diff --git a/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-detail.component.html b/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-detail.component.html
index c1d407481..667037b17 100644
--- a/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-detail.component.html
+++ b/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-detail.component.html
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <app-portal-detail-shell
     [backAvailable]="false"
-    [contentKey]="'m3u:' + channel().id"
+    [contentKey]="heroKey()"
     [title]="title()"
     [kindLabel]="kindLabel()"
     [description]="overview()"
diff --git a/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-detail.component.spec.ts b/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-detail.component.spec.ts
index 0f404cb65..90794de39 100644
--- a/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-detail.component.spec.ts
+++ b/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-detail.component.spec.ts
@@ -291,6 +291,26 @@ describe('M3uVodDetailComponent', () => {
         expect(component.playbackActive()).toBe(true);
     });
 
+    it('keys the hero by id and name, like the TMDB lookup', async () => {
+        await create({ channel: channel() });
+        const shell = fixture.debugElement.query(
+            By.directive(StubPortalDetailShellComponent)
+        ).componentInstance as StubPortalDetailShellComponent;
+        const first = shell.contentKey();
+
+        // Entries can share an id and differ by name; the next one may have
+        // a backdrop where this one had none, so the hero must decide its
+        // layout again.
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput(
+            'channel',
+            channel({ name: 'Dune Part Two (2024) 1080p' })
+        );
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(first).toContain('ch1');
+        expect(shell.contentKey()).not.toBe(first);
+    });
+
     it('restarts the payload identity when zapping to another movie', async () => {
         await create({ channel: channel(), playback: playback() });
         const first = fixture.componentInstance.inlinePlayback();
diff --git a/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-detail.component.ts b/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-detail.component.ts
index 32151bb50..cd5b6adb8 100644
--- a/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-detail.component.ts
+++ b/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-detail.component.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,10 @@ import {
 } from '@iptvnator/ui/components';
 import { formatDurationLabel } from '@iptvnator/portal/shared/util';
 import { PortalInlinePlayerComponent } from '@iptvnator/ui/playback';
-import { M3uVodMetadataService } from './m3u-vod-metadata.service';
+import {
+    M3uVodMetadataService,
+    m3uVodEntryKey,
+} from './m3u-vod-metadata.service';
 
 /**
  * VOD detail experience for an M3U entry recognized as a movie: the same
@@ -115,6 +118,13 @@ export class M3uVodDetailComponent {
 
     readonly tmdb = computed(() => this.metadata.state().details);
 
+    /**
+     * What the hero decides its layout for, once per entry. Keyed like the
+     * TMDB lookup, by id AND name: entries sharing an id differ by name, and
+     * the next one may have a backdrop where this one had none.
+     */
+    readonly heroKey = computed(() => `m3u:${m3uVodEntryKey(this.channel())}`);
+
     readonly title = computed(
         () => this.tmdb()?.title?.trim() || this.channel().name
     );
diff --git a/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-metadata.service.ts b/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-metadata.service.ts
index c05edeb95..2085eee40 100644
--- a/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-metadata.service.ts
+++ b/libs/playlist/m3u/feature-player/src/lib/m3u-vod-detail/m3u-vod-metadata.service.ts
@@ -23,8 +23,12 @@ const IDLE_STATE: M3uVodMetadataState = {
     details: null,
 };
 
-/** NUL keeps the two parts unambiguous whatever an entry is named. */
-function lookupKeyOf(channel: Pick<Channel, 'id' | 'name'>): string {
+/**
+ * The identity of an M3U entry: entries can share an id and differ by
+ * name, so both parts count. NUL keeps them unambiguous whatever an entry
+ * is named.
+ */
+export function m3uVodEntryKey(channel: Pick<Channel, 'id' | 'name'>): string {
     return `${channel.id}\u0000${channel.name ?? ''}`;
 }
 
@@ -50,7 +54,7 @@ export class M3uVodMetadataService {
      * only the response for the channel the state currently tracks lands.
      */
     load(channel: Pick<Channel, 'id' | 'name'>): void {
-        const lookupKey = lookupKeyOf(channel);
+        const lookupKey = m3uVodEntryKey(channel);
         if (this.stateSignal().lookupKey === lookupKey) {
             return;
         }