Create a Linear Channel Object

Introduction

A linear channel is a scheduled programming lineup, similar to a traditional TV channel. You create the linear channel object in ViewLift Tools, add one or more channels (each with an EPG feed and an optional linked live stream), then place it on site pages in Template Builder.

This article explains how to add a new linear channel, complete the object, publish it, and place it on the site.

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to help you:

• Create a new linear channel object in ViewLift Tools
• Fill in the metadata and images required to publish
• Add channels, EPG, and a linked live stream
• Know how to place the linear channel on trays and which Template Page renders it

Scope

This article covers:

• Creating a linear channel in ViewLift Tools → Content Management → Linear Channel
• Completing the object (metadata, images, monetization, SEO)
• Using the Channels tab (feeds, EPG, linked live, trailer)
• Optional Monetization Overrides for specific programs
• Publishing the linear channel
• The required Template Builder points for trays and the Linearchannel Template Page

It does not cover full Template Builder how-to (that is a separate documentation set), or creating and starting the live stream itself. For livestreams, see Create a Live Object. For on-demand files, see Create a VOD Object.

Harmonic Use for Linear Channel on live create is a different flow. This article is Content Management → Linear Channel.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• Access to ViewLift Tools with permission to create and publish linear channel content
• Access to Template Builder
• A live already created in Tools if you want to link a stream now (you can also link later)
• An EPG Source URL for each channel you add
• A 16:9 thumbnail image (recommended 1920 × 1080 px), already cut to size — Tools does not crop images for you
• Your metadata ready before you start: title, description, tags, and categories

Example used in this article
Throughout the steps below we use one running example — a linear channel called Championship Sports Network. Replace the sample values with your own.

Step 1: Open Linear Channel in ViewLift Tools

1. Log into ViewLift Tools.
2. From the main menu, open Content Management.
3. In the content type selector at the top of the list, choose Linear Channel.

Figure 1. ViewLift Tools → Content Management → Linear Channel. Use the content-type dropdown to select Linear Channel, then click + Add New Linear Channel.

The list shows existing linear channel objects. You can search by title, tag, or category. This list does not have a VOD-style status filter.

Step 2: Create a Linear Channel

1. On the Linear Channel list, select + Add New Linear Channel in the header. The button is labelled with the content type you selected, so it reads Add New Linear Channel while Linear Channel is active.
2. The Create Linear Channel dialog opens.
3. Enter a Title (required). Example: Championship Sports Network.
4. Optionally enter a Description.
5. Select Create.

Tools creates the linear channel as a draft and opens the editor.

Permalink is not set in this dialog. It is generated on the detail page — editorialize it before you publish (see Step 3).

Figure 2. Create Linear Channel dialog. Enter a Title (required) and an optional Description, then select Create.

Step 3: Complete Content Metadata

Open the linear channel. The detail page sidebar includes Content Metadata, Manage Images, Monetization, Monetization Overrides, Channels, SEO, and Metadata & Macros.

Start with Content Metadata.

Figure 3. Linear channel detail page, Content Metadata. Required fields are Title and Permalink.

Permalink guidelines

Use the same rules as other content types:

• Start with a slash (/)

• Lower-case letters only

• No spaces or special characters except dash (-) or underscore (_); dashes are preferred

• No leading or trailing whitespace

• Keep it SEO-friendly (about 59 characters)

• Remove auto-generated numeric identifiers when you editorialize the path

• Good: /championship-sports-network

• Avoid: /Championship Sports_Network_final

You can change the permalink later if you need a better URL.

Step 4: Manage Images

Open Manage Images.

The 16:9 Landscape image is required to publish. Recommended size: 1920 × 1080 px. Upload images already cropped to the correct aspect ratio. Tools does not crop for you.

Figure 4. Manage Images. 16:9 Landscape is required to publish.

Step 5: Add Channels

This is the step that makes a linear channel different from a single live. Open Channels.

A linear channel object can contain one or more channels (feeds). Each channel has its own title, EPG, and optional linked live stream.

