---
title: "How to Use Digital Signage Channels | EasySignage"
description: "Create a channel in EasySignage to combine several playlists into one content stream, reuse playlists across screens, and publish the channel to a display."
url: https://easysignage.com/how-to/playlists/how-to-use-channels-to-group-playlists/
---

# 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](https://easysignage.com/help/playlists/digital-signage-channels/) 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.

## Helpful Links

-   [How to Create Digital Signage Playlists?](https://easysignage.com/how-to/playlists/how-to-create-digital-signage-playlists/)

-   [How to Change Digital Signage Content Based on Location?](https://easysignage.com/how-to/getting-started/how-to-change-content-based-on-screen-location/)

-   [Channels](https://easysignage.com/help/playlists/digital-signage-channels/)