> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.etonecarg.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Get Watch Availability > Return the normalized where-to-watch answer for a sports entity in a bounded window, with proven or evidence-only fallback semantics. Canonical tool name: `get_watch_availability` Family: [Program Connectivity and Watchability Tools](/sports-mcp-server/tools/program-connectivity-and-watchability-tools) ## What this tool is best at Return the normalized where-to-watch answer for a sports entity in a bounded window, with proven or evidence-only watchability semantics. ## Choose this tool when * the host needs a direct answer to where, whether, or on what service/channel the user can watch a sports entity. * Source ownership: Dedicated availability primary when provisioned, otherwise evidence-only watchability fallback ## Use something smaller or different when * Do not use it as a substitute for deep sports detail or as a raw linkage-inspection tool when QA needs the underlying evidence graph instead. ## Inputs you need ### Plain-English prerequisites * This tool does not require a prerequisite ID beyond the scoped inputs shown below. ### Required inputs in the public contract | Input | What it means | | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `entityId` | Resolved entity ref for the sports object the user wants to watch. | | `entityType` | Entity kind for `entityId`. Keep it aligned with the ref you preserved. | | `timeFrom` | Bounded window start for the watchability lookup. Match it to the user’s actual browse window. | | `timeTo` | Bounded window end for the watchability lookup. | ### Optional inputs in the public contract | Input | What it means | | ---------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `language` | Optional BCP 47 language hint such as `en-US`. Use it when the host needs translated provider output. | ## Sequencing guidance | Needed ID or scope | Call this first | Then use | | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | scope | [Tool Catalog](/sports-mcp-server/tools/tool-catalog) | Start from the smallest tool that can safely anchor the workflow, then deepen only if the user asks for more. | ## Response highlights * `data.options[]` is the normalized watchability answer when channels or services can be grounded. * `data.eventEvidence[]` carries fallback event evidence when the server cannot prove channel or service linkage. * `data.linkageStatus` and `data.availabilityMode` tell the host whether the answer is proven, unresolved, or unavailable. ## Response shape | Field | What it means | | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `data.entityId / data.entityType` | Echo of the requested sports entity scope. | | `data.options[]` | Normalized watch options when dedicated availability can prove them. | | `data.eventEvidence[]` | Fallback event evidence rows when the answer cannot be proven. | | `data.linkageStatus` | Terminal trust state: `proven`, `unresolved`, or `provider_unavailable`. | | `data.availabilityMode` | Operating mode: `dedicated`, `on_evidence`, or `none`. | | `meta.limitations[]` | Explanation of why the answer is proven, unresolved, or unavailable. | ## Reuse next * Reuse provider refs returned by this tool to avoid resolving the same entity again. * Read `meta.agentHints.recommendedNextTools` and `meta.agentHints.disambiguationOptions` as non-binding host hints. ## Example requests ```json JSON-RPC theme={null} { "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": "tool-call-1", "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "get_watch_availability", "arguments": { "entityId": "EVENT_ID", "entityType": "event", "timeFrom": "2026-04-08T18:00:00Z", "timeTo": "2026-04-08T23:00:00Z" } } } ``` ```bash curl theme={null} curl "https://sports-mcp-server.etonecarg.com/" \ -X POST \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $SPORTS_MCP_API_KEY" \ -H "Accept: application/json, text/event-stream" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -H "mcp-protocol-version: 2025-03-26" \ -d '{ "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": "tool-call-1", "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "get_watch_availability", "arguments": { "entityId": "EVENT_ID", "entityType": "event", "timeFrom": "2026-04-08T18:00:00Z", "timeTo": "2026-04-08T23:00:00Z" } } }' ``` ```ts TypeScript theme={null} const payload = { "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": "tool-call-1", "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "get_watch_availability", "arguments": { "entityId": "EVENT_ID", "entityType": "event", "timeFrom": "2026-04-08T18:00:00Z", "timeTo": "2026-04-08T23:00:00Z" } } }; const response = await fetch("https://sports-mcp-server.etonecarg.com/", { method: "POST", headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.SPORTS_MCP_API_KEY!