A second screen device can discover one or more first screen devices connected to a network using a DIAL discovery request. In response to the DIAL request, a preferred first screen device sends a formatted response that includes one or more capabilities associated with an application or software that is executed by or hosted by the first screen device. For example, the formatting can use a header extension for a response to a DIAL discovery request. In another example, the formatting can use a header tag for a response to a DIAL device description request. Formatting the response to the DIAL request to include information about the capabilities of the first screen device ensures that the first screen device that is preferred for the playback of selected content is positioned at the top of the list or menu presented to a user at the second screen device.