In This Article:
What Is TV Playout?
Castr's TV Playout lets you upload and schedule your content for continuous, 24-hour broadcast. You build daily playlists and schedule content in advance simply by adding media into the timetable. Both pre-recorded video files and live content can be added to a playlist.
This feature is especially useful for TV channels and OTT apps that need continuous, 24x7 broadcasting that follows a content calendar.
Before you start, you will need:
A Livestream to use as the broadcast destination. TV Playout streams to a Livestream, so create one first.
Your content uploaded through the Files tab (see below), or available as Live-to-VOD in your Content Library.
How To Create A TV Playout
Create your own TV channel with the TV Playout feature: add content from your account and schedule it to play one item after another at the times you set.
To start, open TV Playout in the dashboard and click New Playout.
In the New TV Playout dialog you will set a playout name, the type (Schedule or Loop), the FPS, and the resolution, then click Create TV Playout.
Note: The configuration you set here cannot be changed after creation, so choose carefully. Your uploaded files will be transcoded according to these settings.
Note: Higher FPS and resolution are available only on the Ultra and Events plans.
The various sections of the TV Playout are described below:
Preview screen. Shows the content playing now and what is up next in the playlist.
Schedule tab. Where you build the playlist that the TV Playout will broadcast.
Files tab. Where you upload files for the playout, which you can then add to the playlist. Live-to-VOD files from your Content Library (formerly Video Hosting) are also shown here. The files uploaded will be transcoded as per the configuration set upon creating the TV Playout.
Destination. The Livestream that your TV Playout broadcasts to. A Livestream must be created beforehand.
Schedule options.
Type — choose how content plays:
Schedule: plays your content consecutively, one item after another.
Loop: plays your content on repeat. You must set an end date for the loop. The maximum loop length depends on your plan (see Plan Restrictions); to go beyond it, contact the sales team.
Date — the date and time the TV Playout goes live.
Playlist (Add Source / Add Break). Add content from the Files section into the timetable so the playout can broadcast it:
VOD: all videos uploaded to your TV Playout, plus Live-to-VOD files from the Content Library.
Livestreams: add All-In-One streams to the timetable.
Breaks: insert a scheduled break between items. The break duration is adjustable, with a minimum of 2 minutes.
Setting break duration. To set how long a break lasts, configure the date and time that the next piece of content should start. The break fills the gap up to that start time.
To set the break duration, configure the date and time when the next content should start playing.
In this example, the content after the break needs to start on 19 May at 20:00:00, so the break end time is set to 19 May at 19:59:59.
Set Schedule: Activates your TV Playout so content plays at the scheduled time.
To add VOD content to the timetable, first upload it under the Files tab (create a folder, then upload). Live-to-VOD files appear here automatically and can be added to the playlist.
Note: NNo gaps are allowed between items in the timetable. A Break is not a gap — it is a scheduled element you add deliberately, so using breaks is fully supported.
For preparing the TV Playout for going live, you need to:
Select a date
Set a destination
Add at least one content to the timetable
Click on Set Schedule
If you change your destination or timetable later, click Set Schedule again to apply the changes.
Your TV Playout ends once all content has played, or when the loop's end date is reached.
Important: Do not replace or move content that is currently playing (LIVE) on the TV Playout. If you must change live content, disable the TV Playout first, then make your changes. This applies only to content that is currently LIVE — you can freely replace or move any other content.
To ensure proper playback from TV Playout, follow this guide.
Grab EPG
Once the TV is scheduled and connected to a destination, you will be able to grab the EPG in JSON format from the API. Check here.
Plan Restrictions
FEATURES | STARTER | STANDARD | PREMIUM | ULTRA | EVENTS |
Max file size | 500 MB | 1 GB | 2 GB | 10 GB | 10 GB |
Max files | 5 | 10 | 30 | 30 | 50 |
Duration per file | 30 mins | 60 mins | 60 mins | 240 mins | 240 mins |
Loop mode | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Custom options | 30 FPS, 720p | 30 FPS, 720p | 30 FPS, 720p | 25, 30, 50, 60 FPS; 720/1080p | 25, 30, 50, 60 FPS; 720/1080p |
EPG | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Max loop days | ❌ | ❌ | 15 days | 30 days | 30 days |
Max File Size: Largest individual video file that can be uploaded.
Max Files: Maximum number of videos allowed per TV Playout.
Max Duration per File: Maximum length of each uploaded video.
Loop Mode: Enables continuous playback of videos.
Custom Options: Available frame rate and resolution options.
EPG: Electronic Program Guide support.
Max Loop Days: Maximum number of days a looping schedule can be configured in advance.
Important: On plans that do not support Loop mode (Trial, Starter, and Standard), the output stream has the Castr logo baked in.
We are excited to see you use this feature to create your own channels.