This article covers creating playlists, adding videos, folders, or remote streams, putting items in order, and shuffling automatically so programming that repeats stays fresh.
How playlists work
A playlist is an ordered list of items that plays from top to bottom and then starts again. What a channel airs depends on:
- The default playlist ?, which loops whenever nothing else is scheduled. Every channel starts with one, named Default loop. It can't be deleted.
- Schedule blocks, which play a chosen playlist during a set time window. See Scheduling programming.
The item list shows how many items the playlist has and its total running time.
Create and manage playlists
- Go to the channel's Playlists tab.
- Type a name in New playlist name and click Add playlist.
- Click a playlist's button to open it.
For the open playlist, you can use ? Rename, ? Duplicate (copies the playlist and all its items), or Delete this playlist at the bottom. The default playlist can't be deleted.
Add items
Under Add item, choose a source:
From media library
Shows every ready file in the channel's library, with its duration and any format badge. Tick one or more files (or click Select all), then click Add selected. Items are added to the end of the playlist.
Whole folder
Adds a Media Library folder as a single item. When it airs, it plays every ready file in the folder, in alphabetical order. Files you add to or remove from the folder later are picked up automatically, so you don't need to edit the playlist. This is ideal for collections that change often, such as weekly episodes.
Remote URL (m3u8 / stream)
Adds an external stream, such as another HLS .m3u8 feed. Only add streams you have the rights to rebroadcast.
Reorder, duplicate, and remove items
- Drag the ? handle to move an item, or use the ? / ? buttons.
- ? duplicates an item.
- ? removes the item from this playlist only. The file stays in your Media Library.
Shuffle and auto-shuffle
???? Shuffle puts the items in a random order once.
???? Auto-shuffle reshuffles the playlist on a timer: every hour, every 2, 3, 6, or 12 hours, every day, every 2 days, or every week. Use it for blocks that air every day, such as a music-video hour, so viewers see a different order each time.
- Whole-folder items are shuffled too.
- If the playlist is on air, it finishes its current run-through before the new order applies, so nothing repeats or gets skipped.
When changes take effect
You don't need to restart anything. Edits apply as soon as the item that's currently playing finishes, usually within a few minutes. If you need to move on right away, use ? Skip on the Studio tab.
