Telvi - Manual

1What is Telvi?

Telvi is a system for scheduling and automatically playing out your own TV/broadcast channel. You define what should play when, and Telvi makes sure it appears on screen at the right moment.

Telvi consists of two main parts that together form one system:

• Telvi Server - the web interface (the "control room"). Here you manage your media, build formats, generate playlists, write scripts and monitor the broadcast through the Cue Clock. You simply open it in a browser.
• Telvi Player - the player (the "playout"). This is the application that runs on the broadcast PC and actually plays the media full screen according to the playlist.

Both parts talk to each other through a shared data folder (the Telvi Data folder, for example on a network drive/NAS). The Server writes the playlists and settings into it; the Player reads them out. This lets you run one or more players on different screens, all driven from the same central schedule.

2Core concepts

You will come across these terms everywhere in Telvi. Once you understand them, the rest almost falls into place.

Cue types: how start and end times work

Every rule in a format has a start type and an end type. These determine when an item begins and ends:

3First installation, drive & license

On a fresh installation, Telvi walks you through three things once: unlocking setup, choosing the data drive, and entering your license.

Step A - Unlock setup

If the server is not configured yet, the Setup screen opens automatically. During installation Telvi creates a file LOGIN_CODE.txt in the application folder. Open that file, enter the code in the Setup screen and continue.

Step B - Choose or create a Telvi Drive

Next you decide where the data lives. You get two choices:

• Use an existing Telvi Drive - point Telvi at an existing Telvi Data folder (for example on a NAS that another server already uses). Telvi validates that it is a real Telvi Drive before accepting it.
• Create a new Telvi Drive - Telvi generates the complete folder structure and all required files for you, plus a default administrator account: username TelviAdmin, password TelviBroadcast.

Step C - License

Telvi is activated with a license code. On first run you enter your code; Telvi validates it online with EventalMedia and registers this machine. After that:

• The license is re-checked automatically at every startup and every 15 minutes while running.
• If the internet is temporarily down, Telvi keeps working on a 7-day offline grace period counted from the last successful online check.
• If the license (or this device) is removed in the EventalMedia portal, Telvi notices on the next check and asks for a valid code again - even if it is the same key.

Step D - Log in

On the login screen you enter your username and password. Users and rights are managed later in Settings > Users.

4Telvi Server - navigation & language

After logging in you enter the web interface. Navigation is on the left; the title of the current page is shown at the top.

The sidebar holds all sections: Dashboard, Media, Formats, Playlists (with Playlist viewer and Playlist builder), Cue Clock, Emergency override, Logs, Scripting and Settings. At the bottom of the sidebar you find your username, a logout button, the theme toggle (light/dark) and the language selector.

5Dashboard

The home screen with a quick overview and shortcuts.

The Dashboard shows the status at a glance (including the server's local time and whether the player is connected), a block with the latest logs, and quick actions to jump straight to the media library, the playlist viewer, the settings or the logs. It is meant as a starting point; the real work happens on the other pages.

6Media

The library of all your playable items. Here you manage videos, websites and livestreams.

Overview & search

The media page shows your items as cards with a thumbnail. At the top you can search (by name, group or ID), filter by type, and use the Archived button to also show archived items. Use Reload to refresh the list.

Adding a new item

With the New button you create a Website or Livestream yourself (you provide a name, group and the URL).

Editing an item

Click a card to open the edit window. For a video file the thumbnail plays as a player (if the browser cannot handle the format, it shows the thumbnail with a message). On the left you see quick info (ID, play count, date added, last played) and the Save button. On the right there are several tabs:

• Overview - name, group, media type, (for Website/Livestream) the URL, description and private notes.
• Automation - whether the item is included in automatic scheduling, media weight (how often it gets picked), minimum hours between plays, validity period (start/end date) and the automation grid.
• Audio - a per-item volume offset from -100 to +100, relative to the player's default volume. 0 means "use the default", +20 is louder, and -100 mutes this item. Older imported media keeps working (an offset of 0 by default).
• Scripting - optionally run a script at the start and/or end of this item. Turn the option on and pick a script from the script library. The Player runs the chosen script by its ID.
• Advanced - archiving and "show in API".
• Danger zone - permanently delete this media item.

7Formats & the Format editor

A format is the day template of your channel: the rules that determine what plays. You generate playlists from a format.

