Videos

Overview

Videos are the foundation for all content and functionality in Backstage. As the primary content type in the system, Video assets serve as the building blocks that power the viewer experience across all platforms. These assets can be organized into Playlists, featured on the homepage, and distributed through various pages.

Backstage allows you to upload, manage, and organize your video content with comprehensive metadata, custom thumbnails, and proper categorization to ensure viewers can easily discover and enjoy your content.

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Video Presets

Presets are predefined templates with customized fields specific to different types of content. Each preset is designed to capture the relevant information for that particular content type, making organization and searchability more efficient.

Example Presets:

• Movie: Includes fields for TV rating, release year, director, etc.

• Episode: Used for individual episodes of a series or show

• Trailer: Acts as a separate trailer asset for an asset or playlist

Selecting the appropriate preset ensures that you'll have all the necessary fields to properly categorize and describe your content, which enhances discoverability and the viewer experience.

Details Checklist

The Details Checklist is a progress tracker located at the top of the video details page that helps you ensure all necessary information is present and the asset is ready for publishing. This visual checklist makes it easy to see at a glance what's been completed and what still needs attention, helping you confirm you have everything needed before making your video available to viewers.

Checklist Items

Initial Checklist (Before Publishing):

1. Basic Info - Title, Description, and Publish Date

2. Tags - Content categorization and organization tags

3. Advanced Fields - Additional metadata and custom parameters

4. Video Asset - The uploaded or linked video file

5. Thumbnails - Image keys for visual representation across platforms

6. Trailer - Optional trailer or preview content

Post-Publication Checklist Items:

After a video has been Published, two additional items become available:

1. Caption - Closed caption files for accessibility

2. Audio - Additional audio tracks or language options

Status Indicators

Each checklist item displays an icon indicating its completion status:

• White Exclamation Point - Optional field that is incomplete

• Orange Exclamation Point - Suggested field that is incomplete (recommended but not required)

• Red Exclamation Point - Required field that is incomplete (must be completed to publish)

• Green Checkmark - Field has been completed

The checklist updates automatically as you complete each section, providing immediate visual feedback on your progress.

Uploading an Asset

1

Prepare your video file

• Ensure your videos are in supported formats. Commonly uploaded video formats include:

  • .3gp

  • .avi

  • .mov

  • .mp4

  • .wmv

2

Navigate to Videos and select Audience (if applicable)

• From the Video homepage in Backstage, select the "Audience" dropdown and choose your preferred audience if applicable.

• Go to the "Videos" tab on the left side of your screen.

3

Create a new media asset

• Press the "New Media" dropdown button in the upper-right corner.

• Select an available preset as a starting point for your asset.

• You will be taken to the asset upload and metadata entry screen.

4

Upload the video file and enter metadata

• In the "Upload Asset" section, click "Upload File" and select the file to upload.

• While the asset uploads, fill out the title, description, and additional information sections (these contain required fields).

5

Thumbnails

• Thumbnails are the visual representations of your content that appear throughout the application across different platforms.

• Different areas of your application require specific image formats and dimensions to display properly, with each image key corresponding to a specific feature or platform display requirement.

• All videos require the default image key (1920x1080, 16x9) for standard thumbnail display.

• Additional image keys depend on where your content will be featured. For example:

  • Homepage featured content requires both imgFeaturedTvBanner16×4 (TV and web) and imgFlixMobileFeature6×9 (mobile).

• Refer to the Image Key Matrix below for full specifications of image keys, dimensions, and related features.

6

Tags

• Tags categorize, organize, and route videos to playlists using the Dynamic Playlist feature.

• Example tags:

  • Audience Tag: Assets belonging to a specific Audience could receive an Audience tag (e.g., "TBNFR" for French content)

  • SeriesId Tag: If the content belongs to a specific show or program, add the related seriesId_ tag to make it appear in that Playlist

  • inActive Tag: Add this tag if you want to hide an asset from appearing in Dynamic playlists

7

Scheduling and publishing

• Publish Date: Default is current date/time. Update to schedule future publishing.

