# playout.video

> 24/7 cloud live streaming, scheduling, and composition. Run kids channels, lo-fi radios, podcast networks, and product channels without OBS hardware.

Interactive live streaming: live quizzes and polls viewers play on their phones (QR code, no app) or in YouTube, Twitch and Facebook chat, with an optional AI host voice, run from the browser Live Studio.

Site: https://playout.video
Last updated: 2026-10-22T14:07:27.834Z

## Product

- [Interactive live streaming](https://playout.video/interactive-live-streaming): live quizzes and polls your viewers play from their phones or the chat, with an AI host

## Blog

- [10 Creative Ways to Use 24/7 Live Streaming for Your Business](https://playout.video/blog/10-creative-ways-to-use-24-7-live-streaming-for-your-business): Discover 10 creative ways businesses can use 24/7 live streaming to boost brand visibility, engage customers, train employees, and generate leads around the clock.
- [12 Show Formats You Can Run on Live Studio Today](https://playout.video/blog/12-show-formats-you-can-run-on-live-studio): Twelve specific live show formats that work on Live Studio: interviews, panels, classes, tournaments, watch parties, sermons, and more. Ideas, structure, and pointers to deeper guides.
- [24/7 Church Streaming: Reach Your Congregation Around the Clock](https://playout.video/blog/24-7-church-streaming-reach-your-congregation): Learn how churches and faith organizations can use 24/7 live streaming to share sermons, worship music, and inspirational content with their congregation and beyond.
- [36 Live Poll Ideas for Streamers, Grouped by Show Type](https://playout.video/blog/live-poll-ideas-for-streamers): Thirty-six poll questions you can run on your next live stream, for gaming, talk, music, church, education and brand shows, plus tips on writing options and timing the vote.
- [4K vs 1080p: What Your Viewers Actually See](https://playout.video/blog/4k-vs-1080p-what-your-viewers-actually-see): The honest answer to whether 4K live streaming is worth it. What your viewers actually receive, what they actually see, and when 4K earns its bandwidth cost.
- [7 Layouts Every Live Streamer Should Know (and When to Use Each)](https://playout.video/blog/7-layouts-every-live-streamer-should-know): The seven layouts that cover 95% of live streaming situations, from solo monologues to four-guest panels, with examples of when each one earns its place on screen.
- [A 24/7 Twitch Gaming Channel That Viewers Can Actually Find](https://playout.video/blog/24-7-twitch-gaming-channel-that-viewers-can-find): Why a 24/7 Twitch channel that plays many games needs its category to follow the video on air, and how to set one up that runs itself while your PC is off.
- [AI Host for Live Game Shows: What to Hand Over and What to Keep](https://playout.video/blog/ai-host-for-live-game-shows): An AI host can read questions, keep time and announce winners during a live quiz or poll. Here is what to give it, what to keep for yourself, and how to tell viewers.
- [Best Practices for Overlay Design on Live Streams](https://playout.video/blog/best-practices-for-overlay-design-on-live-streams): Learn how to design professional, eye-catching overlays for your live stream. Tips on logos, text, audio visualizers, color schemes, and layout that keep viewers engaged.
- [Build Your Schedule Free, Hit Run When You're Ready](https://playout.video/blog/build-your-schedule-free-run-it-on-channel): On playout.video, calendar building is free on every plan and only running the automation is paid. Here is how to use that to design, rehearse, and validate a whole programmed channel before spending anything.
- [Create a Lo-Fi Music Live Stream in 5 Minutes](https://playout.video/blog/create-a-lo-fi-music-live-stream-in-5-minutes): Set up a professional lo-fi music live stream with an audio visualizer, now-playing display, and looping playlist. No hardware, no OBS, just vibes.
- [Gaming Co-Streams Without OBS: Live Studio for Streamers](https://playout.video/blog/gaming-co-streams-without-obs): How gaming streamers can run co-streams, watch parties, and esports panels without OBS: using Live Studio for browser-based multi-streamer broadcasts that look broadcast-grade.
- [How 24/7 Streaming Boosts Your YouTube Watch Hours and Revenue](https://playout.video/blog/how-24-7-streaming-boosts-youtube-watch-hours-and-revenue): Discover how 24/7 live streaming can dramatically increase your YouTube watch hours, accelerate monetization, and generate passive revenue around the clock.
- [How Churches Can Stream Sermons With Multiple Speakers](https://playout.video/blog/how-churches-can-stream-sermons-with-multiple-speakers): A practical guide for church AV teams streaming sermons, worship sets, and prayer services with multiple speakers, remote guests, and a 24/7 worship channel: all from a browser.
- [How to Build a 24/7 Lo-Fi Stream That Never Drops Out](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-build-a-24-7-lo-fi-stream): A complete playbook for building a 24/7 lo-fi music stream: content sourcing, programming, branding, and the reliability setup that keeps it running for years without dropping out.
