Playlists: Creating and Configuring

The PLAYLISTS content area can be used to group multiple videos into a single viewable program, or playlist, that can be made available to viewers just like a stand alone video. The playlist content area is often used to create a program of short videos, or to add a short video to play along with a feature length video, but there are many creative possibilities here.

If you do not see Playlists under the Content menu (from the left-hand navigation), you can enable them by navigating to SETTINGS > OPTIONAL FEATURES > and scrolling down to 'Playlists'. Once enabled, Playlists will then appear within the Content section.

To start, click the "Create Playlist" button at upper-right and enter the playlist's title in the modal window that appears. Click "Create" to save it. Next, click on the playlist title from the list view to access the sub-menu options for managing and configuring this playlist.

Page Visibility and Playback Status
General: Playlist Contents and Description
Artwork
Additional Assets
Security Settings
Display Options
Live Stream
Subscription Access
Voucher Access

1. Page Visibility and Playback status

When opening up a playlist to its sub-menu options, the right-hand sidebar contains this playlist's visibility and playback setting options, as well as a stats overview. This sidebar remains persistent no matter which sub-menu is being viewed, so that these settings are always available to modify when working on a specific video.

With these settings, you control, separately, if/when the playlist's landing page is visible and if/when the playlist's playback is available. For more information please see this brief video on Visibility and Playback Status.

If you'd like to set multiple playlists' page visibility and/or playback status', please see this brief video on Bulk Actions.

If you'd like to preview your playlist's landing page use the "Preview" button. For information please see this brief video on Previewing.

2. General: Playlist Contents and Description

On the General sub-menu add videos to this playlist's contents, as well as edit its title, description and custom fields. Click the "Add Video" button to add content, choosing one or more videos at a time, and then reorder them easily afterwards by dragging and dropping into the desired order of play.

DRAFT vs. VISIBLE: If the playlist's page visibility is "Visible", changes to the fields (including adding videos to the contents) on this screen will update as drafts, with the number of unpublished draft changes visible in the right-hand sidebar. The details can continue to be edited without it being public until ready to apply the changes. Use the "Preview" button to view the playlist's landing page - with or without the draft changes. For more information on how to do that please see this brief video on Drafting, and this video on Previewing.

3. Artwork

Upload image(s) to represent the playlist online. At minimum a Regular Thumbnail image is needed, the others are all supplementary.

Artwork Specs:

1920 x 1080 pixels (Regular Thumbnail; Featured Thumbnail; Background Image)

600 x 900 pixels (Poster Image)

Files can be .jpg or .png and recommended to be less than 500k file size.

4. Additional Assets

On the Additional Assets sub-menu add pre-roll to the playlist, add a trailer for the landing page, and/or add bonus content videos (ie. a pre-recorded Q & A) for the landing page.

Pre-Roll Insertions: it is possible to have one or more videos play prior to the playlist as pre-roll. Common examples are a pre-recorded introduction; an event trailer; and a sponsor advertisement. Insertions are first uploaded to the INSERTIONS area (left-hand navigation) and then can be added to any playlist (or other asset type) as desired. Select the Default insertion if it is desired to only have a single, default video as pre-roll, or uncheck the "Use Default Preroll Insertion" box to select from a list of available insertions that have been uploaded. Add them here in the play order desired. Once added, to reorder simply drag and drop the insertion titles into the appropriate order. For more information on INSERTIONS.
Trailer: upload a trailer for this playlist's landing page, and it will appear as a button to the right of the play button. After successfully uploading, manage the playback status from the right-hand sidebar. The trailer can also be uploaded by a content provider using the Video Request URL.
Bonus Content: content such as a pre-recorded Q&A, outtakes or other special videos can be uploaded here, and will appear on the playlist's landing page at the lower left side. Manage the playback status from the right-hand sidebar. For more information on Bonus Content.

5. Security Settings

On the Security sub-menu the asset can be additionally protected with geoblocking and/or watermark overlays, if needed.

Geoblocking: To limit access by geographical location, enable geoblocking for the main video by country or by state/province. For the U.S. it can additionally be blocked by zip code. Please note, ISP providers aren't required to provide accurate subscriber location information beyond the country. Most do, but there can be a lag between when they make changes and when they report them, sometimes resulting in misreported subscriber locations. The more granular the geoblocking enabled, the more access issues some patrons may experience. In order to resolve issues such as these, geoblocking can be manually disabled on any individual voucher or subscriber record. If it is preferred to disallow viewing (rather than allow) then click over to the "Block list" option, and then settings will be for which specific countries cannot view the content.
Please note: The playlist geoblock setting overrides anything set on any of the individual video assets' configuration screens, when viewed as part of this playlist.

6. Display Options

On the Display Options sub-menu manage the description and runtime visibility; create Call To Action Links, add an image as the Title Logo, upload a Presented By image, and disable the audience Rating option.

Description and Runtime: Enable to show the playlist's description (entered on the General sub-menu) and the total run time on the playlist's landing page.
Call To Action links: Creates buttons on the playlist's landing page, to the right of the play button, that link to an external URL. Can be used for many creative purposes, for example reviews or additional information about the playlist's topic. Please note: call to action links are not supported with the TVapps.
Title Logo: Replace the playlist's title on the landing page with an image instead.
Presented By image: appears below the play button on the playlist's landing page. Commonly used for sponsor or co-presenter recognition. Recommended specs 280w pixels with no height restrictions. Square or horizontal rectangle looks best. There is a URL field below where the partner's website URL can be added in order to make the presented by image be a link to their website. Only one URL can be used. If there are multiple sponsors we recommend uploading one image that contains all of their names or logos without making use of the URL field, or have the URL field link to a page on your own website where partners are all listed.
Rating option: If ratings are enabled for assets (from WATCH PORTAL > PORTAL SETTINGS) they can be disabled on an asset by asset basis here. Simply disable this setting and the rating option will not appear on this playlist's landing page. If it is enabled, then for a playlist there will be the option to have the ratings for individual videos or for the playlist itself.

7. Live Stream

With Live Stream add a broadcast to accompany the playlist. Audience members can watch and even interact with the live stream, accessing directly from the playlist's landing page. Common examples are live Q & As, post-film panel discussions, or even live performances that are in addition to the playlist. More information on how to setup a live stream can be found here. If the event is ONLY a live stream, with no playlist, you'll want to set that up in the LIVE EVENTS area instead.

8. Subscription Access

If this video should be accessible by one or more subscriptions, those subscriptions can be selected here. In many instances, however, it is easier to do this process in the reverse, instead selecting which assets (including playlists) should be accessible by the subscription from the VIEWERS > SUBSCRIPTIONS screen. You have options, so go with whichever method works best for your workflow.

9. Voucher Access

New vouchers (aka tickets) for this video can be manually generated from this sub-menu, and previously issued vouchers can be viewed and managed. Along with generating random nine digit vouchers, external vouchers can be imported using the upload csv option, or type them in manually.