Formats overview

On the Formats page you see all your formats. You can create a New format, Edit an existing format, or Delete it. Formats are stored locally in the Telvi data directory.

The Format editor

This is the most powerful place in Telvi: a long-list editor where each row is a single programme point. At the top you enter the format's Name and Notes. Below that is the toolbar with all editing actions:

• Add row / Insert above / Insert below - add rules.
• Copy, Cut, Paste, Duplicate, Delete - manage rules.
• Move up / Move down - change the order.
• Search by note/group/media id, and To toolbox to save a selection as a snippet.

Per row you set:

8Scripting library

A central library of small Windows batch scripts that the Player can run at the start or end of a media item - for example to switch a mixer, trigger a light or notify another system.

The library

The Scripting page (in the sidebar between Logs and Settings) lists all your scripts, much like the Formats page. Each script gets its own ID and a name you choose. You can create, rename, edit and delete scripts here. Scripts are stored in the Telvi data folder under Telvi Data\scripts.

The code editor

Editing happens in a real code editor (the same engine as Visual Studio Code) with syntax highlighting for Windows batch files. It works fully offline - the editor is bundled with Telvi and updates itself in the background when a newer version is available.

Using a script on a media item

You do not write scripts on the media item itself. Instead, on the media item's Scripting tab you turn on "run script at start/end" and pick a script from the library. The Player then runs the selected script (by its ID) at the right moment. Reusing one script across many items keeps everything consistent and easy to update in one place.

9Generating playlists (Playlist builder)

Here you turn a format into concrete playlists, up to 30 days ahead - and build the emergency (fallback) playlist.

1. Choose the Format you want to use at the top.
2. Select the days in the calendar grid (click days), or use the quick buttons Next 7, Next 14 or Next 30.
3. Click Generate selected. Telvi builds the playlists; you see the progress per day and per format rule.

In the grid you can see, per day, whether a playlist already exists (green) or is still missing (red), and which days you have selected. Use Refresh status to reload that state.

The Emergency tile

The last tile in the grid (bottom right) is the Emergency playlist. You select it just like a day - but not together with days: choosing the Emergency tile clears any selected days and vice versa. With Generate selected Telvi then builds the fallback playlist from the chosen format and stores it in the Telvi Drive. The Player loops this list whenever there is nothing else to play.

10Viewing playlists (Playlist viewer)

See exactly what is scheduled per date - and spot potential problems.

Choose a date (or click Today), and browse through the days with Prev/Next. You can search and use Only issues to filter to rows that need attention. The table shows, per row, the start and end time, duration, type, title, ID and note. In the Flags column you see warnings:

• Missing - the linked media file was not found.
• Static start / Static end - the rule uses a hard (fixed) time.

Click a row for its details (timing, type, title/group, any issues and the URL). This page is read-only: you view here, you edit in the Format editor.

11Cue Clock & live cues

The live screen of the broadcast: what is playing now, what is coming, and the button to decide a moment yourself.

The Cue Clock shows a large clock, the item that is playing now (with remaining time and a progress bar) and the next items (Next, Then, Later). Perfect to run on a second screen during the broadcast.

The NEXT CUE button

Top right is the NEXT CUE button. It only becomes active when the next transition is a user cue - that is, when the current item has a user-cue end time, or the next item has a user-cue start time. At all other moments the button is greyed out.

When you click it, Telvi sends a command to the playouts and they jump to the next media. This way you decide the exact moment of the transition live - perfect for, for example, playing out a live item or a manual cut.

12Emergency override

Force one media item on air immediately, straight over the running schedule - for a breaking-news slate, a technical-difficulties card or an emergency stream.

The Emergency override page (in the sidebar, marked with a ⚠) lets you take over the broadcast in seconds:

1. Pick the media you want on air (search and select from the library).
2. Choose when it should stop:
   • Play once, then continue - plays the item one time, then returns to the live schedule.
   • Loop until I turn it off - keeps repeating the item (or keeps a stream running) until you switch the override off. Ideal for a stream or a holding card.
   • Until a set time - stays on air until the time you choose, then returns to the live schedule.
3. Optionally add a reason, then press Override now (hard cut). The Player takes over within about a second.

When the override ends (by any of the modes above, or when you press Turn override OFF), the Player returns to the live schedule - it joins whatever should be on air at that moment, so you are back exactly where the normal playout would be.

