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Introducing TV Playout - What is it & How to create one?

Run a continuous playlist for 24 hours with scheduled content

Khandoker Zishan avatar
Written by Khandoker Zishan
Updated over 10 months ago

In This Article:

  1. What Is TV Playout?

  2. How To Create A TV Playout

  3. Plan Restrictions

What Is TV Playout?

Castr's TV Playout allows you to upload and schedule your content for continuous 24-hours broadcast.

You can create daily playlists and schedule the content in advance, simply by adding the media assets into the timetable. Both pre-recorded video files and live content can be added to the playlist.

This feature is especially useful for TV channels and OTT Apps that require continuous, 24x7 broadcasting in accordance with a content calendar.

How To Create A TV Playout

In Easily create your own TV Channel using the 'TV Playout' feature. Add contents from your account and schedule them to be played one after another at the scheduled time.

Create a Playout from here:

The various sections of the TV Playout are described below:

  1. Schedule

    1. Type:

      1. Schedule: This will allow to set contents consecutively

      2. Loop: This will allow to contents to be played in loop. An end date needs to be selected for which the loop will continue on for. Maximum 15 days of loop can be set, but if you want more, contact sales team.

    2. Date: The date when the TV Playout will go live.

  2. Destination: An All-In-One stream will be used as a destination for the TV Playout, so an All-In-One stream must be created beforehand to stream the TV Playout.

  3. Advanced Settings: You can configure the resolution and FPS of the outgoing stream.

  4. Content Section:

    1. VOD: All uploaded videos from your Video Hosting will be shown here.

    2. Livestreams: You will be able to add All-In-One streams to the timetable.

    3. Breaks: This will allow you to set breaks between contents and duration of the breaks can be altered. Minimum break duration is 2 minutes.

  5. Content Lists: All the contents added will be shown here.

  6. Set Schedule: This will activate your TV Playout, and the content will be played at the scheduled time.

  7. Retain Contents: Toggling it on, will allow the contents to be in place once the stream ends. If you want the timetable to be cleared once stream ends, toggle it off. This is available for Loop mode only.

To add VOD content to the timetable, you need to click on the plus icon.

To add Livestream contents, open the the Livestream tab.

Please note: No gaps can exist between the contents.

For preparing the TV Playout for going live, you need to:

  1. Select a date

  2. Set a destination

  3. Add at least one content to the timetable

  4. Click on Set Schedule

If you make any changes to your destination or timetable, ensure that you click on Set Schedule again to enforce the changes that you have made.

The TV Playout will end once all the contents are played or if the end date of the loop is reached.

Important: Please refrain from replacing or moving content that is currently being played on the TV Playout. If it becomes absolutely necessary to replace or move such content, kindly disable the TV Playout first and then proceed with the changes. This policy applies exclusively to content that is currently LIVE. For all other content, you are free to replace or move them as desired.

To ensure proper playback from TV Playout, follow this guide.

Plan Restrictions

Plan Name

Loop Mode (Maximum video duration)

Schedule Mode

Maximum Loop days

Advanced Settings

Trial

1 hours

0

Starter

4 hours

2

Standard

6 hours

4

Professional

10 hours

✅

7

Premium

15 hours

✅

15

Ultra

24 hours

✅

30

✅

We are allowing all All-in-One plans to have one TV Playout option.

Important: Plans which does not allow Schedule mode, the output stream will show Castr logo baked on the stream.

We are excited to see you use this feature to create your own channels.

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