}`, Accept: "application/json, text/event-stream", "Content-Type": "application/json", "mcp-protocol-version": "2025-03-26", }, body: JSON.stringify(payload), }); const data = await response.json(); console.log(JSON.stringify(data, null, 2)); ``` ```python Python theme={null} import json import os import requests payload = { "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": "tool-call-1", "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "get_watch_availability", "arguments": { "entityId": "EVENT_ID", "entityType": "event", "timeFrom": "2026-04-08T18:00:00Z", "timeTo": "2026-04-08T23:00:00Z" } } } response = requests.post( "https://sports-mcp-server.etonecarg.com/", headers={ "Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['SPORTS_MCP_API_KEY']}", "Accept": "application/json, text/event-stream", "Content-Type": "application/json", "mcp-protocol-version": "2025-03-26", }, json=payload, timeout=30, ) response.raise_for_status() print(json.dumps(response.json(), indent=2)) ``` ```json JSON-RPC theme={null} { "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": "tool-call-1", "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "get_watch_availability", "arguments": { "entityId": "TEAM_ID", "entityType": "participant", "timeFrom": "2026-04-08T00:00:00Z", "timeTo": "2026-04-09T00:00:00Z" } } } ``` ```bash curl theme={null} curl "https://sports-mcp-server.etonecarg.com/" \ -X POST \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $SPORTS_MCP_API_KEY" \ -H "Accept: application/json, text/event-stream" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -H "mcp-protocol-version: 2025-03-26" \ -d '{ "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": "tool-call-1", "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "get_watch_availability", "arguments": { "entityId": "TEAM_ID", "entityType": "participant", "timeFrom": "2026-04-08T00:00:00Z", "timeTo": "2026-04-09T00:00:00Z" } } }' ``` ```ts TypeScript theme={null} const payload = { "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": "tool-call-1", "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "get_watch_availability", "arguments": { "entityId": "TEAM_ID", "entityType": "participant", "timeFrom": "2026-04-08T00:00:00Z", "timeTo": "2026-04-09T00:00:00Z" } } }; const response = await fetch("https://sports-mcp-server.etonecarg.com/", { method: "POST", headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.SPORTS_MCP_API_KEY!}`, Accept: "application/json, text/event-stream", "Content-Type": "application/json", "mcp-protocol-version": "2025-03-26", }, body: JSON.stringify(payload), }); const data = await response.json(); console.log(JSON.stringify(data, null, 2)); ``` ```python Python theme={null} import json import os import requests payload = { "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": "tool-call-1", "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "get_watch_availability", "arguments": { "entityId": "TEAM_ID", "entityType": "participant", "timeFrom": "2026-04-08T00:00:00Z", "timeTo": "2026-04-09T00:00:00Z" } } } response = requests.post( "https://sports-mcp-server.etonecarg.com/", headers={ "Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['SPORTS_MCP_API_KEY']}", "Accept": "application/json, text/event-stream", "Content-Type": "application/json", "mcp-protocol-version": "2025-03-26", }, json=payload, timeout=30, ) response.raise_for_status() print(json.dumps(response.json(), indent=2)) ``` ## Related tools ### Previous-step tools * [`list_programs_for_entity`](/sports-mcp-server/tool-reference/list_programs_for_entity) * [`list_watchable_schedule`](/sports-mcp-server/tool-reference/list_watchable_schedule) * [`list_live_slate`](/sports-mcp-server/tool-reference/list_live_slate) ### Next-step tools * [`get_program_context`](/sports-mcp-server/tool-reference/get_program_context) * [`get_event_center`](/sports-mcp-server/tool-reference/get_event_center) ### Alternative tools * No common alternatives. ## Prompt patterns this tool fits * Use `get_watch_availability` when the host already knows the right scope and needs this job directly. ## Common mistakes * Expecting channels or services to appear when the response is in evidence-only fallback mode. * Treating fallback event evidence as if it were proven where-to-watch availability.