• Expiration Date (optional): Set when the asset should no longer be available.

8

Save or Publish

• After completing title, description, tags, scheduling, and graphics, press "Publish" to save and commit changes. The Publish button both saves and publishes the asset if Active.

• Alternatively, press "Save" to save without publishing.

Managing Tags

Tags are organizational markers that help categorize and direct content throughout Backstage. The tagging system offers flexible input methods and management tools to streamline your workflow when organizing video content.

Adding Tags

Tags can be added to video assets using two methods:

Individual Tag Entry:

• Type a tag name in the Tags field and press Enter or click the "Add" button to add it to the asset

• This method works well when adding a small number of tags one at a time

Comma-Separated Value (CSV) Entry:

• Type multiple tags separated by commas in the Tags field

• Press Enter or click the "Add" button to add all tags simultaneously

• Example: "test, test 1, test 2" will create three individual tags: "test", "test 1", and "test 2"

• This method is efficient when applying multiple tags to a single asset

Copying Tags

The Copy Tags feature allows you to quickly duplicate tag configurations from one asset to another, ensuring consistency across similar content.

How to Copy Tags:

1. Navigate to the video asset that has the tags you want to copy

2. Locate the Tags section in the asset details

3. Click the "Copy Tags" button

4. All tags from the current asset will be copied to your clipboard

5. Navigate to the destination asset where you want to apply these tags

6. Paste the tags into the Tags field using your keyboard (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V)

7. Press Enter or click the "Add" button to apply all copied tags

NOTE: When pasting copied tags, the system will automatically parse them as individual tags, maintaining the exact tag names from the source asset.

Markers Editor

The Markers Editor is a visual timeline tool that allows you to manage ad breaks, skip segments, and autoplay previews for your video content. This interface provides precise control over viewer experience elements through an interactive timeline with video preview capabilities.

Accessing the Markers Editor

There are two ways to access the Markers Editor:

Option 1: From the Video Player

1. Navigate to the video asset details page

2. Locate the "Manage Markers" button below the video player

3. Click "Manage Markers" to open the editor modal

Option 2: From the Markers Tab

1. Navigate to the video asset details page

2. Click on the "Markers" tab under the Asset section

3. Review the color-coordinated list of existing markers:

   • Blue - Ad Breaks

   • Green - Skips

   • Purple - Preview Playback

4. Click the "Manage Markers" button to open the editor modal

Interface Overview

The Markers Editor modal consists of several key components:

Video Player and Timeline:

• Full video timeline displaying all marker types

• Interactive video player for previewing marker placements

• Zoom bar below the player for focusing on specific timeline segments

• Scrubbing capability via both the primary timeline and video player timeline

Marker Management Tabs:

The editor includes four tabs located at the top left above the timeline:

• Overview - Displays all markers across all types; allows quick marker creation via color-coded "+" buttons

• Ad Breaks - Manage ad break markers and configure pod duration

• Skips - Manage skip segment markers and labels

• Autoplay - Manage autoplay preview markers and labels

Marker List:

Each tab displays a list showing:

• Timestamp or time range for each marker

• Pod duration (for ad breaks)

• Custom name (if added)

• Start and stop times (for range-based markers)

Timeline Indicators:

Individual timeline bars display markers for each type, with visual indicators showing the exact timecode placement. Each marker type has a color-coded timeline matching the color scheme used throughout the interface.

Managing Ad Breaks

Ad breaks define points in your video where advertisements will play. Each ad break requires a pod duration that determines how long ads will be shown.

