Retrieve CTV News section inventory, including national topic sections and local newsroom sections, to find valid section IDs for headlines queries.
Get CTV News sections. Returns the public CTV News section inventory (national topic sections and local newsroom sections) used by the headlines endpoint.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No arguments | |||
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
v1.17.5Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
No annotations are provided, so the description must carry the behavioral burden. It states the tool returns a public inventory, implying a read-only operation and no side effects. However, it does not reveal pagination, rate limits, or possible failures, leaving some gaps.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is a single, compact sentence that conveys the purpose and even hints at downstream usage. It is front-loaded with the main action and includes no extraneous detail, making it easy to scan.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
For a zero-parameter, read-only inventory tool with no output schema, this description is largely complete. It explains what the tool returns and its relationship to the headlines endpoint. Minor gaps like return format are acceptable given the tool's simplicity.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
The tool has zero parameters and the schema is empty, so there is nothing to document. The description correctly notes that it returns a fixed inventory without needing arguments, which is helpful. This matches the baseline for a tool with no parameters.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
Clearly states it gets the section inventory for CTV News, distinguishing it from similar tools like newyorker_sections and nyt_sections by naming the specific publisher. It also indicates the result is used by the headlines endpoint, clarifying its role.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description implies it is used to retrieve available sections before calling headlines, but it does not explicitly state when to use this tool versus alternatives like ctvnews_headlines or provide alternatives. It is clear enough for a knowledgeable agent but lacks explicit routing guidance.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.