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Configure the Timeshift option for video streaming
This guide explains how to enable and use the Timeshift (also known as DVR) feature on your live video broadcasts. This feature allows your viewers to rewind if they missed the start of your live stream.
Enabling the Timeshift (DVR) Feature
To access the video streaming service:
- Log in to the Infomaniak Manager (manager.infomaniak.com) from a web browser like Brave or Edge
- Click on the icon at the top right of the interface (or navigate using the left sidebar menu, e.g.)
- Select Video Streaming (Streaming universe)
- Click on the name of the relevant item in the table that appears
- Click on Configure under Timeshift from the dashboard
- Enable Timeshift
- Set the duration for which your viewers can rewind (max. 240 min.)
- Click the Activate button
Customizing the Timeshift Feature
You can activate this option via the Scheduling tool for a specific time slot, thus limiting this feature to certain programs. The settings defined in the scheduling tool will override the default state set from the dashboard.
To illustrate, let’s imagine a TV channel broadcasting a football match from 10 AM to 12 PM.
1. The TV channel wants to activate Timeshift only during the match
With this configuration, viewers who join the live stream at 11:59 AM will be able to rewind to the start of the match at 10 AM, but they won’t be able to see the programs that aired before 10 AM. For reference, the maximum duration for Timeshift is 240 minutes (4 hours).
2. The TV channel wants to activate a 20-minute Timeshift only during the match
With this configuration, viewers who join the live stream at 11:30 AM will be able to rewind the previous 20 minutes, but they won’t be able to see the start of the match; only the last 20 minutes of the stream will be accessible throughout the match.
3. The TV channel wants to disable Timeshift during the match
With this configuration, viewers will not be able to rewind any part of the match. They will only be able to see the programs preceding the match if Timeshift has been enabled by default from the stream’s dashboard.
In summary, there are 2 use cases
- Enable Timeshift permanently, except for specific events
- Disable Timeshift permanently, except for specific events
The default status is managed from the stream’s dashboard, and exceptions are managed from the scheduling tool.
Learn More About How It Works
If you set a Timeshift of one hour and just activated it, the rewind time will gradually increase to the chosen duration from the moment of activation.
If geographical restrictions are set with a specific time slot, these will be respected in all cases. For example, if a TV channel with a 4-hour Timeshift reserves its sports program for Swiss viewers from 10 AM to 12 PM, an Italian viewer connecting to the stream at 1 PM would only be able to see the shows from 9 AM to 10 AM.