Adding an Ad Break:

1. Navigate to the Ad Breaks tab (or use the Overview tab)

2. Scrub the timeline to the desired timestamp where the ad break should occur

3. Click the blue "+" icon to the left of the ad breaks timeline bar

4. The ad break marker will appear on the timeline at the selected timestamp

5. If added from the Overview tab, navigate to the Ad Breaks tab to configure settings

6. Configure the ad break settings:

   • Pod Duration (required): Select the length of the ad break (typically 30s, 60s, 90s, or 120s)

   • Name (optional): Add a custom label to identify this ad break

Adjusting Ad Break Position:

After placing an ad break marker on the timeline, you can reposition it by clicking and dragging the marker to a new timestamp.

Ad Break Requirements:

• Multiple ad breaks can be added to a single video

• Ad breaks cannot be placed at the same timestamp as existing ad breaks

• Each ad break must have a pod duration defined

Editing Ad Breaks:

Navigate to the Ad Breaks tab to view and modify existing ad breaks. Select an ad break from the list to adjust its pod duration or name.

Managing Skips

Skip segments allow viewers to bypass specific portions of video content, such as intro sequences or recap segments. Skips are defined as time ranges with a start and end point.

Adding a Skip:

1. Navigate to the Skips tab (or use the Overview tab)

2. Position the playhead at the desired start point for the skip segment

3. Click the purple "+" icon to add a skip marker

4. The skip will be created starting at the playhead position with a default duration of 10 seconds

5. If added from the Overview tab, navigate to the Skips tab to configure settings

6. Add a label (required): Skip segments must be named before they can be applied

7. Adjust the time range as needed:

   • Type specific start and end times directly into the fields

   • Drag the range indicator on the timeline to reposition the entire skip segment

   • Drag the edges of the range indicator to extend or shorten the duration

Skip Segment Features:

• Multiple skip segments can be added to a single video

• Common use cases include intro sequences, recap segments, and credits

• Each skip displays as a range on the timeline with start and end markers

• Skips must be labeled before being applied

Editing Skips:

Navigate to the Skips tab to view and modify existing skip segments. Select a skip from the list to adjust its time range or label.

Managing Preview Playback

Preview Playback review defines which segment of your video plays automatically when the users hovers over or scrolls past the content in featured carousels. This feature replaces the Preview Playback field and improves functionality with a visual timeline interface.

Adding an Autoplay Preview:

1. Navigate to the Autoplay tab (or use the Overview tab)

2. Position the playhead at the desired start point for the preview

3. Click the Orange "+" icon to add an autoplay marker

4. The preview will be created starting at the playhead position with a default duration of 10 seconds

5. If added from the Overview tab, navigate to the Autoplay tab to configure settings

6. Optionally add a custom name to identify this preview segment

7. Adjust the time range as needed:

   • Type specific start and end times directly into the fields

   • Drag the range indicator on the timeline to reposition the entire preview segment

   • Drag the edges of the range indicator to extend or shorten the duration

Preview Playback Logic:

The Markers Editor provides an enhanced interface for managing preview playback. The system follows specific logic when determining which preview content to display based on whether you've configured time ranges, trailers, or both. For complete details on how preview playback prioritizes different content types, refer to the Preview Playback documentation.

Editing Autoplay Previews:

Navigate to the Autoplay tab to view and modify existing preview segments. Select a preview from the list to adjust its time range or name.

Saving Changes

IMPORTANT: All changes made in the Markers Editor must be saved before they take effect.

1. After adding or editing markers, review your changes in the appropriate tab

2. Click the Apply button located at the bottom right of the modal

3. Changes will be saved to the video asset

Closing the Markers Editor without clicking Apply will discard all unsaved changes.

Bulk Edit

The Bulk Edit feature enables efficient management of multiple video assets simultaneously, allowing you to update tags or delete content across up to 100 assets at once. This powerful tool streamlines workflow when you need to make consistent changes across multiple pieces of content.

IMPORTANT: Once a bulk edit operation begins, it cannot be stopped and must complete before you can make changes to any other asset metadata. Monitor the progress bar at the top of the page to track the operation status.

