Set Up a Live Channel

Setup

Add audio/video content to a live channel through the following methods:

Live Slicer: Verify that the slicer ID defined in the desired live channel is a case-sensitive match to the one defined in the Live Slicer configuration file (/etc/uplynk.conf). This allows the Live Slicer's output to be automatically added to the live channel's timeline.
API: Add pre-encoded content and/or live content from multiple Live Slicers to a live channel through the Channel API.

Key Information

Stream a feed by pointing a media player to the live channel's playback URL. You can also embed a media player within a web page using a live channel's HTML code.
Test playback using the restriction-free media player associated with a live channel.
Secure a live linear feed by setting up whitelisted domains, a digital signature, and/or blackout within your live channel configuration.
Slate plays in a loop when a live channel's timeline is missing content or during blackouts. Define the type of slate within your live channel's configuration.
By default, a live channel trails the live horizon by ~60 seconds. See Playback Latency for reduced-latency options.
Set up Live Slicer failover to ensure uninterrupted playback of your live stream. Learn more.

Select Save to apply your changes to your live channel's configuration.

Create a Live Channel

Navigate to the Live Channels page via Channels from the main menu.
Select + Channel.
In the Channel Name option, enter the name by which this live channel will be identified.
In the Slicer ID (Optional) option, enter the unique alphanumeric ID by which the Live Slicer will identify this live channel.
Optional: Set channel options:
- Check the Enabling Scheduling option to use the advanced scheduling interface and the latest channel APIs.
- Tick the Edit after creation box to open the record after submitting.
Select Create.

Change the Default Playback Latency

From the Details tab of the Live Channels record, select the Playback Latency option from the dropdown:

Default: ~60 seconds
Low: Low 20s, 5+ second buffering, Missing Content Slate (MCS) is possible
Lower: Upper teens, 2+ seconds buffering, MCS is possible
Lowest: As low as 15 seconds, minimal buffering, no MCS

Use two-second slices. Slates must be encoded to 2 seconds. Contact Support if you do not see the Playback Latency feature.

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Time Shifting considerations
Playback Latency options can be used together with Time Shifting; this is not a system-enforced restriction. However, the two features have opposing playback goals - low latency keeps the player near the live edge, while Time Shifting lets viewers seek back into history. When a viewer seeks backward, the low-latency benefit no longer applies.

Delete a Live Channel

Navigate to the Live Channels page via Channels from the main menu.
Tick the box on the live channel's tile, then select Delete Channel at the bottom of the pane.
When prompted to confirm, select Delete.

Assign a Failover Group to a Live Channel

A prerequisite for this procedure is a failover group. Learn more .

Navigate to the Slicers page via Slicers from the main menu.
If you are reassigning a live channel to a different failover group, remove the live channel from its current failover group first:
- Select the desired failover group.
- From the Channels using Group section, mark the desired live channel.
- Select Remove.
- Select Save.
Select the failover group that will be assigned to the live channel.
Select Add Channel Mapping.
From the Channels option, select the desired live channel and then select the red Add arrow.
Select Update Channel Mapping(s). The selected live channel will now be listed within the Channels using Group section.
Select Save.