- [How to Build a Consistent Brand Across Hundreds of Videos](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-build-a-consistent-brand-across-hundreds-of-videos): Brand consistency across a large video library is the difference between a hobby channel and a media company. Here's how to design and operate a system that scales: without rebuilding every video.
- [How to Grow a YouTube Channel With Live Studio Interviews](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-grow-a-youtube-channel-with-interviews): Live interview shows are one of the highest-use formats for growing a YouTube channel from zero. Here's the playbook: guest selection, format, distribution, and the multiplier effect that compounds over a year.
- [How to Grow Your YouTube Channel with 24/7 Streaming](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-grow-your-youtube-channel-with-24-7-streaming): A guide to using 24/7 live streaming as a growth engine for your YouTube channel. Strategies for watch hours, subscribers, SEO, and monetization.
- [How to Host a Live Quiz on YouTube Where Viewers Play on Their Phones](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-host-a-live-quiz-on-youtube): Run a live quiz on YouTube from start to finish: questions that work live, timing around stream delay, a 30-minute run of show, and viewers playing by phone or chat.
- [How to Repurpose Your Live Show into TikTok and YouTube Shorts](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-repurpose-your-live-show-into-shorts): Every live show is a goldmine of short-form content. Here's the system for turning a 60-minute broadcast into 8 vertical clips that grow your audience while you sleep.
- [How to Run a 24/7 Kids Channel on YouTube](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-run-a-24-7-kids-channel-on-youtube): A complete guide to creating and running a 24/7 kids channel on YouTube. Learn how to curate safe content, build playlists, add kid-friendly overlays, and grow your channel.
- [How to Run a 24/7 Movie Marathon Channel](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-run-a-24-7-movie-marathon-channel): A practical guide to running a 24/7 movie marathon channel: content sourcing, programming for time zones, themed nights, and the licensing rules you absolutely cannot ignore.
- [How to Run a 24/7 News Desk With Live Cut-Ins](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-run-a-24-7-news-desk-with-live-cut-ins): How small news organizations and independent journalists run a 24/7 news channel: rolling clip loop as the base, live anchor desk cut-ins for breaking stories, and the production setup behind it.
- [How to Run a Kahoot-Style Quiz on a Live Stream](https://playout.video/blog/kahoot-style-quiz-on-a-live-stream): Kahoot works well in a room. Here is how to run the same kind of fast quiz, with points for speed and a leaderboard, for an audience watching on YouTube, Twitch or Facebook.
- [How to Run a Live Poll on YouTube (and on Every Platform at Once)](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-run-a-live-poll-on-youtube): Two ways to poll a YouTube live audience: YouTube's own live chat poll, and an on-screen poll that viewers answer by phone or in chat on every platform you stream to.
- [How to Run a Live Sports Watch Party With Multiple Hosts](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-run-a-live-sports-watch-party): Running a multi-host sports watch party: fan reactions, pre-game and post-game panels, live commentary, and the legal nuances of streaming around copyrighted broadcasts.
- [How to Run a Weekly Interview Show: A Live Studio Playbook](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-run-a-weekly-interview-show): A repeatable playbook for running a weekly interview show. Format, prep, run-of-show, layout switches, and post-show: everything you need to make episode 50 as smooth as episode 1.
- [How to Run Several Brands or Client Channels From One Account](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-run-several-brands-or-client-channels-from-one-account): A practical playbook for agencies and multi-brand creators: structure each brand as its own workspace with its own plan, team, and invoice, and run all of them from one login.
- [How to Stream a Class on Twitch and YouTube at Once](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-stream-a-class-on-twitch-and-youtube): A practical guide for educators streaming a class to Twitch and YouTube simultaneously: student remote attendance, screen sharing, recording for replay, and the operating tips that keep classes engaging.
- [How to Stream a Podcast With Multiple Guests: No Software Required](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-stream-a-podcast-with-multiple-guests): Run a live video podcast with multiple guests, broadcast it to YouTube, Twitch, and LinkedIn at once, and record the master file: all from your browser.
- [How to Stream to YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok Simultaneously](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-stream-to-youtube-twitch-and-tiktok-simultaneously): A step-by-step guide to multistreaming your content to YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok at the same time using playout.video. Reach 3x the audience with zero extra effort.
- [How to Use Virtual Backgrounds for a Pro On-Camera Look](https://playout.video/blog/how-to-use-virtual-backgrounds-for-a-pro-look): Virtual backgrounds done right look like real broadcast sets. Done badly, they look like Zoom calls. Here's the gap, and how to cross it for live streams that look professional.
- [Live Studio vs OBS, StreamYard, and Restream: How They Compare](https://playout.video/blog/live-studio-vs-obs-streamyard-restream): An honest comparison of Live Studio against the popular streaming tools: OBS, StreamYard, and Restream. Which one's right for your show, your guests, and your goals?
- [OBS vs Cloud Streaming: Why You Don't Need Hardware Anymore](https://playout.video/blog/obs-vs-cloud-streaming-why-you-dont-need-hardware): Compare OBS Studio with cloud-based streaming platforms like playout.video. Discover why cloud streaming eliminates the need for dedicated hardware, constant monitoring, and technical headaches.
