This guide explains how to prepare the catalogue, what to watch for with rights and storage, and how the interaction works from Twitch chat.
What a re-air with interaction is
A re-air plays content you have already recorded, without you being live. The interactive version adds three pieces on top:
- Requests: viewers ask for a specific video from the catalogue.
- Votes: when there are several options, chat votes and the most voted wins.
- An on-screen overlay that announces the next video and who requested it.
The difference from a regular 24/7 channel is that you do not decide the order in advance: the audience does.
What content you can re-air
- Your own VODs and past streams. This is the most common case and the safest.
- Your own YouTube playlists, if you hold the rights to what they contain.
- Nothing from third parties without permission. The channel owner is responsible for what goes on air, music included.
Before re-airing a VOD, check whether it carries commercial music or sections you do not want to show again, and take them out of the catalogue. Platforms can mute parts of a video or remove content with unlicensed music.
Download your VODs in time
Twitch keeps VODs for 7, 14 or 60 days depending on the account type. After that they are gone, so if you want to re-air them you have to download them first. Be selective: you do not need everything, only the best streams and the series your community already knows.
Storage sets the limit: how much catalogue fits
A stream video takes a lot of space. In a measurement with real VODs, each hour of broadcast came to about 3 GB. With 180 GB of catalogue, around 55 to 60 hours fit; that is indicative and depends on the quality of your videos.
That is why the catalogue is a selection, not an endless archive: a few well chosen videos work better than hundreds in no order.
How chat takes part
The audience interacts with simple commands in Twitch chat:
- !pide to request a video from the catalogue.
- !cola to see what comes next.
- !votar to vote when a vote is open.
- !series to see the available series.
A bot with its own identity answers in chat, so it does not use your account. The overlay shows the vote in progress and announces the next video before it starts.
Re-air and live streams on the same channel
The re-air and your live stream cannot run at once on the same key. You need a handover: before you go live the re-air is stopped, and when you finish it is started again. In our pilot phase the handover is manual and supervised by us.
Realistic expectations
Streaming non-stop does not guarantee an audience, and platforms can limit the visibility of channels that repeat content. It helps to make clear in the title that it is a re-air and to give viewers a reason to stay: being able to choose what plays is a good one.
How we do it at CloudLiveOn
CINE Stream is our re-air service with chat in charge: a dedicated OBS plays your catalogue, with the overlay, the commands and a bot of its own. It is in a pilot phase, with limited spots requested through Discord, at €69.99 a month.
If you prefer to play your content in a fixed order, with no chat or votes, there is the 24/7 Channel. And if you want to understand the options before deciding, read the 24/7 channel guide.
Quick checklist before you start
- You have downloaded the VODs you want to re-air before they expire.
- You have checked the music and the sections you do not want to show again.
- You have a short, well chosen catalogue, not the whole archive.
- You know how you will do the handover when you want to go live.
Frequently asked questions
Can I re-air my Twitch VODs?
Yes, they are your content. Download them before they expire and check the music and any sections you do not want to air again.
How much catalogue fits on a re-air channel?
It depends on the space and the quality of the videos. In a measurement with real VODs it came to about 3 GB per hour of broadcast, which means around 55 to 60 hours in 180 GB.
How does chat vote on what plays?
With commands such as !votar in Twitch chat. When a vote is open, the overlay shows the options and the most voted wins.
Can I go live on the same channel?
Yes, with a handover: the re-air and your live stream cannot run at once on the same key. In the pilot the handover is manual and supervised.
Does re-airing guarantee an audience?
No. Platforms can limit the visibility of channels that repeat content. It works better when the community can take part.
