Fix empty Ziggo Sport event covers by keeping FAAB live thumbs.

Stop replacing working FAAB thumbs with Gracenote URLs that 404, and only enrich highlights after verifying EventImages exist.

apps/android-tv/app-mobile/src/main/java/nl/vonas/mediacluster/tv/ui/EventsScreen.kt

@@ -740,10 +740,10 @@ private fun detailMetaLine(event: ScheduleEvent): String =
     ).distinct().joinToString(" · ")
 
 private fun eventArtUrl(event: ScheduleEvent): String? =
-    event.imageLandscape?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }
+    event.imageLandscape?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() && looksLikeArtwork(it) }
         ?: event.images.firstOrNull { looksLikeArtwork(it) && !it.contains("hero-16x9", ignoreCase = true) }
         ?: event.images.firstOrNull { looksLikeArtwork(it) }
-        ?: event.imagePortrait?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }
+        ?: event.imagePortrait?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() && looksLikeArtwork(it) }
         ?: event.images.firstOrNull { it.isNotBlank() && !it.contains("assets/channels", ignoreCase = true) }
 
 private fun eventBackdropUrl(event: ScheduleEvent): String? =
@@ -758,6 +758,8 @@ private fun looksLikeArtwork(url: String): Boolean {
     if (lower.contains("assets/channels")) return false
     if (lower.contains("channels-logo")) return false
     if (lower.contains("/logos/") && lower.endsWith(".png")) return false
+    if (lower.contains("channellogo")) return false
+    if (Regex("""ziggo_sport_\d""", RegexOption.IGNORE_CASE).containsMatchIn(lower)) return false
     if (lower.contains("/logo") || lower.contains("logo.") || lower.contains("logo_")) {
         if (!lower.contains("boxart") && !lower.contains("hero-")) return false
     }

apps/android-tv/app/src/main/java/nl/vonas/mediacluster/tv/ui/EventsScreen.kt

@@ -2042,10 +2042,10 @@ private fun detailMetaLine(event: ScheduleEvent): String =
 
 /** Card/rail cover art — prefer API imageLandscape (BOXART-16X9). */
 private fun eventArtUrl(event: ScheduleEvent): String? =
-    event.imageLandscape?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }
+    event.imageLandscape?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() && looksLikeArtwork(it) }
         ?: event.images.firstOrNull { looksLikeArtwork(it) && !it.contains("hero-16x9", ignoreCase = true) }
         ?: event.images.firstOrNull { looksLikeArtwork(it) }
-        ?: event.imagePortrait?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }
+        ?: event.imagePortrait?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() && looksLikeArtwork(it) }
         ?: event.images.firstOrNull { it.isNotBlank() && !it.contains("assets/channels", ignoreCase = true) }
 
 /** Detail full-bleed — prefer HERO backdrop, then card landscape. */
@@ -2061,6 +2061,8 @@ private fun looksLikeArtwork(url: String): Boolean {
     if (lower.contains("assets/channels")) return false
     if (lower.contains("channels-logo")) return false
     if (lower.contains("/logos/") && lower.endsWith(".png")) return false
+    if (lower.contains("channellogo")) return false
+    if (Regex("""ziggo_sport_\d""", RegexOption.IGNORE_CASE).containsMatchIn(lower)) return false
     if (lower.contains("/logo") || lower.contains("logo.") || lower.contains("logo_")) {
         if (!lower.contains("boxart") && !lower.contains("hero-")) return false
     }

apps/ios/VMC/UI/EventsScreen.swift

@@ -1153,13 +1153,13 @@ enum EventHelpers {
     }
 
     static func artUrl(_ event: ScheduleEvent) -> String? {
-        if let u = event.imageLandscape?.nilIfBlank { return u }
+        if let u = event.imageLandscape?.nilIfBlank, looksLikeArtwork(u) { return u }
         let imgs = event.images ?? []
         if let u = imgs.first(where: { looksLikeArtwork($0) && !$0.localizedCaseInsensitiveContains("hero-16x9") }) {
             return u
         }
         if let u = imgs.first(where: { looksLikeArtwork($0) }) { return u }
-        if let u = event.imagePortrait?.nilIfBlank { return u }
+        if let u = event.imagePortrait?.nilIfBlank, looksLikeArtwork(u) { return u }
         return imgs.first { !$0.isEmpty && !$0.localizedCaseInsensitiveContains("assets/channels") }
     }
 