- [Own Your Audience: Why Embedding Your Stream Beats Platform-Only](https://playout.video/blog/own-your-audience-embed-your-stream): Platforms rent you an audience; your website is the only place you own one. Why serious channels embed their live stream on their own site, and how to do it without giving up platform reach.
- [Phone Answers vs Chat Answers for Play-Along Live Streams](https://playout.video/blog/phone-answers-vs-chat-answers): Viewers can answer a live quiz or poll in chat or on a second screen. Here are the honest trade-offs of each, and why running both usually works best.
- [The Complete Guide to Multistreaming in 2026](https://playout.video/blog/the-complete-guide-to-multistreaming-in-2026): Everything you need to know about multistreaming in 2026. Compare platforms, understand the technology, and learn how to broadcast to multiple platforms simultaneously.
- [The State of Live Streaming in 2026: Trends, Tools, and What's Next](https://playout.video/blog/the-state-of-live-streaming-in-2026): An honest look at where live streaming is in 2026: the platforms winning, the formats compounding, the production stack consolidating, and what creators should bet on for the next two years.
- [The Ultimate Multistreaming Guide for 2026](https://playout.video/blog/the-ultimate-multistreaming-guide-for-2026): How to stream to YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Kick, Facebook, LinkedIn, and any custom RTMP target: at the same time. Strategy, setup, and the discipline that keeps multi-platform broadcasts coherent.
- [TV-Style Programming on YouTube: Why and How](https://playout.video/blog/tv-style-programming-on-youtube): YouTube channels that program their content like a TV network (different shows at different times, recurring weekly schedules) outperform random uploaders. Here's why, and how to build one.
- [Twitch Trivia: Run a Trivia Game Where Viewers Play on Their Phones](https://playout.video/blog/twitch-trivia-viewers-play-on-their-phones): Run trivia on a Twitch stream that is fair to every viewer: answers from Twitch chat or a phone, a leaderboard on screen, and no bot or extension to set up.
- [Website Live Streaming for Churches, News Desks, and Events](https://playout.video/blog/website-live-streaming-for-churches-news-desks-and-events): Three complete setups for putting a live channel on your own website: a church watch-live page, a 24/7 news desk with cut-ins, and an event site with a domain-locked player.
- [What Is 24/7 Live Streaming and Why You Should Start Today](https://playout.video/blog/what-is-24-7-live-streaming-and-why-you-should-start-today): Discover what 24/7 live streaming is, how it works, and why creators, businesses, and organizations are using it to grow their audience, boost watch hours, and reach viewers around the globe.
- [What Is an Interactive Live Stream? Forms, Formats and How to Run One](https://playout.video/blog/what-is-an-interactive-live-stream): An interactive live stream lets viewers change what happens on screen while it is live. The forms it takes, how stream delay gets in the way, and how to run one.
- [Why We Killed the Trial and Launched a Free Plan](https://playout.video/blog/why-we-killed-the-trial-and-launched-a-free-plan): We replaced the 7-day trial with a permanent Free plan and rebuilt our tiers around how people actually use a streaming channel. Here is the thinking, including the parts that were uncomfortable.
- [Why Your 24/7 Stream Stays Live: A Look Behind the Scenes](https://playout.video/blog/why-your-24-7-stream-stays-live): What it takes to run a stream that doesn't drop, doesn't freeze, and doesn't go offline at 3am when no one's watching. The reliability principles that keep playout.video Live Channels running.

## Help Center

- [Adding a Logo and Lower Thirds to Your Live Studio Show](https://playout.video/help-center/overlays-and-editor/adding-a-logo-and-lower-thirds): How to brand your Live Studio show with a logo, watermark, lower-third name graphics, and consistent fonts using the Composition Editor.
- [Adding a Now Playing Overlay to Your Live Channel](https://playout.video/help-center/overlays-and-editor/adding-a-now-playing-overlay): Step-by-step guide to adding a Now Playing overlay that shows the current track or video title on your stream: automatically, in real time.
- [Auto-Recovery and Stream Reliability](https://playout.video/help-center/scheduling-and-automation/auto-recovery-and-stream-reliability): Learn how playout.video automatically detects and recovers from stream interruptions, keeping your 24/7 live stream running without manual intervention.
- [Auto-Starting Your Stream From a Calendar Window](https://playout.video/help-center/scheduling-and-automation/auto-starting-your-stream-from-a-calendar-window): How to set up auto-start and auto-stop so your stream runs only during scheduled windows: no manual go-live, no idle resources, no missed shows.
- [Building a Custom Layout Step-by-Step](https://playout.video/help-center/overlays-and-editor/building-a-custom-layout-step-by-step): A hands-on walkthrough for building, saving, and reusing your own Live Studio layout. Place sources anywhere, layer them, and bake your show's visual identity into the canvas.
