What's inside this article:
- Basic information
- Schedule live shows
- Tube sources
- Request a new tube
- Custom features
- Tube metadata
- Remove a tube from your website
Basic information
User groups: Editor_2020, Master Editor_2020, Multimedia Upload_2020
About user groups
This article explains what tubes are and how to request a new tube for your website. It also describes the custom features and metadata that are available for tubes.
What is a tube?
A tube is a connection between your website and a source of live video or audio content. On the public site, a tube behaves like a TV channel or a radio station, with different live shows scheduled throughout the day. Visitors can check the schedule for each tube and watch or listen to a live show.
Two tube types are available:
- Video: For streaming live video content.
- Audio: For streaming live audio content.
Each tube is connected to one source. For details, see Tube sources.
To request a new tube, contact Pangea Customer Care. For details, see Request a new tube.
Schedule live shows
Manage the schedule for each tube using the scheduler and template week feature in Pangea CMS. To access this feature, go to Stream > Scheduler & Template week.
If your site has more than one tube, use the Tubes selector to view the schedule for a different tube.
For an introduction to this feature, see the following article:
For information about the settings for individual shows, see the following articles:
- Managing video shows (for video tubes)
- Managing broadcast programs (for audio tubes)
Tube sources
Each tube is connected to one source. The source delivers the live content for the tube. During the time slot for each live show, the current content from the source streams on your site. You set the time slot for each show in scheduler and template week.
NOTE: Different rules apply for tubes with 24/7 streaming. For details, see Stream 24/7.
Shared sources
One source often has multiple connected tubes and delivers content for several services. For example, a source might deliver content for one service from 3PM-4PM and for another service from 4PM-5PM.
For each shared source, all relevant services and departments agree on a timetable. The timetable defines when each service can use the source.
IMPORTANT: Always set the correct start time and end time for your shows in scheduler and template week. If the time slot is not correct, your site might stream content from another service.
Request a new tube
To request a new tube, contact Pangea Customer Care.
Include the following details in your request:
- Tube type: Video or audio.
- Source: The source that you want to connect to the tube. For details, see Tube sources.
- Custom features: The features that you need for the tube. For details, see Custom features.
- Metadata: The name, description, and image (optional) for the tube. For details, see Tube metadata.
Custom features
The following custom features are available for tubes:
- Stream to social media (video tubes only)
- Start streams early (video tubes only)
- Stream 24/7
- Record shows
- Hide a tube
Stream to social media
NOTE: This feature is only available for video tubes.
The multimedia distribution feature lets you send your live video streams to social media automatically. You can stream each show to a maximum of one YouTube account and one Facebook account.
For details, see the following article:
Start streams early
NOTE: This feature is only available for video tubes.
Early start is useful if you use multimedia distribution to stream shows to YouTube. YouTube needs around one minute to process each stream.
- Without early start: YouTube starts to process the stream at the scheduled start time. As a result, the first minute of the show might not appear on YouTube.
- With early start: YouTube starts to process the stream one minute before the scheduled start time. As a result, the show starts on YouTube at the scheduled start time.
Stream 24/7
With 24/7 streaming, the tube streams content all day, every day. The tube streams content even if no shows are scheduled in scheduler and template week.
NOTE: 24/7 streaming is only available if the source for the tube is not connected to any other tubes.
With 24/7 streaming, you do not need to schedule individual shows. However, if you schedule your shows, you can:
- Add a title, description, and image for each show.
- Stream shows to YouTube and Facebook. For details, see Stream to social media.
- Record shows. For details, see Record shows.
Record shows
When recording is enabled for a tube, you can record any video show or broadcast program. To record a show, select Record on the edit page for the show in scheduler and template week. Visitors can watch or listen to the recording after the show ends.
IMPORTANT: Select Record at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time for the show. Otherwise, the recording might not work.
When a tube is hidden, its schedule does not appear on the public site and its shows do not stream publicly. The Pangea Streaming team can hide any tube temporarily and make it visible again when needed. This is useful for special events that only last for a limited time (such as elections).
NOTE: To hide a tube or make it visible again, contact Pangea Customer Care.
Tube metadata
Provide the following metadata for every tube:
- Name (required)
- Description (required)
- Image (optional)
For detailed information, see:
Choose a tube name
Every tube has a unique name. The name appears in the following locations on the public site:
- On the broadcast schedule page
- On the live page, when no live show is streaming
Use human-readable language that clearly describes the purpose of the tube. Do not include internal jargon, technical details, or other information that might confuse website visitors.
Write a tube description
Every tube has a unique description. The description appears on the live page when no live show is streaming.
Use human-readable language that clearly describes the purpose of the tube. Do not include internal jargon, technical details, or other information that might confuse website visitors.
Add a tube image
You can provide an image for any tube. The public site shows the tube image when a show does not have its own image in scheduler and template week.
A tube image is useful in the following cases:
- Your shows do not have unique artwork.
- Someone forgets to add an image for a show.
NOTE: Use a horizontal image with an Aspect ratio describes the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image (such as 16:9 or 3:4). Aspect ratio determines the shape of an image but not its size. Learn more. of 16:9.
Remove a tube from your website
If you stop using a tube to stream live content, remove the tube from your website. Otherwise, visitors see an empty schedule with no shows.
To remove a tube from your website, contact Pangea Customer Care.
NOTE: If you only need to remove a tube for a limited time, you can hide the tube instead. For details, see Hide a tube.
