How to Use Channels to Group Playlists?

Learn how to create a channel in EasySignage to play several playlists in sequence on one screen without duplicating content.

What is a channel in digital signage?

A channel is a collection of playlists that plays as a single content stream. It lets you reuse the same playlist on many screens instead of copying it, so one edit to a playlist reaches every channel that includes it.

Use a channel when different teams or topics own separate playlists that need to play back to back on the same screen.

 

How do I create a channel?

Create your playlists first, then build the channel around them.

  • Go to the Playlists page
  • Click the Channels tab
  • Click Add Channel
  • Enter a channel name
  • Choose the screen orientation, horizontal or vertical
  • Optionally select a Team to restrict who can access the channel
  • Click ADD

The orientation you pick filters which playlists you can add. A horizontal channel only offers horizontal playlists, and a vertical channel only offers vertical ones.

 

How do I add playlists to a channel?

  • Available playlists appear on the right of the assign screen
  • Click the + next to a playlist to add it
  • Assigned playlists appear on the left
  • Drag and drop an assigned playlist up or down to change its play order
  • Click delete next to a playlist to remove it from the channel
  • Click Close when you are finished

To change the playlists later, click the PLAYLISTS column next to the channel name.

 

How do I publish a channel to a screen?

  • Go to the Screens page
  • Click the media source next to the screen name
  • Click CHANGE SOURCE TYPE
  • Select Channels
  • Choose the channel you want to play
  • Click Publish

The screen downloads the channel and starts playing its playlists in the order you set.

 

Channel or playlist: which should I use?

A playlist is the content itself, arranged in layers. A channel is a wrapper that plays several playlists in sequence. If one playlist covers everything a screen needs, publish the playlist directly. Reach for a channel when you want to combine playlists, or when you need location-based playback, since geo-location zones are assigned to playlists inside a channel.