- [Building and Managing Playlists](https://playout.video/help-center/playlists-and-playback/building-and-managing-playlists): Build smart playlists for your 24/7 live stream. Learn how to add videos, reorder content, enable loop and shuffle modes, use inline mode for temporary switching, add jingles, and switch playlists without interruption.
- [Change Your Twitch Title and Category With Each Video](https://playout.video/help-center/destinations-and-platforms/twitch-title-and-category-per-video): Let a 24/7 Twitch stream switch its title, category and tags every time a new video starts, without restarting the stream or touching Twitch yourself.
- [Choosing Stream Quality: When to Use 1080p, 4K, or 8K](https://playout.video/help-center/getting-started/choosing-stream-quality-1080p-4k-8k): A practical guide to picking the right resolution and frame rate for your stream: what each option costs in bandwidth, what viewers actually see, and when higher quality is worth it.
- [Connecting Streaming Platforms](https://playout.video/help-center/destinations-and-platforms/connecting-streaming-platforms): Connect YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and other platforms to playout.video. Stream to one or multiple destinations simultaneously.
- [Creating and Managing Overlay Templates](https://playout.video/help-center/overlays-and-editor/creating-and-managing-overlay-templates): How to build, save, apply, and update Overlay Templates so every show, playlist, and calendar block on your stream has the right branding without manual setup.
- [Custom RTMP Destinations](https://playout.video/help-center/destinations-and-platforms/custom-rtmp-destinations): Stream to any platform that supports RTMP using custom RTMP destinations. Set up Rumble, Kick, Telegram, Steam, and any other RTMP-compatible service.
- [How to Contact Support and What to Expect](https://playout.video/help-center/getting-started/how-to-contact-support-and-what-to-expect): Where to reach the playout.video team, what to include, how fast each plan gets an answer, and how to follow a request after you send it.
- [How to Create Your First 24/7 Live Stream](https://playout.video/help-center/getting-started/how-to-create-your-first-24-7-live-stream): Learn how to set up and launch your first 24/7 live stream on YouTube, Twitch, or any platform in under 5 minutes, with no hardware or software required.
- [How to Delete Your Account](https://playout.video/help-center/account-and-billing/how-to-delete-your-account): Delete your playout.video account yourself from Account settings: where the button is, how the confirmation works for password and Google sign-ins, and exactly what is removed.
- [How to Embed Your Live Stream on Any Website (Step by Step)](https://playout.video/help-center/destinations-and-platforms/how-to-embed-your-live-stream-on-any-website): A step-by-step guide to embedding your playout.video live channel on your own website: creating the embed, choosing access mode, DVR and quality settings, and troubleshooting playback.
- [How to Remove the playout.video Watermark](https://playout.video/help-center/account-and-billing/how-to-remove-the-watermark): Why the playout.video watermark appears on your stream, exactly which plans include unbranded output, and the steps to remove the watermark from your live channel.
- [How to Run Your First Live Show With Guests](https://playout.video/help-center/getting-started/run-your-first-live-show-with-guests): Step-by-step guide to running a live show with guests in Live Studio: invite people from anywhere, switch between layouts, and broadcast to YouTube, Twitch, and more.
- [How to Schedule Your 24/7 Stream With the Calendar](https://playout.video/help-center/scheduling-and-automation/how-to-schedule-your-24-7-stream-with-the-calendar): A step-by-step guide to building a weekly calendar of programming for your 24/7 stream. Add videos, playlists, and compositions to time slots and let it run automatically.
- [How Viewers Play Along on Their Phones or in Chat](https://playout.video/help-center/interactive-games/how-viewers-join-and-play): Viewers join your quiz or poll by scanning a QR code, with no app or account, or by typing in chat on YouTube, Twitch and Facebook. Here is what they see.
- [Importing Videos from Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and More](https://playout.video/help-center/media-and-content/importing-videos-from-social-media): Import your videos from Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Vimeo, Twitch and other platforms into playout.video with a single link, ready for 24/7 streaming.
- [Inline Playlist Switching](https://playout.video/help-center/playlists-and-playback/inline-playlist-switching): Switch playlists on your live stream without any interruption. Learn how inline mode lets you temporarily play different content and automatically return to your main playlist.
- [Interactive Streams and Player Limits by Plan](https://playout.video/help-center/interactive-games/interactive-streams-and-player-limits): How many streams with games you can run each month, how many players can join one game, and how much AI voice each plan includes.
- [Inviting and Managing Guests in Live Studio](https://playout.video/help-center/getting-started/inviting-and-managing-guests): Everything you need to know about inviting guests to your Live Studio show: sending invite links, reserving slots with placeholders, muting and removing guests, and pre-show prep.
- [Live Studio Layouts Explained: Spotlight, Showtime, Pip and More](https://playout.video/help-center/overlays-and-editor/live-studio-layouts-explained): A walkthrough of every Live Studio layout: Spotlight, Showtime, Half Screen, Pip, Thumbnails, Grid, Cover, Contain, and Custom, with examples of when to use each.
