Streams: scheduling #
Most matches are better planned ahead than set up at the last minute. When you schedule a stream in advance, fans can see it is coming, set a reminder and know exactly when to tune in. This guide covers planning a broadcast, controlling what fans see before kickoff, and changing your plans if a fixture moves.
Scheduling is about the when of a broadcast. For connecting your camera and going live on the day, see Live setup.
Schedule a stream #
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Create a new stream
From the dashboard, go to Streams and select New Stream.
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Add the match details
Give the stream a title and description, and upload a thumbnail. A clear title such as "Riverside FC v City United" helps fans recognise the match in their listings.
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Link the teams and competition
Choose the teams playing and the league or cup the match belongs to. This tags the stream so it appears in the right places for fans following those teams. See Teams and Leagues & competitions if you still need to set these up.
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Set the date and time
Pick the kickoff date and time. Fans see this as the countdown to the match, so set it to the real start time in your channel's time zone.
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Choose who can watch
Decide whether the match is free, a one-off purchase, or part of a subscription, and whether it is visible to everyone or hidden for now.
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Save
Save the stream. It is now scheduled and, if visible, will appear in your fans' upcoming list.
Key scheduling settings #
Title text required The name fans see in listings. Naming the two teams makes the match instantly recognisable.
Teams and competition choice The teams playing and the league or cup the match belongs to. Linking these helps fans find the match.
Date and time date and time required When the match is due to kick off. Fans see this as the countdown to the start.
Access choice required Free, a one-off purchase, or subscription only. This controls who can watch.
Visibility choice required Whether the scheduled match is shown to fans now or kept hidden until you are ready.
What fans see before kickoff #
A scheduled, visible stream appears in your fans' upcoming list ahead of the match, with its title, thumbnail and a countdown to kickoff. This is your chance to build anticipation, so a strong title and a sharp thumbnail are worth the effort.
If you would rather not reveal a match yet, perhaps because the date is not confirmed, set its visibility to hidden. You can plan everything in advance and reveal it to fans only when you are ready.
Editing or cancelling a scheduled stream #
Plans change, and so can your schedule. As long as a match has not started, you can edit or cancel it.
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Open the stream
Go to Streams, find your upcoming match in the list and open it.
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Make your changes
Update any detail you need, such as the date and time if the fixture has moved, the teams, the thumbnail or the access settings. Save when you are done.
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Cancel if needed
If the match is off entirely, cancel the scheduled stream. It is removed from your fans' upcoming list.
How a scheduled stream becomes live #
A scheduled stream waits quietly until match day. When the time comes, you open the stream, connect your camera and broadcasting software, check your preview in the live control panel, and go live. At that point the match becomes visible to fans and they can start watching.
You stay in control of the exact moment you go live, so you can wait for kickoff or start a few minutes early for a build-up. The full process is covered in Live setup.
Next steps