@@ -1317,6 +1317,8 @@ enum EventHelpers {
         if lower.contains("assets/channels") { return false }
         if lower.contains("channels-logo") { return false }
         if lower.contains("/logos/") && lower.hasSuffix(".png") { return false }
+        if lower.contains("channellogo") { return false }
+        if lower.range(of: #"ziggo_sport_\d"#, options: .regularExpression) != nil { return false }
         if (lower.contains("/logo") || lower.contains("logo.") || lower.contains("logo_")),
            !lower.contains("boxart"), !lower.contains("hero-") {
             return false

apps/master-api/src/viewer/event-fallbacks.test.ts

@@ -26,6 +26,22 @@ assert(
   }),
   "logo needs fallback"
 );
+assert(
+  !needsCategoryFallback({
+    name: "ATP 250: Chengdu Open",
+    imageLandscape: "https://zst1-akm-cdn-triple.akamaized.net/live/zs1/thumb.jpg?scale=640x360",
+    images: [],
+  }),
+  "FAAB live thumb is usable art"
+);
+assert(
+  needsCategoryFallback({
+    name: "Moto3 (samenvatting)",
+    imageLandscape: "https://zst1-akm-cdn-triple.akamaized.net/live/zs1/thumb.jpg?scale=640x360",
+    images: [],
+  }),
+  "highlight live snap needs fallback"
+);
 assert(
   !needsCategoryFallback({
     imageLandscape: "https://cdn.example/real-art.jpg",

apps/master-api/src/viewer/event-fallbacks.ts

@@ -35,14 +35,21 @@ export function isCategoryFallbackUrl(url: string | null | undefined): boolean {
   return /\/assets\/event-fallbacks\/[a-z]+\.jpg(\?|$)/i.test(url);
 }
 
-/** True when landscape is missing or only a logo / live thumb (not usable cover). */
+/** True when landscape is missing or only a channel logo (not usable cover). */
 export function needsCategoryFallback(e: {
+  name?: string | null;
   imageLandscape?: string | null;
   images?: string[];
 }): boolean {
   const land = e.imageLandscape;
   if (!land) return true;
-  if (isLiveChannelThumb(land)) return true;
+  // FAAB live channel thumbs are real card art — keep them.
+  // Highlights/replays with a live snap are wrong sport; treat as weak.
+  if (isLiveChannelThumb(land)) {
+    return /\b(samenvatting|hoogtepunten|highlights?|herhaling|replay)\b/i.test(
+      e.name ?? ""
+    );
+  }
   if (isChannelLogoUrl(land)) return true;
   if (isCategoryFallbackUrl(land)) return false;
   // Already has real art

apps/master-api/src/viewer/ziggo-epg-art.test.ts

@@ -28,12 +28,31 @@ assert(!isZiggoSportChannel("ESPN"), "espn");
 assert(isReplayOrHighlightTitle("Moto3 BWIN Grand Prix of Austria (samenvatting)"), "samenvatting");
 
 assert(
-  needsZiggoArtEnrichment({
+  !needsZiggoArtEnrichment({
+    name: "ATP 250: Chengdu Open",
     channel: "Ziggo Sport 1",
     imageLandscape: "https://zst1-akm-cdn-triple.akamaized.net/live/zs1/thumb.jpg?scale=640",
     images: [],
   }),
-  "needs enrich live thumb"
+  "keep FAAB live thumb for normal events"
+);
+assert(
+  needsZiggoArtEnrichment({
+    name: "Moto3 BWIN Grand Prix of Austria (samenvatting)",
+    channel: "Ziggo Sport 1",
+    imageLandscape: "https://zst1-akm-cdn-triple.akamaized.net/live/zs1/thumb.jpg?scale=640",
+    images: [],
+  }),
+  "enrich highlight live thumb"
+);
+assert(
+  needsZiggoArtEnrichment({
+    name: "ATP 250",
+    channel: "Ziggo Sport 1",
+    imageLandscape: "https://go.ziggosporttotaal.nl/assets/channels/light/ziggo_sport_1.png",
+    images: [],
+  }),
+  "enrich logo-only"
 );
 