- [Managing Your Team and Permissions](https://playout.video/help-center/account-and-billing/managing-your-team-and-permissions): Invite team members to your playout.video organization, assign roles, and manage permissions. Collaborate on streams, playlists, and media with your team.
- [Meet the AI Assistant: Ask, Diagnose, Act](https://playout.video/help-center/getting-started/ai-assistant): What the playout.video AI assistant can answer and do, how approvals keep you in control, what a message is, and the monthly allowance on each plan.
- [Mint Your Own Playback Tokens with Signing Keys](https://playout.video/help-center/destinations-and-platforms/mint-your-own-playback-tokens-with-signing-keys): For bring-your-own-player setups: create a signing key in the dashboard and mint playback tokens on your own backend, with no per-viewer API call. Token format, code example, limits, and revocation.
- [Multistreaming to Multiple Platforms at Once](https://playout.video/help-center/destinations-and-platforms/multistreaming-to-multiple-platforms-at-once): Stream to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, TikTok, and more simultaneously from a single live stream. Learn how to set up and manage multistreaming on playout.video.
- [Pausing and Resuming Recording While Live](https://playout.video/help-center/getting-started/pausing-and-resuming-recording-while-live): How to pause and resume the recording during a live show: for off-record moments, breaks, and clean recordings without stopping the broadcast.
- [Picking the Right Aspect Ratio for Each Platform](https://playout.video/help-center/getting-started/picking-the-right-aspect-ratio-for-each-platform): A quick reference for which aspect ratio (16:9, 9:16, 1:1) works best on which streaming platform, and what happens when you mismatch.
- [Recording Your Live Sessions: Which Plans Include It and How It Works](https://playout.video/help-center/media-and-content/recording-your-live-sessions): How stream recording works on playout.video: saving live sessions to your media library, pausing mid-show, record-only mode, and which plans include recording.
- [Recurring Schedules: Set It Once, Run It Forever](https://playout.video/help-center/scheduling-and-automation/recurring-schedules-set-once-run-forever): How to use daily, weekly, and monthly recurrence on the Calendar so your weekly schedule runs itself: forever, or until you tell it to stop.
- [Removing a Green Screen Background: Step-by-Step](https://playout.video/help-center/overlays-and-editor/removing-a-green-screen-background): A complete guide to keying out a green screen background in the Composition Editor: from setting up your shot to fine-tuning sensitivity and edge cleanup.
- [Run a Live Poll on Your Stream](https://playout.video/help-center/interactive-games/run-a-live-poll): Ask your audience one question with up to six options. Viewers vote on their phones or in chat, and the results show live on a Poll board.
- [Run Your First Live Quiz on Stream](https://playout.video/help-center/interactive-games/run-your-first-live-quiz): Set up a quiz in the Live Studio, put it on a Trivia board and run it from the Control panel while viewers answer on their phones or in chat.
- [Scheduling Streams and Automated Actions](https://playout.video/help-center/scheduling-and-automation/scheduling-streams-and-automated-actions): Schedule stream starts, stops, playlist switches, and destination changes with one-time or recurring schedules. Automate your 24/7 live stream with cron expressions.
- [Session Length Limits: Why Your Stream Stopped and How the Countdown Works](https://playout.video/help-center/account-and-billing/session-length-limits-explained): Free streams auto-stop after 2 hours and the stream page shows a countdown as the limit approaches. Here is exactly how session limits work per plan and how to stream without them.
- [Sharing Your Screen on a Live Stream](https://playout.video/help-center/getting-started/sharing-your-screen-on-a-live-stream): How to share your screen: full screen, a specific window, or a single browser tab, in Live Studio, with tips for clean demos, presentations, and tutorials.
- [Show a Google Sheet or Market Feed on Your Stream](https://playout.video/help-center/interactive-games/sheet-news-and-market-feed): On the Business plan, put the rows of a Google Sheet on a graphic one after another, or show live crypto prices with alerts and a market wrap read by the host.
- [Streaming to Kick: Connect and Go Live](https://playout.video/help-center/destinations-and-platforms/streaming-to-kick-connect-and-go-live): Step-by-step guide to adding Kick as a destination on playout.video: connect your account, configure the broadcast, and start reaching Kick's growing audience.
- [Streaming to LinkedIn Live: Setup Guide](https://playout.video/help-center/destinations-and-platforms/streaming-to-linkedin-live-setup): How to add LinkedIn as a destination on playout.video, go live right away or on a scheduled LinkedIn event, and follow the broadcast from the LinkedIn panel.
- [Streaming to TikTok: Setup and Best Practices](https://playout.video/help-center/destinations-and-platforms/streaming-to-tiktok-setup-and-best-practices): How to add TikTok as a destination on playout.video, configure for vertical 9:16 streaming, and follow the best practices that maximize TikTok's algorithmic surfacing.
- [Stream Quality Settings](https://playout.video/help-center/getting-started/stream-quality-settings): Configure your stream resolution, frame rate, and aspect ratio. Understand the quality options available on each playout.video plan.
