How to use the channel

1. What you need

• An email address. We send you a short code to sign in; there's no password.
• A phone, tablet or computer, to sign in and to connect the TV.
• A TV with a way to show a web page: a channel box (Raspberry Pi) set up for this channel, or a TV or computer with a web browser.
• To ask questions out loud: a microphone on the channel box. Without one you can still type your questions on your phone.

2. Create your account and sign in

Do this on your phone, tablet or computer.

1. Go to the channel's website/.
2. Press Sign in or create an account.
3. Type your email address and continue. The first time, this creates your account.
4. Look in your email for a message with a short code (check the junk folder if it isn't there within a minute or two).
5. Type the code on the sign-in page. You're brought back to your account page.

You stay signed in on that phone or computer for 30 days.

3. Get access

Do this once, right after you first sign in.

Your account page (the website/) says whether your account has access.

• "You have access. Enjoy the channel!" You're all set: go on to step 4.
• A "Get access" button: press it. Your account has access straight away, with nothing to pay.
• A "Get access for $1" button (once the channel takes payments): press it and pay the one-time $1. You come back to the website afterwards, and your account has access within a minute or so.

4. Connect your TV

You connect ("pair") each TV once. After that it plays by itself whenever it's on.

1. On the TV, open the channel:
   • A channel box opens it by itself when it's switched on.
   • On a TV or computer with a web browser, go to the website/tv.html.
   The TV shows "Let's connect this TV", a short code like ABC-123, and a square code.
2. On your phone, either point the camera at the square code on the TV and open the link, or go to the website/pair.
3. Sign in if you're asked to (step 2).
4. Type the code from the TV (capital or small letters, either is fine) and press Pair this TV. If you came from the square code, the code is filled in for you; say yes when asked whether the code is on a TV in front of you.
5. The TV starts playing in a few seconds.

A code lasts 10 minutes. If it runs out, the TV shows a new one. You can pair up to 3 TVs. Only pair a TV that's in front of you, or one you're setting up for someone you know.

No phone to hand? If the TV has a keyboard, press any letter key on the pairing screen and choose Sign in on this TV instead.

5. Watch on the TV

If the channel isn't on the air, the TV says "The channel is resting" and switches back to the channel by itself when it returns. You don't need to do anything.

6. Ask the anchor a question

Ask about the story that's on, or anything else on your mind. The anchor answers in their own voice, just for you. Other viewers don't see or hear your question or the answer.

Out loud, on the TV

1. Press a colour key on the remote. The anchor appears with "Listening…" and the channel goes quiet.
2. Ask your question in a normal voice, for example "What was that story about?"
3. Stop talking. After a moment the TV shows what it heard. If you're finished early, press the colour key again.
4. The anchor answers, with the words on screen, and then the channel carries on.

Typed on your phone, answered on the TV

1. Make sure the TV is on and showing the channel.
2. On your phone, go to the website/ask (sign in if you're asked to).
3. If you have more than one TV, choose which one.
4. Start typing. The TV shows the anchor listening.
5. Press Ask (or Enter). The answer plays on the TV.

To change your mind, clear the box (or press Esc on a keyboard) and the TV goes back to the channel. A typed question can be up to 300 characters.

You can ask 20 questions a day, spoken and typed together.

7. Watch on a computer

1. Go to the website/watch and sign in if you're asked to.
2. The channel plays in the page. Use the video's own buttons for sound and full screen.
3. To ask a question, type it in the box under the video and press Enter. The anchor answers over the video, on that same computer.

8. Your account and your TVs

Everything is on your account page, the website/:

• Your TVs lists each paired TV with when it was last used. Unpair stops that TV playing at once; it then shows a new code, ready to pair again.
• Pair a TV takes you to the pairing page (step 4).
• Sign out signs you out on that phone or computer. Your TVs keep playing.

9. If something isn't working

"Sign-ups are full for today"

Only a few new accounts can be made each day while the channel is being tried out. Please try again tomorrow. (If you already have an account, this never applies.)

No email with a code

Check the junk or spam folder, wait a minute, then try signing in again.

The TV says "Almost there"

The TV is paired, but your account doesn't have access yet (step 3). The TV updates by itself once it has.

The TV shows a code again

It was unpaired (perhaps from the account page). Pair it again (step 4).

No sound

Press OK once. Check the TV's own volume and mute.

"I didn't catch that"

The TV didn't hear a question. Press the colour key and speak a little closer to the microphone, or type your question on your phone instead.

"That screen isn't connected right now"

Your phone couldn't reach the TV. Make sure it's on and showing the channel, wait a moment and try again.

"That's all the questions for now"

You've asked today's 20 questions. You can ask more tomorrow.

Anything else

Turn the TV (or the channel box) off and on again; the channel picks up where it left off.

10. About the channel

• Made by AI. The anchors, their voices and the scripts are generated by computer. The anchors are invented characters, not real people. Pictures marked "AI illustration" are made up; pictures marked "FILE" are general library photos.
• Where stories come from: public U.S. government sources such as NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service, credited on screen.
• What the anchors won't answer: medicine doses or what your symptoms mean, advice on your own legal or money matters, or who to vote for. For those, please ask your doctor, pharmacist or another professional.
• What we keep: your email address, your paired TVs, and the questions you ask with their answers, so the anchors can remember what you asked earlier today.
• This is an early test of the channel, so things may change.