What's inside this article:
- Basic information
- Build a new widget
- Add the stream source
- Set the widget duration
- Add a fallback widget
- Set the streaming properties
- Configure the widget settings
- Preview the widget
- Set the status and save the widget
- Send a stream to the widget
Basic information
The Live stream widget lets you share a live video / audio stream on the public site. This widget receives input from the Scheduler & Template week tool in Pangea CMS.
You can use a Live stream widget to stream regular Video shows / Broadcast programs that are scheduled in advance. For ad-hoc / unscheduled streaming events, we suggest using the Manual stream widget instead.
Build a new widget
The following pages and segments might include a Live stream widget:
- Section pages (including your homepage)
- Infopages
- Landings
- Regions
- You Might Also Like (YMAL)
To build a new Live stream widget:
- Go to Build in the primary navigation.
- Choose the type of page / segment where you want to display the widget.
- Select the specific page / segment where you want to display the widget.
- Ensure Editor is selected in the left panel.
- Select the empty area where you want to display the widget.
- Select New widget > Live stream to build a new Live stream widget.
The widget builder opens in the same tab.
NOTE: You can also build a new Live stream widget from the Widget library.
The sections below describe each stage of the creation process:
- Add the stream source
- Set the widget duration
- Add a fallback widget
- Set the streaming properties
- Configure the widget settings
- Preview the widget
- Set the status and save the widget
Add the stream source
Each Live stream widget must be connected to one tube. The connected tube is the stream source. If the source is an audio tube, the widget streams audio content. If the source is a video tube, the widget streams video content.
For information about tubes, see the following article:
To add the source for the Live stream widget:
- Go to Content > + Add tube.
- Select the name of the tube you want to add as the source.
The tube appears under Stream source. To replace the source, hover over the panel and select + Replace.
Set the widget duration
Via Content > Widget duration, specify when the Live stream widget will be displayed on the public site. The following options are available:
- Always display widget
- Display widget for live content
- Stream one Video Show / Broadcast Program
- Display widget for defined duration
Always display widget
When Always display widget is selected, the Live stream widget is always displayed on the public site. This applies even if no live content is currently available via the connected tube.
In this case, the widget shows the message that no live content is currently available.
Display widget for live content
When Display widget for live content is selected, the Live stream widget is displayed if live content is currently available via the connected tube. If no live content is available, the selected fallback widget is displayed instead of the Live stream widget.
Stream one Video Show / Broadcast Program
The Stream one Video Show / Broadcast Program option is only available when:
- Display widget for live content is selected under Widget duration.
- The stream source has been added.
When Stream one Video Show / Broadcast Program is ticked, the widget only streams episodes from one particular Video show / Broadcast program. In the drop-down menu, select the Category that is connected to the relevant Video show / Broadcast program.
When Stream one Video Show / Broadcast Program is ticked, you will not be able to save the widget until you select a Category.
Display widget for defined duration
When Display widget for defined duration is selected, the Live stream widget is displayed during the specific time period that you define. At other times, the selected fallback widget is displayed instead of the Live stream widget.
When Display widget for defined duration is selected, the following settings are required:
- From: Set the date and time when the Live stream widget will appear.
- To: Set the date and time when the Live stream widget will disappear.
This option is useful if you will use the widget to stream a special event with a predefined duration (such as the State of the Union Address).
Add a fallback widget
Add a fallback widget via Content > Fallback widget. You can choose from widgets that are currently saved in the Widget library.
The selected fallback widget might be displayed on the public site instead of the Live stream widget. This works differently, depending which option is selected under Widget duration:
- Always display widget: The Live stream widget is always displayed, so it is not necessary to select a fallback widget.
- Display widget for live content: The fallback widget is displayed if no live content is currently available via the connected tube.
- Display widget for defined duration: The fallback widget is displayed outside of the defined time period.
Set streaming properties
Via Content > Streaming properties, set the streaming properties for the Live stream widget.
The following options are available:
Display Player title
When Display Player title is ticked, a player title and Live badge are displayed below the player.
The player title is defined as follows:
- If a custom title is provided under Player title, the custom title is always used as the player title.
- If no custom title is provided under Player title, the following text might be used as the player title:
- The name of the current Video show / Broadcast program
- The Tube name for the connected tube (while no live content is currently streaming)
Player image
Under Player image, optionally select Add image to add a player image. If you do not select a custom player image, the default image for the connected tube is used as the player image.
The player image is displayed differently, depending on the type of content:
Video content
The player image is displayed in the player before the video is played. This applies only if Autoplay with no sound is not ticked.
Audio content
The player image might be displayed in the audio player. This applies only when your site is viewed on desktop and the Live stream widget occupies more than half of the page width.
Autoplay with no sound
NOTE: This option is only relevant for video tubes.
When Autoplay with no sound is ticked, the video stream will start playing automatically with no sound as soon as a visitor lands on the page. When this option is not ticked, visitors will need to manually hit the play button to start watching the stream.
If this option is not ticked, The Player image is displayed in the player before the video is played.
Display sharing options
When Display sharing options is ticked, the following items might available on the player:
- (A): Embed button: Lets visitors retrieve the embed code for the widget.
- (B): Share button: Lets visitors share a link to the live stream.
Configure the widget settings
Via Settings, the following options are available:
Add a header / footer
A Live stream widget might include one or both of the following elements:
- (A): Header: Displayed above the widget. The header might be text-only, or it might function as a link to another page. If preferred, you can use an image as the header.
- (B): Footer: Displayed below the widget. The footer always functions as a link to another page.
Via Settings, optionally add a header and / or a footer.
The steps for adding the header / footer are the same for every widget type in Pangea CMS. For detailed information, see the following article:
Add a custom widget name
Via Settings > Widget name, optionally customize the default widget name.
The Widget name is visible only in Pangea CMS (not on the public site). We suggest providing a descriptive name if your site uses the Widget list tool in CMS to manage widgets.
Preview the widget
In the Preview section, check how the Live stream widget will look when it is displayed on the public site. Select Desktop, Tablet, or Mobile to preview the widget on devices with different screen sizes.
The preview for a Live stream widget shows just the basic layout for the player with no live content.
Set the status and save the widget
Before saving the Live stream widget, select your preferred status using the drop-down menu in the top-right corner:
- Enabled: After you save the widget, it will be immediately displayed on the public site (if it is included on a published page).
- Disabled: After you save the widget, it will not be displayed on the public site. However, it will be available for further editing in CMS.
Select Save or Save & close to save the widget.
Send a stream to the widget
The Live stream widget will stream live video / audio content that has been scheduled via the Scheduler & Template week tool in Pangea CMS.
You can check or update the schedule for the connected tube. Follow these steps:
- Go to Stream > Scheduler & Template week.
- Select the tube you want to manage under Tubes.
For information on how to manage the schedule, see the following articles:
- Manage Video shows (video tubes)
- Manage Broadcast programs (audio tubes)