- [Switching Between Live Channel and Live Studio Mid-Stream](https://playout.video/help-center/playlists-and-playback/switching-between-live-channel-and-live-studio): How to run a Live Channel as a 24/7 background and cut to a Live Studio show on the same stream: TV-style live cut-ins, sermon services, news desks, and special broadcasts.
- [The Free Plan: What's Included and Where the Limits Are](https://playout.video/help-center/account-and-billing/free-plan-whats-included): A clear breakdown of the playout.video Free plan: what you can build and stream at no cost, which limits apply (watermark, 2-hour sessions, two destinations), and what upgrading changes.
- [Timing Overlays in a Template: When to Show and the Preview Timeline](https://playout.video/help-center/overlays-and-editor/timing-overlays-in-a-template-when-to-show): How overlay templates decide when each layer appears on videos of any length: the When to show options, the preview timeline, previewing on a real video, and the base media placeholder.
- [Understanding Plans and Pricing](https://playout.video/help-center/account-and-billing/understanding-plans-and-pricing): Compare playout.video plans: Free, Creator, Channel, Business, and Enterprise. Understand what each tier includes, how the website embed, quality and storage add-ons work, and which plan fits your channel.
- [Uploading Videos and Managing Your Media Library](https://playout.video/help-center/media-and-content/uploading-videos-and-managing-your-media-library): Upload videos, organize files into folders, and manage your entire media library in playout.video. Supports MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WebM, audio, and images.
- [Use an AI Host Voice in Your Live Games](https://playout.video/help-center/interactive-games/ai-host-voice): Give your quiz or poll a host: an AI voice that reads the questions, calls time and announces the winner, or you, reading from a prompter.
- [Using "Play Now" to Take Your Stream Off-Schedule](https://playout.video/help-center/scheduling-and-automation/using-play-now-to-take-your-stream-off-schedule): How to use the Play now action to override your calendar mid-stream: for breaking news, last-minute swaps, and any moment when you need a specific block to play immediately.
- [Using the Audio Visualizer Overlay for Music Streams](https://playout.video/help-center/overlays-and-editor/using-the-audio-visualizer-overlay-for-music-streams): How to add and tune the Audio Visualizer overlay for music streams, lo-fi channels, podcast video, and any audio-driven content.
- [Using the Overlay and Composition Editor](https://playout.video/help-center/overlays-and-editor/using-the-overlay-and-composition-editor): Add logos, text, captions, stickers, audio visualizers, and now-playing displays to your live stream using the playout.video composition editor.
- [What Happens When Something Goes Wrong on Your Stream](https://playout.video/help-center/scheduling-and-automation/what-happens-when-something-goes-wrong-on-your-stream): A practical look at how playout.video handles stream issues automatically: what recovery looks like, what you'll see, and when (rarely) you actually need to intervene.
- [Workspaces vs. Streams: Which One Do You Need?](https://playout.video/help-center/account-and-billing/workspaces-vs-streams-which-one-do-you-need): Adding a Stream gives you a second channel that shares one media library; adding a Workspace gives you a fully separate space with its own library, team, and billing. Here's how to choose.

## Changelog

- [Adaptive Quality (ABR): Every Viewer Gets the Right Stream](https://playout.video/changelog/adaptive-quality-abr-for-website-embeds): Embedded players now stream with an adaptive bitrate ladder: multiple qualities generated live, with each viewer's player picking the best one their connection can carry, moment to moment.
- [Add RTMP Source: Plug In Hardware Encoders, Phones, and Remote Cameras](https://playout.video/changelog/add-rtmp-source-live-studio): Live Studio now accepts RTMP sources. Bring in a hardware encoder, a smartphone with a streaming app, a drone, or a camera at a remote venue: and treat it like any other source on your canvas.
- [Auto-Start and Auto-Stop: Stream Only When You Need To](https://playout.video/changelog/auto-start-and-auto-stop): Your stream can now auto-start before a calendar block begins and auto-stop after the last block ends. Run a windowed schedule: like a weekly show, without manually starting and stopping.
- [Background Playlist: Keep Your Live Channel Running Behind Live Studio](https://playout.video/changelog/background-playlist-behind-live-studio): Run a 24/7 Live Channel as your default and cut to a Live Studio show on the same stream. The Live Channel stays warm in the background and resumes without a gap when the show ends.
- [Calendar: Program Your Live Channel Like a TV Network](https://playout.video/changelog/calendar-program-your-live-channel-like-a-tv-network): A new Scheduled Stream type with a full visual calendar. Drag videos, playlists, and compositions onto a timeline. Set recurrence. Run your channel like a TV network: without thinking about it again.
- [Channels - Connect Your Streaming Platforms](https://playout.video/changelog/channels-connect-your-streaming-platforms): Connect your YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and LinkedIn accounts with one-click OAuth. Add any other platform with a custom RTMP URL. Manage all your streaming destinations in one place.
