IBM Video Streaming Chat Features

This article covers the chat features available in your dashboard under Channel > Interactivity > Chat Settings. 

In the Chat settings, click the toggle button to enable the feature.

Moderators

Note: Video streaming account or channel administrators do not automatically become chat moderators. Even administrators must add themselves as moderators to moderate the chat. 

For Enterprise and Video Streaming accounts with organization settings: Moderators can be added using their SAML ID or email addresses with IBMids that have been given Channel admin access.

If you don't want to grant Channel admin rights in the Organization settings to a moderator, then this potential moderator must create an IBMid and sign up for a free trial account.

For accounts with SILVER, GOLD, or PLATINUM subscription plan: 

• Please have new chat moderators create an IBMid associated with the email address you add and sign up for a free video streaming trial account if they haven't already done so.  Visit https://myibm.ibm.com/ to create an IBMid. Visit https://www.ibm.com/products/video-streaming/pricing to sign up for a free trial.
• Provide them with the channel page URL of the channel they are allowed to moderate chat.
• Moderators need to log into their own video streaming accounts in the same browser while moderating chat on your channel page. 
• Moderators do not need a paid subscription; they can continue to log into their video streaming accounts even after their free trial has expired.

To add moderators:

1. Click Manage moderators
2. Click Add chat moderator
3. Enter the email address or SAML ID and click Add

To remove moderators:

1. Click the checkbox to the left of the moderator, and click Remove

   

2. Click Remove to confirm

   

Moderator Capabilities

Note: There is currently a limitation of 100 chat moderators per channel. Any moderators added beyond this limit will not have moderator privileges.

Not only on the channel page, the moderators who can log in to your video streaming account, can open the chat directly from the Chat settings page by clicking Open chat in the upper right corner.  

Chat moderators have the ability to:

• Set the chat in Slow Mode or Pause Mode
• Clear the chat
• Delete messages sent by viewers
• Ban viewers from chat for 24 hours or permanently
• Unban viewers from chat
• Pin important messages to the top of the conversation
• Reply with emojis or reply in threads

Click the gear icon to open the settings:

Hover over the viewer's message and click the three-dot icon to open the menu:

If you want Reactions and Threads in your chat room, ensure both are turned ON.

Chat Rooms

Chat rooms (group chats) allow viewers to discuss specific topics in a smaller, more focused environment. Click Manage chat rooms to add/delete chat rooms.

• You can create multiple chat rooms
• Viewer can join and switch between chat rooms

Direct Chats

You can enable direct chats to allow viewers to message each other directly, or to allow only moderators to message viewers directly. 

1. Click Manage direct chats

2. Select an option and click Save

   

File and Image Upload

When the File and image upload is enabled, viewers can upload files and images in chat.  

Nicknames

When viewers join the chat for the first time, they'll be prompted to enter a nickname.

To change nickname:

1. Click Viewers list

   

2. Hover over your nickname and click the three dots on the right
3. Click Edit your nickname
4. Enter new nickname
5. Click Save

Your new nickname will be displayed.

Export Chat Logs

1. Click Manage chat exports
2. Click Export chat data
3. Enter the start and end date/time, select chat rooms, and click Export
4. You will be redirected to Chat exports page

5. Once the export is processed, click Options

   

6. Click to select either Excel or JSON formats

   

Your export will download to your device.

Note: The chat features (chat rooms, threads, links, emojis, and comments) produce a complex data set. JSON format is recommended for exports to preserve all information. Excel format may result in data loss.

Exported chat data expires after 24 hours but can be regenerated at any time. 

Excel Export Information

Only the following information is available via Excel:

• Message Type: Message or Reply
• Name
• Message Text
• Created At
• Reactions (number)
• Message ID
• Parent ID

Chat rooms and direct chats are exported in separate tabs.

Default Settings

Turning chat on will set the following settings on or off by default. Please make sure to check these settings when turning on chat for your channel.

Enterprise Video Streaming

• Direct chats: OFF
• Reactions: ON
• Spam and profanity protection: ON
• Threads: ON
• File and image upload: ON

Video Streaming

• Direct chats: OFF
• Reactions: ON
• Spam and profanity protection: ON
• Threads: ON
• File and image upload: OFF (for security reasons, due to unknown audience)