Empty state: No channels added — Add a channel to associate live stream content with this linear channel.

1. Select Add First Channel (or Add Channel if you already have one).
2. Expand the channel card. Untitled cards show as Channel 1, Channel 2, and so on until you set a title.
3. Complete Basic Info:
   • Title (required) — example: Championship 1
   • Subtitle and Description (optional)
4. Under Media, optionally add Thumbnail URL and Featured Thumbnail URL.
5. Under Linked Content:
   • Live Stream — search live objects and select one. Empty search copy is No live streams found.
   • Trailer — search VOD objects. Empty search copy is No trailers found.
6. Under EPG Info:
   • Source URL (required) — the guide feed URL
   • VL URL — optional ViewLift EPG URL
   • Format — Gracenote JSON, Amagi, or Viewlift
7. Optionally turn on DRM Protection (Enable Digital Rights Management for this channel).
8. Drag channel cards to reorder. Use the trash control to remove a channel.

Tools saves on blur, on live/trailer selection, and after a successful reorder. If you add a channel, that channel’s Title and EPG Source URL are required before Tools can save or publish. Incomplete remaining channels are kept as unsaved edits after a delete so a broken channel is not written to the server.

You can publish without any channels, but viewers will not have a feed or guide until you add at least one complete channel.

Figure 5. Channels. Add a channel, set Title and EPG Source URL, then link a live stream.

Step 6: Configure Additional Linear Channel Settings

Complete the sections your service uses before you publish.

Monetization

Attach the subscription model, plans, or plan groups that should unlock this linear channel. If no model is attached, playback follows your site’s default entitlement rules.

Figure 6.1. Monetization. Select + Add Model to attach plans.

Figure 6.2. Monetization. Select Monetization Model.

Figure 6.3. Monetization. Select Monetization Plans.

Monetization Overrides

Use this when a specific program on the channel should use different entitlements than the channel default.

Empty state: No overrides configured — Add a monetization override to apply custom rules for specific programs.

1. Select Add Override.
2. Enter Program Title (placeholder example: NFL Sunday Night) and optional Sub Type (placeholder example: EPISODE).
3. Select Models, then Plans (plans stay disabled until a model is selected; plan groups appear in the same Plans list).

SEO

Optional search fields: Title, H1 Title, H2 Title, Description, Keywords, Redirect URL, and Redirect Code (commonly 301 or 302). None of these are required to publish.

Metadata & Macros

Extra metadata and playback macros if your site uses them. Select Add Metadata to add a row.

Step 7: Publish the Linear Channel

Required before publish:

• Title
• Permalink
• 16:9 Landscape image

If any channel is on the object, that channel also needs Title and EPG Source URL. Tools shows messages such as Channel 1: Title is required.

1. When you are ready, select Publish to go live now.
2. Or use Schedule to publish at a later date and time.
3. After publish, use Update for further metadata changes, Unpublish to take it down, or Archive to retire it.

You can also Duplicate a linear channel when you need a similar title with new metadata. The copy is a new draft. It does not change the original object.

Figure 7. Linear channel detail header. Use Publish (or Schedule) to go live in the CMS.

The linear channel is now in the CMS library. It does not appear on the website until you curate it onto a page or a user opens its permalink (which uses the Linearchannel Template Page).

Step 8: Curate the Linear Channel on a Template Builder Page

To show the linear channel on Home (or any Modular Page):

1. Open AppCMS → Edit Template Builder.
2. Open Modular Pages and find the page (for example, Home).
3. Add or select a tray module. Typical trays:
   • VL HighlightTray
   • VL LandscapeTray
   • VL Vertical Tray
4. Some sites also place VL Linear Channel 01, VL Linear Channel Standalone Module, or VL Linear Channel Standalone Module 02 on a Modular Page for a dedicated linear player/guide block.
5. Open module settings and set a tray title, for example Live TV.
6. Choose Content Selection:
   • Manually Curate — search for the item. It appears as Linear Channel. Stack items in the order you want.
   • Programmatically Generate — fill the tray from tags or categories. For example, generate from the tag linear.
7. Set Content Type to Linear Channel (or Any) if the tray filters by type.
8. In Thumbnail Type, choose the ratio that matches the images you uploaded. Template Builder writes these with an asterisk — 16*9, 3*4, 32*9, 9*16, 1*1, 4*3.
9. Publish the Template Builder page.