- [Composition Editor and Overlays for Your Live Stream](https://playout.video/changelog/composition-editor-overlays-for-your-live-stream): A visual editor for adding logos, text, and graphics on top of your live stream. Overlays are rendered in real time using a cloud-based compositor: no plugins, no OBS, no design tools needed.
- [Composition Editor: Audio Visualizer & Save-and-Apply](https://playout.video/changelog/composition-editor-audio-visualizer-and-save-apply): Two powerful additions to the Composition Editor: a real-time audio visualizer overlay and instant Save & Apply for live streams.
- [Custom Layouts: Build Your Own Scene in Live Studio](https://playout.video/changelog/custom-layouts-live-studio): The Custom layout in Live Studio lets you drag, resize, and layer sources anywhere on the canvas. Save your own layouts and switch to them like the built-in presets.
- [Encoding Profiles: YouTube & Standard](https://playout.video/changelog/encoding-profiles-youtube-and-standard): Choose between YouTube-optimized and Standard encoding profiles. YouTube mode follows Google's recommended bitrates for the best quality on YouTube. Standard mode uses lower bitrates suited for Twitch, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other platforms.
- [Every Part of Your 24/7 YouTube Stream, Listed and Live](https://playout.video/changelog/every-part-of-your-24-7-youtube-stream): The YouTube panel now lists every broadcast of a 24/7 stream with its watch link, and the new broadcast after each 11-hour switch goes live on its own within seconds.
- [Green Screen Removal in the Composition Editor](https://playout.video/changelog/green-screen-removal-composition-editor): Drop in a video shot against a green screen and the Composition Editor will key it out automatically. Tune sensitivity, clean up edges, and remove green spill: no plugins.
- [Import from Any Major Platform & Per-Video Overlay Variables](https://playout.video/changelog/import-from-any-platform-and-per-video-overlay-variables): The import dialog now accepts Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Vimeo and Twitch links, and every video's metadata can drive overlay templates with variables like {{title}} and {{author}}.
- [Improved TikTok Streaming Compatibility](https://playout.video/changelog/improved-tiktok-streaming-compatibility): Updated TikTok integration with refreshed RTMP endpoint patterns for better reliability and compatibility with TikTok's current ingest infrastructure.
- [Inline Playlist Switching & Auto-Sync Edits](https://playout.video/changelog/inline-playlist-switching-and-auto-sync): Two playlist upgrades: inline switching lets you temporarily play different content, and auto-sync pushes playlist edits to your live stream without restarting.
- [Kick Integration & RTMPS Support](https://playout.video/changelog/kick-integration-and-rtmps-support): Stream to Kick with OAuth login and broadcast to any platform that requires RTMPS: secure RTMP connections are now supported on all destinations.
- [Knowledge Base, Help Center & Blog](https://playout.video/changelog/knowledge-base-help-center-and-blog): A full self-service support system: searchable help center with step-by-step guides, a blog with streaming tips, and this changelog you're reading now.
- [Label Altered or Synthetic Content on Every YouTube Broadcast](https://playout.video/changelog/youtube-altered-content-label): Turn on YouTube's Altered content label once in playout.video, and every new broadcast of your stream gets it, including each part after an 11-hour switch.
- [Live Studio: Go Live with Cameras, Guests, and Layouts](https://playout.video/changelog/live-studio-launch): A new way to broadcast on playout.video. Bring on guests, switch between layouts, share your screen, and go live to every platform at once: straight from your browser.
- [Live Viewer Counts on the Embedded Player](https://playout.video/changelog/live-viewer-counts-on-the-embedded-player): Your embedded player can now show a live 'N watching' badge, and your dashboard shows the same concurrent-viewer number in real time. Here is how the count works and how to turn it on.
- [Media Library Redesign](https://playout.video/changelog/media-library-redesign): A completely rebuilt media library with drag-and-drop uploads, folder navigation, right-click context menus, keyboard-driven selection, and real-time file status updates.
- [Multiple Workspaces: Separate Brands, Separate Billing](https://playout.video/changelog/multiple-workspaces-separate-brands-separate-billing): You can now run several workspaces under one account, each with its own media library, team, plan, and billing. Create one from the workspace switcher and check out in a minute.
- [New: an AI Assistant That Knows Your Channel](https://playout.video/changelog/ai-assistant-launch): Every workspace now includes an AI assistant. Ask about your streams, viewers, and watch hours; it reads your real data and makes changes only after you approve them.
- [New: Interactive Games, Live Quizzes and Polls Your Viewers Play](https://playout.video/changelog/interactive-games-live-quizzes-and-polls): Run a live quiz or poll in the Live Studio. Viewers play on their phones by scanning a QR code, or in chat on YouTube, Twitch and Facebook, with an optional AI host.
- [New Plans: a Real Free Plan, the Channel Tier, and Annual Pricing](https://playout.video/changelog/new-plans-free-plan-channel-tier-annual-pricing): playout.video pricing has been rebuilt around what you do, not just how sharp your video looks: a permanent Free plan, a new Channel tier for programmed channels, and annual pricing that saves real money.
