsal. The original planning value is to check the actual viewing task, not simply whether three titles can be added. A small sample makes a wrong item or unexpected continuation easy to identify.
Keep the screening edition stable
Before the session, review the same saved list and verify the referenced items still exist. Note any intentional starting point or discussion stop. If the sequence must remain fixed, do not silently replace it with a dynamic rule shortly before viewing.
Keep personal titles and viewing notes private where appropriate. This guide does not report a created Channels playlist, device test or media session. It explains a complete planning and review route for a mixed sequence, with a separate purpose from the server’s source-playlist import.
Questions answered
Is this the same as an M3U channel playlist?
No. It is a viewing list of items already in the Channels library.
Should a discussion sequence always continue automatically?
Choose that behavior according to the session and rehearse the first boundary.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.