Applies to: Two different sources use the same-looking reference value for different channel records.
The useful distinctions
- An identifier is interpreted within a source context.
- Uniqueness inside one document does not establish universal identity across sources.
- The complete service edition still needs confirmation.
Preserve the context around the value
A reference such as a short number or abbreviated name may be unique within one source while being reused elsewhere for a different service. Keep a human-readable source label with it, without publishing any private access address. The identical characters are a reason to compare the records, not proof that they describe the same channel. This distinction matters especially when combining observations from separate guides or an old configuration and a new one.
Check identity before transferring an association
Identify the full service, regional edition and dated programme sequence within each source. If the source contexts differ, do not assume that a previously useful value can be copied unchanged into the new context. Ask the approved source owner to confirm the relationship. A viewer can report a namespace collision without claiming a specific application defect or inventing a globally unique replacement reference from the service’s display name.
Hypothetical worked example
Fictional Guide A uses `17` for Harbor News, while fictional Guide B uses `17` for Meadow Culture on 8 November 2026. The values match as text, but their source-qualified meanings differ. Copying the Guide A association into Guide B would lose that context. A correct enquiry names Guide A, Guide B and the intended service, while keeping any private guide addresses out of a public report.
A focused way to proceed
- Record the approved source context beside the reference.
- Compare the service identity in each source independently.
- Avoid copying a reference between sources solely because the characters match.
When to stop or ask for help
Ask for the intended source-qualified service reference instead of relying on an unqualified text match.