- [New: Twitch Title and Category Follow the Video on Air](https://playout.video/changelog/twitch-title-and-category-follow-the-video): A 24/7 Twitch stream can now switch its title, category and tags each time a new video starts. The stream stays live; only the listing changes.
- [Now Playing Overlay: Show What's On Screen](https://playout.video/changelog/now-playing-overlay-show-whats-on-screen): The Now Playing overlay automatically displays the title of the current video or audio track on your stream: updated in real time as content changes.
- [Onboarding Wizard & Go Live Dialog](https://playout.video/changelog/onboarding-wizard-and-go-live-dialog): A step-by-step wizard that guides you from sign-up to your first live stream. Connect a platform, upload content, build a playlist, and go live: all in one flow.
- [Overlay Templates: Save Your Branding Once, Apply Everywhere](https://playout.video/changelog/overlay-templates-save-once-apply-everywhere): Save a complete overlay design as a template: logo, lower thirds, frame, Now Playing, the works, and apply it to entire playlists and calendar entries with one click.
- [Pause and Resume Recording During a Live Show](https://playout.video/changelog/pause-and-resume-recording-during-a-live-show): Pause your recording mid-show, then resume: without breaking the live broadcast or creating multiple files. Useful for off-record breaks, sensitive segments, and clean post-production.
- [Platform Launch: Introducing playout.video](https://playout.video/changelog/platform-launch-introducing-playout-video): playout.video is live: the cloud-based 24/7 streaming platform that lets you broadcast to YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and 20+ destinations with zero hardware.
- [Playlist Shuffle Mode](https://playout.video/changelog/playlist-shuffle-mode): Shuffle your playlist items automatically after each loop pass. Keep your 24/7 stream fresh without manually reordering content.
- [Play Now: Jump to Any Calendar Entry Live](https://playout.video/changelog/play-now-jump-to-any-calendar-entry-live): Right-click any block on the Calendar and choose "Play now" to jump your live stream straight to that content. Useful for breaking news, last-minute swaps, and live show overrides.
- [Record-Only Mode: Capture Your Show Without Going Live](https://playout.video/changelog/record-only-mode): Hit Record instead of Go Live. Capture a multi-guest, multi-layout show as a master file in your media library: without broadcasting to a single destination.
- [Recurring Schedules: Daily, Weekly, Monthly](https://playout.video/changelog/recurring-schedules-daily-weekly-monthly): Calendar entries can now repeat: daily, weekly, monthly, with custom intervals. Set your weekly schedule once and it runs forever, or until you tell it to stop.
- [Scheduling & Automation](https://playout.video/changelog/scheduling-and-automation): Automate your 24/7 stream with one-time or recurring schedules. Start and stop streams, switch playlists, and control individual destinations, all on autopilot.
- [Smoother Playlist Transitions: Pre-Loaded Next Items](https://playout.video/changelog/smoother-playlist-transitions): The next item in your playlist now loads into memory while the current item is playing. Transitions between videos are gapless: no half-second stutter, no buffering blink.
- [Stream to Your Own Website: the Embedded Player Is Here](https://playout.video/changelog/stream-to-your-own-website-embedded-player): Business workspaces can now embed their live channel on any website with a single iframe: adaptive quality, live rewind (DVR), domain restrictions, viewer counts, and rotatable player links.
- [Stronger Stream Recovery: Fewer Drops, Faster Restarts](https://playout.video/changelog/stronger-stream-recovery): Streams now recover automatically from a wider range of hiccups: corrupted frames, network blips, momentary file issues. The result: fewer drops and faster, invisible recoveries.
- [Template Editor: See Your Overlays on a Real Video Before You Apply Them](https://playout.video/changelog/template-editor-preview-on-a-real-video): The overlay template editor now previews your template on a video from your library, shows each overlay's timing on the timeline, and flags a second base media before it doubles your audio.
- [The Channel Plan: Run Your Channel Like a TV Network for $39/mo](https://playout.video/changelog/channel-plan-run-your-channel-like-a-tv-network): The new Channel tier turns the broadcast Calendar into a plan: schedule your programming, let the stream start and stop itself, swap playlists automatically, and multistream to 8 destinations.
- [Timeline Polish: Smaller Clips Stay Clickable at Any Zoom](https://playout.video/changelog/timeline-polish-smaller-clips-clickable): The playlist timeline now keeps short clips clickable even when you're zoomed out for a long-view of a 24-hour stream. Small interactions, big day-to-day quality-of-life.
- [Visual Timeline & Playlist Editor Redesign](https://playout.video/changelog/visual-timeline-and-playlist-editor-redesign): A redesigned visual timeline that shows exactly what's playing and what's coming next. Plus a new drag-and-drop playlist editor with real-time change tracking.

## Optional

- [Full corpus (llms-full.txt)](https://playout.video/llms-full.txt)
- [Sitemap (sitemap.xml)](https://playout.video/sitemap.xml)