---
key: testing.troubleshoot-path-cannot-test-branding
title: 2026-07-21 — Channel branding is NOT testable through the troubleshooting-playback API (#542)
status: active
since: '2026-07-21'
supersedes: none
superseded-by: none
rule: Verify logo/watermark/bug changes through a real channel playout — a green troubleshoot run proves nothing about branding.
signals: '`PrepareTroubleshootingPlaybackHandler` · synthetic channel · `Artwork = []` · `ChannelId > 0` branch · watermark · channel logo · bug overlay · paths: `ErsatzTV.Application` troubleshooting handlers · issues: #542'
mechanics: n/a — a property of the handler, not a toggle.
---

`PrepareTroubleshootingPlaybackHandler` builds a **synthetic** channel with `Artwork = []`, and its
`ChannelId > 0` branch ignores the media item. Both together mean no branding state ever reaches the
pipeline through that path.

So the troubleshoot endpoint is a false witness for this class: it exercises the transcode pipeline but
not the overlay inputs. Route branding verification through a real channel playout instead.
