Vega Live TV Overview

Open Beta Documentation Amazon offers this technical documentation as part of a pre-release, open beta. The features described might change as Amazon receives feedback and iterates on the features. For the most current feature information, see the Release Notes.

Fire TV content can be explored through browsing, voice control, or searching. Through Vega Live TV integrations, your linear TV and events can be promoted and made easily discoverable, encouraging users to engage with your app.

For the API details, see Live TV APIs.

Before you start
- Important definitions
- Comparisons
Linear TV features on Fire TV
How Linear TV displays content
- How users find channels and programs
Related topics

Before you start

In order to implement these integrations, you must already have an app with Linear TV or Live Event content. Amazon does not build channels or assemble schedules.

Important definitions

Linear TV - Programs that can be viewed according to a set schedule, much like traditional TV.
Video on Demand (VOD) - You can watch these at your convenience.
Live streaming events - These are events that are taking place as you watch them. Sports often falls into this category. These events may be recorded and be watched later as well.
Note: Live Event integration is not yet available on Fire TV devices. Only Linear TV integration is available.

Comparisons

Linear vs Video on Demand (VOD) - How you watch content. Linear TV is watched according to a schedule (posted ahead of time), but Video on Demand is available to be watched at any time.
Live vs Replay - Live vs recorded content. Live content is streamed as it happens. Sometimes these may be replayed to watch later.
Show vs Event - Edited prior to broadcast vs unedited. A show usually follows a script and is edited. An event is broadcast, and may be recorded as it happens.

Linear TV features on Fire TV

After you have integrated Linear TV with your app, these features will be available for all Fire TV devices once a customer installs and authenticates your app.

How Linear TV displays content.
How users find channels and programs.

How Linear TV displays content

Important: The customer-facing UI/UX is in active development and much of what is shown below may not be available on your device build. The screenshots shown below are taken from an older generation of Fire TV device to be used for reference only.

Tiles under the Home tab display programming information on the Recent row and On Now row.