13Logs

Watch live what Telvi is doing - handy for checking and troubleshooting.

The Logs page shows the recent server logs. You can filter by text, choose how many lines to show, and use Auto to refresh automatically (with an adjustable interval). Use Top/Bottom to jump quickly through the list. While you are typing in the filter, auto refresh pauses briefly so the view does not jump around under your hands.

14Settings

All configuration in one place, split across tabs. At the bottom you save everything with Save all.

15Telvi Player

The player that runs on the broadcast PC and puts the playlist full screen on the display.

What the Player does

The Player reads the day's playlist from the data folder and plays the items on time: videos, websites and livestreams. It shows the station bug on screen, falls back to the emergency playlist when there is nothing to play, obeys the emergency override and user cues (the NEXT CUE button), and runs any start/end scripts attached to a media item.

Smooth, seamless playout

Telvi Player uses a dual-player technique with pre-loading: the next video is prepared on a second, hidden player while the current one is still on air, and the switch happens only once real picture is ready. The result is a clean, frame-accurate cut between items - no black flash in between.

Live playlist updates (hot reload)

If you edit or regenerate the playlist that is currently playing (the normal day list or the emergency list), the Player loads the new version live. The item currently on air keeps playing; only the upcoming queue and its timings follow the new schedule, so viewers see nothing. A new hard start time that has already passed may cut over to keep the schedule exact.

The station bug

The bug is a real PNG with true per-pixel transparency, always drawn on top of the (full-screen) video. The Player keeps it in memory, so the PNG file stays replaceable, and it reloads automatically when you change the image or its settings on the server. If the file is missing it simply hides until it returns.

The settings screen (SHIFT+ESC)

The Player has its own local settings screen. You open it like this:

1. Start the Telvi Player. During startup the splash appears.
2. In the first 2 seconds after the splash, hold down the keys Shift + Esc. At the bottom of the splash you see the hint "Press SHIFT+ESC for configuration menu".
3. The settings screen opens. Adjust your settings and click OK. The Player saves and restarts automatically with the new settings. (Use Cancel to simply continue.)

In this screen you set per machine:

• Output display - which connected screen the Player plays on.
• GPU rendering - hardware acceleration on or off (for both the browser rendering and video decoding).
• Start automatically with Windows - have the Player start as soon as Windows starts.

The output resolution is no longer set here - it comes from the server settings (chapter 14).

16Typical workflow (step by step)

This is what a full journey from "empty" to "on air" looks like.

1. Prepare media. Add websites/livestreams via Media > New, and videos via the Telvi Importer. Put items into logical groups.
2. Set properties. Decide per item its automation, per-item volume (Audio tab) and any start/end scripts (Scripting tab).
3. Build a format. Create your day schedule in the Format editor: rules with the right media, selection and start/end types (Follow/Hard/User cue).
4. Generate playlists. In the Playlist builder, choose your format and the days, and click Generate selected. Also build an Emergency playlist here.
5. Check. In the Playlist viewer, verify that everything is correct and there are no red flags.
6. Broadcast. Start the Telvi Player on the broadcast PC (correct screen set via SHIFT+ESC). It plays the playlist automatically.
7. Steer live. Keep an eye on the Cue Clock, use NEXT CUE for manual cues, and reach for the Emergency override if you ever need to take over instantly.

17Administration & good to know

A few things that are handy for administrators and while running.

• Shared data folder. Server and Player(s) share the Telvi Data folder. Put it on a reliable, fast location (local or NAS) that all machines can reach.
• Multiple players. You can run multiple playouts; they read the same schedule and respond to cues and overrides together. Telvi tracks which players are active and healthy via "heartbeats".
• Emergency playlist. Always build one (Playlist builder > Emergency tile), so a black screen never occurs if the regular list runs empty.
• License. Keep the machine online now and then; the license re-checks every 15 minutes and tolerates up to 7 days offline. Removing the license or device in the portal forces re-entry.
• Compliance recording. For compliance you can automatically record snapshots and audio/video (Compliance tab).
• Watchdog. Monitors the player and can warn/intervene on problems.
• Security. Passwords are stored hashed; keep the login screen enabled in production and change the default admin password.
• Logs. When in doubt: check the Logs - there you see live what is happening.

18Glossary

19Appendix: keyboard shortcuts