Media stream playing method and set-top box

A set-top box, comprising a guidance unit and a playing unit, wherein the guidance unit is configured to initialize a platform system, and further configured to:

• obtain, in a process of initializing of the platform system, a channel identifier of a channel to be played, obtain, by using the channel identifier, a media stream that corresponds to the channel identifier, and send the media stream to the playing unit;
• and
• the playing unit is configured to receive the media stream sent by the guidance unit and play the media stream,
• and said steps of obtaining the channel identifier and sending the media occur during said initialization.

A method implemented in a set-top box, comprising:

• initializing, by a guidance unit, a platform system of the set-top box, the set-top box comprising the guidance unit and a playing unit;
• during the initialization of the platform system of the set-top, obtaining, by the guidance unit, a channel identifier of a channel to be played and a media stream that corresponds to the channel identifier;
• and
• sending, by the guidance unit, the media stream to a playing unit of the set-top box for playing;
• wherein the obtaining the channel identifier and the sending the media stream are independent of the platform system,
• and said steps of obtaining the channel identifier and sending the media occur during said initialization.