Changes can take about 5–10 minutes to appear on the website because of caching. To verify sooner, use a private window, another browser, or clear cookies and cache.

Clicking the linear channel thumbnail takes the user to the detail page. That layout is the Linearchannel Template Page. Keep one default Linearchannel Template Page unless this object is assigned a custom template. Detail modules on that page include VL Linear Channel Detail Module and VL Linear Channel Detail Module 02.

Tray modules, EPG player settings, and template-page customization are covered in the Template Builder documentation.

Troubleshooting

Best Practices

• Write titles for viewers. Championship Sports Network works far better than linear_csn_v3.
• Create the live first, then link it under Channels. The linear channel object does not start a stream.
• Fill Title and EPG Source URL as soon as you add a channel so Tools can save.
• Tag consistently. Programmatic trays are built from tags and categories, so a misspelled tag means the channel silently never appears.
• Upload images at the exact ratio. Tools does not crop for you, so a wrongly sized file will look wrong on every device.
• Leave Harmonic Use for Linear Channel off on live create unless you intend that other flow.

FAQs

Q. Can I create a linear channel before I have a live stream?
Yes. Create the linear channel, then add a channel and link a live later. Create the live with Create a Live Object.

Q. Do I upload a video file on the linear channel object?
No. Link an existing live under Channels. Optional trailers are existing VOD objects.

Q. Why can’t I save after I add a channel?
Each channel needs a Title and an EPG Source URL. Fill those, then save.

Q. Is this the same as Harmonic Use for Linear Channel?
No. That switch on live create makes linear-channel content from the live flow. This article is Content Management → Linear Channel.

Q. Can I publish without a 16:9 image?
No. Title, permalink, and a 16:9 Landscape image are required to publish.

Q. Can I publish with no channels?
Yes. Viewers will not have a feed or guide until you add at least one complete channel.

Q. Can I duplicate a linear channel?
Yes. Duplicate is available for linear channel. The copy is a new draft and does not change the original.

Q. Can I edit a linear channel after publishing?
Yes. Open the object, change what you need, and select Update. You do not have to unpublish first.

Q. I published the linear channel but I do not see it on Home.
Publishing adds it to the library. You still need to curate it onto a tray (manually or by tag/category) and publish that Template Builder page. Allow a few minutes for cache.

Q. Which Template Page does a linear channel use?
The Linearchannel Template Page. There is no Video Template Page for this type.

Important Information

• Create the linear channel object in Tools. Template Builder only places that object on pages and defines the detail layout.
• Link existing live objects under Channels. Do not upload a video file on this object.
• If you add a channel, Title and EPG Source URL are required for that channel.
• Linear channel has no Geo-Restrictions, Availability & Scheduling, Quick Settings, or Version History tab.
• Upload images at the correct aspect ratio. Tools will not crop them.
• Use the same permalink style as other content: /lowercase-path-with-dashes.
• Tray thumbnail type must match the image ratios you uploaded (especially 32:9 for ultra-wide carousels).
• Cache can delay frontend updates by 5–10 minutes.

Glossary

Contact Support

If you need help beyond this article, contact the ViewLift support team.

• Email: techsupport@viewlift.com
• Phone (US): +1-800-859-0420
• Phone (UK): +44-203-014-8921

Support hours: B2C requests are handled Monday to Friday. B2B support is available 24/7.

After the linear channel is published in Tools, users can open it on the site by permalink, or from a tray after you curate it in Template Builder. The detail layout is the Linearchannel Template Page.