How to Use Bulk Edit

Selecting Assets for Bulk Edit:

• Navigate to the "Videos" section on your left sidebar.

• Click the checkbox next to each asset you want to include in the bulk edit operation. You can select up to 100 assets at once.

• Once you've selected at least one asset, the "MANAGE TAGS" button will appear at the top of the page alongside a "DELETE SELECTED" option.

Managing Tags in Bulk:

• After selecting your desired assets, click the "MANAGE TAGS" button.

• The Add/Remove Tags modal will appear, displaying two filter options:

  • All: Shows all tags currently applied to any of the selected assets

  • Shared: Shows only tags that are common across all selected assets

• To add tags:

  • Use the search field at the bottom of the modal to find an existing tag, or type a new tag name

  • Click the "ADD" button to move the tag to the "Adding" column under the "Changes" section

  • Repeat for any additional tags you want to apply

• To remove tags:

  • Click the "X" next to any tag displayed in the modal

  • The tag will move to the "Removing" column under the "Changes" section

  • Tags removed will be deleted from all selected assets that currently have them

• Review your changes in the "Changes" section, which displays:

  • Adding: Tags that will be applied to all selected assets

  • Removing: Tags that will be removed from all selected assets

• Click "APPLY" to execute the bulk edit operation, or "CANCEL" to discard your changes.

Deleting Assets in Bulk:

1. After selecting your desired assets, click the "DELETE SELECTED" button.

2. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

3. All selected assets will be permanently removed from the system.

Bulk Edit Status Messages

1. The system provides real-time feedback on your bulk edit operations through a banner at the top of the page:

2. Bulk Edit in Progress (Blue): The operation is currently running. A loading indicator will display alongside this message.

3. Bulk Edit Completed (Green): The operation finished successfully and all changes have been applied.

4. Bulk Edit Failed (Red): The operation encountered an error and was unable to complete. Contact support if this issue persists.

NOTE: During bulk edit operations, you will not be able to edit individual assets or start another bulk edit. Wait for the current operation to complete before making additional changes to your video library.

Image Key Matrix

Image Key and Related Features

Title	Platform	Sample Resolution	Related Feature
default	All	1920x1080 (16x9)	Default 16x9 Thumbnail
imgComingSoon16x6	All	1920x720 (16x6)	Coming Soon
imgThumbnail2x3	All	720x1080 (2x3)	Vertical Thumbnails
imgInlineFeature16x7_NoQR	Mobile	1600x700 (16x7)	Inline Feature
imgInlineFeature16x3_QR	CTV, Roku	1600x300 (16x3)	Inline Feature
imgInlineFeature16x3_NoQR	Tablet	1600x300 (16x3)	Inline Feature
imgInlineFeature16x9_QR	CTV, Roku	1600x900 (16x9)	Inline Feature
imgFeaturedCarousel16x6	Web	1920x720 (16x6)	Featured Carousel
imgFlixMobileFeature6x9	Mobile	1200x1800 (6x9)	Featured Carousel
imgFeaturedCarousel16x8	CTV, Tablet, Roku	1600x800 (16x8)	Featured Carousel
imgFeaturedWebBanner16x9	Web	1280x720 (16x9)	Playlist Landing Page
imgSeriesDesktopBg	Web	1920x1080 (16x9)	Playlist Landing Page
imgSeriesLogo	Web, CTV, Tablet	1161x400	Playlist Landing Page
imgSeriesMobileBg	Mobile	1242x1491	Playlist Landing Page
imgInlineFeature16x2	Web	1600x200 (16x2)	Inline Feature
imgFtueBG	Mobile, CTV, Roku	1920x1080 (16x9)	FTUE
imgFtueTabletBG	Tablet	1920x1080 (16x9)	FTUE
imgCtvAccountQR_16x6	CTV	1920x720 (16x6)	Account Page

NOTE: The dimensions and naming conventions are critical for proper display across all platforms. Always use the correct size and key for each image type.