 const arts = artUrlsFromMergedId("24692584|nl");

apps/master-api/src/viewer/ziggo-epg-art.ts

@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 /**
  * Enrich Ziggo Sport events with real Gracenote art from Ziggo GO EPG
- * (epg-service-lite + image-service), instead of live channel thumbs.
+ * (epg-service-lite + image-service) when FAAB only has logos or a misleading
+ * live snap on highlights/replays.
  *
  * Match: channel → Ziggo channelId(s) + (time overlap | series family) + title tokens.
- * Art: ImagesEPG/EventImages/p{mergedId}_bd_h8_aa.jpg
+ * Art: ImagesEPG/EventImages/p{mergedId}_bd_h8_aa.jpg (probed for HTTP 200).
- * Fallback: strip live thumbs (never leave football-on-air as Racing art).
+ * Keep FAAB live thumbs for normal live/upcoming cards.
  */
 
 const CHANNELS_URL =
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ export function isChannelLogoUrl(url: string | null | undefined): boolean {
 }
 
 export function needsZiggoArtEnrichment(e: {
+  name?: string | null;
   channel?: string | null;
   network?: string | null;
   imageLandscape?: string | null;
@@ -77,9 +79,12 @@ export function needsZiggoArtEnrichment(e: {
 }): boolean {
   if (!isZiggoSportChannel(e.channel) && !isZiggoSportChannel(e.network)) return false;
   if (!e.imageLandscape && !(e.images?.length)) return true;
-  if (isLiveChannelThumb(e.imageLandscape)) return true;
-  if ((e.images ?? []).some(isLiveChannelThumb)) return true;
   if (e.imageLandscape && isChannelLogoUrl(e.imageLandscape)) return true;
+  // FAAB live thumbs are usable card art for live/upcoming — keep them.
+  // Only replace for highlights/replays (on-air snap ≠ programme art).
+  const hasLiveThumb =
+    isLiveChannelThumb(e.imageLandscape) || (e.images ?? []).some(isLiveChannelThumb);
+  if (hasLiveThumb) return isReplayOrHighlightTitle(e.name ?? "");
   return false;
 }
 
@@ -350,6 +355,42 @@ async function fetchJson<T>(url: string): Promise<T | null> {
   }
 }
 
+const ART_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS = 4_000;
+const artUrlCache = new Map<string, { ok: boolean; at: number }>();
+
+/** Gracenote EventImages often 404 for old/merged ids — never replace FAAB thumbs with dead URLs. */
+export async function artUrlExists(url: string): Promise<boolean> {
+  const cached = artUrlCache.get(url);
+  if (cached && Date.now() - cached.at < CACHE_TTL_MS) return cached.ok;
+
+  const ac = new AbortController();
+  const timer = setTimeout(() => ac.abort(), ART_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS);
+  let ok = false;
+  try {
+    const head = await fetch(url, {
+      method: "HEAD",
+      signal: ac.signal,
+      headers: { "User-Agent": "VMC-master/1.0" },
+    });
+    if (head.ok) {
+      ok = true;
+    } else if (head.status === 405 || head.status === 501) {
+      const get = await fetch(url, {
+        method: "GET",
+        signal: ac.signal,
+        headers: { Range: "bytes=0-0", "User-Agent": "VMC-master/1.0" },
+      });
+      ok = get.ok || get.status === 206;
+    }
+  } catch {
+    ok = false;
+  } finally {
+    clearTimeout(timer);
+  }
+  artUrlCache.set(url, { ok, at: Date.now() });
+  return ok;
+}
+
 async function loadZiggoIndex(fromMs: number, toMs: number): Promise<CacheState | null> {
   if (cache && Date.now() - cache.at < CACHE_TTL_MS) return cache;
 
