VideoPlaylistScheduler plugin
The VideoPlaylistScheduler plugin enables video broadcasting platforms to schedule and manage playlists as live shows. With a calendar-based interface, user group permissions, and time zone adaptation, it delivers a seamless and user-friendly experience for both administrators and regular users.
- Displays scheduled shows with a clear and intuitive layout.
- Automatically adjusts to the viewer’s time zone.
- Each "show" is linked to a playlist, with individual videos treated as episodes.
- The sequence of episodes is determined by the playlist order. Episodes are played in the exact order they appear in the playlist.
- Episodes must fit within standard calendar time slots (30 minutes, 1 hour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours, etc.) for efficient scheduling.
- Playlists with episodes of consistent length are recommended to ensure seamless looping and prevent overlap when repeating schedules.
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Playback Modes:
- Play One Episode Per Timeslot: Only a single episode from the playlist will be broadcast during the selected timeslot.
- Play Sequentially to Fill Timeslot: Episodes from the playlist will play in sequence and loop until the timeslot ends.
- Administrators can schedule any playlist and manage all time slots.
- Scheduling is done in 30-minute increments, and slots can be extended across multiple durations.
- Users in specific user groups can also schedule their playlists.
- Regular users can only schedule the playlists they created.
- HTML-enabled notes can be added to time slots for additional context.
- Notes can include text styles, colors, or other customizations.
- Episodes in a playlist are broadcasted one at a time in the order defined by the playlist.
- Episodes are available as Video on Demand (VOD) after the live stream ends.
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Playlists are not continuous streams unless configured: Each video (episode) in the playlist must be scheduled individually, unless the sequential playback mode is enabled.
- For example, to play 10 episodes using the default mode, you must schedule 10 separate time slots, specifying when each episode will play.
- With the Play Sequentially to Fill Timeslot mode, the playlist will play episodes in sequence and loop automatically until the timeslot ends.
- Episodes are played in the exact order they are arranged in the playlist.
- Playlists with consistent episode lengths (e.g., all 30 minutes or all 1 hour) work best:
- This ensures that episodes align perfectly with the calendar's time slots.
- When playlists loop, consistent durations prevent overlaps or gaps in scheduling.
- If a playlist spans multiple sessions (e.g., across different days), the next unscheduled episode will start in the following time slot.
- Scheduling is based on fixed calendar increments:
- Available durations include 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours, etc.
- Episodes should match one of these durations for smooth scheduling.
- If using sequential playback, the episodes will loop to fill the entire selected time slot.
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Single Show Rule:
- If a live stream from the same show starts while another instance is already running, the current live stream will be dropped, and the new one will begin.
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Parallel Live Streams:
- To run multiple live streams simultaneously, they must belong to different shows.
- Go to the user group settings and create a new group.
- When creating or editing a user group, check the box labeled "Can use Calendar."
- Add users to the group. Any user in this group can schedule playlists they created.
- Regular users can access the calendar on the Organize Programs page. If they have the necessary permissions, they will see a button labeled "Schedule to play live."
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Open Plugins Manager:
- Navigate to the plugins manager page.
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Open the Calendar:
- Click the Calendar button in the VideoPlaylistScheduler plugin to access the scheduling interface.
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Open Plugin Parameters:
- In the plugins manager, locate VideoPlaylistScheduler and click Edit Parameters.
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Set Status Options:
- In the dropdown labeled "After the video play in a show change its status," select one of the following:
- Do Not Change: The video’s status remains the same after playback.
- Active: The video stays visible and accessible.
- Unlisted: The video is hidden from public listings but accessible via direct link.
- Unlisted but Searchable: Hidden from listings but still searchable.
- FansOnly: Access limited to fans only.
- Inactive: The video becomes unavailable after playback.
- In the dropdown labeled "After the video play in a show change its status," select one of the following:
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Additional Options:
- Play Calendar Live: Enable or disable live calendar playback.
- Rebroadcast to Specific User ID: Enter a User ID to rebroadcast calendar events to a specific profile.
- In the calendar, choose one or more time slots for your show.
- In the Playlist Show tab (right panel), search for your playlist, add a title, and select a color to categorize your show.
- Select the Playback Mode:
- Play One Episode Per Timeslot: A single episode will be played during the scheduled time slot.
- Play Sequentially to Fill Timeslot: Episodes will play in sequence and loop until the time slot ends.
- Click Save to confirm the show and time slots.
- Schedule shows to span multiple days. For example, a playlist scheduled for Monday at 3 PM and Wednesday at 5 PM will resume with the next unscheduled video in the sequence during each session.
- Playlists set for different days and times will always play videos in the order defined by the playlist.
- Manages stream rebroadcasts.
- Rebroadcaster Plugin Wiki
- Provides core scheduling features.
- Scheduler Plugin Wiki
- Manages playlists, essential for scheduling.
- Manages live streaming and ensures smooth broadcasts.
The VideoPlaylistScheduler plugin now supports advanced playback modes, allowing for more flexible scheduling:
- Use the Play One Episode Per Timeslot mode for precise control.
- Choose the Play Sequentially to Fill Timeslot mode to loop episodes and fill the scheduled time automatically.