@@ -487,8 +528,9 @@ export type EnrichableEvent = {
 };
 
 /**
- * Replace live-thumbs / empty art on Ziggo Sport rows with Gracenote EPG art.
+ * Enrich Ziggo Sport rows that lack usable FAAB art (logos / highlight live-snaps)
- * Soft-fails (returns input) if Ziggo GO is unreachable — but still strips live thumbs.
+ * with Gracenote EPG art. Live FAAB thumbs are left alone so cards stay filled.
+ * Soft-fails keep FAAB images when Ziggo GO is down or EventImages 404.
  */
 export async function enrichZiggoGoArt<T extends EnrichableEvent>(events: T[]): Promise<T[]> {
   const targets = events.filter(needsZiggoArtEnrichment);
@@ -506,13 +548,22 @@ export async function enrichZiggoGoArt<T extends EnrichableEvent>(events: T[]):
 
   const index = await loadZiggoIndex(minMs, maxMs);
 
-  return events.map((e) => {
+  /** On miss: strip misleading live snaps for highlights; otherwise keep FAAB as-is. */
+  function fallbackArt(e: T): T {
+    const highlight = isReplayOrHighlightTitle(e.name);
+    if (!highlight) return e;
+    const logo =
+      (index ? channelLogoFallback(index, e.channel, e.network, e.images) : null) ||
+      e.images.find(isChannelLogoUrl) ||
+      null;
+    return stripLiveThumbs(e, logo);
+  }
+
+  return Promise.all(
+    events.map(async (e) => {
       if (!needsZiggoArtEnrichment(e)) return e;
 
-    // If Ziggo index unavailable: still remove live thumbs
+      if (!index?.events.length) return fallbackArt(e);
-    if (!index?.events.length) {
-      return stripLiveThumbs(e, e.images.find(isChannelLogoUrl) ?? null);
-    }
 
       const ids = new Set([
         ...channelIdsFor(index, e.channel),
@@ -521,7 +572,7 @@ export async function enrichZiggoGoArt<T extends EnrichableEvent>(events: T[]):
       const startMs = Date.parse(e.start);
       const endMs = Date.parse(e.stop);
       if (!ids.size || !Number.isFinite(startMs) || !Number.isFinite(endMs)) {
-      return stripLiveThumbs(e, channelLogoFallback(index, e.channel, e.network, e.images));
+        return fallbackArt(e);
       }
 
       const candidates = index.events.filter((z) => ids.has(z.channelId));
@@ -531,19 +582,18 @@ export async function enrichZiggoGoArt<T extends EnrichableEvent>(events: T[]):
         endMs,
       });
 
-    if (!match?.mergedId) {
+      if (!match?.mergedId) return fallbackArt(e);
-      return stripLiveThumbs(e, channelLogoFallback(index, e.channel, e.network, e.images));
-    }
 
       const arts = artUrlsFromMergedId(match.mergedId);
-    if (!arts) {
+      if (!arts) return fallbackArt(e);
-      return stripLiveThumbs(e, channelLogoFallback(index, e.channel, e.network, e.images));
+
-    }
+      if (!(await artUrlExists(arts.landscape))) return fallbackArt(e);
 
       const images = [
         arts.landscape,
         arts.portrait,
-      ...e.images.filter((u) => !isLiveChannelThumb(u)),
+        // Keep FAAB live thumbs as client-side fallback (Gracenote may 404 on device)
+        ...e.images,
       ];
       const seen = new Set<string>();
       const deduped = images.filter((u) => {
@@ -563,5 +613,6 @@ export async function enrichZiggoGoArt<T extends EnrichableEvent>(events: T[]):
         logoUrl: e.logoUrl || channelLogoFallback(index, e.channel, e.network, e.images),
         images: deduped,
       };
-  });
+    })
+  );
 }