HotSwitch Backstage Social Player configuration

Preface

This document explains what is the HotSwitch Social Player, and how to configure it as part of the Zapp Platform.

HotSwitch is an end-to-end social layer that puts your content streaming on hyperdrive. Easily activate live fan chats, including admin-hosted polling, trivias, and more. Chat rooms can be hosted individually per event and show, and can be monetized with sponsor branding.

Complete with a custom admin account on [HotSwitch Backstage](https://backstage.hotswitch.com), you'll have access to robust analytics on total viewership, engagement breakdowns, and demographic insights.

HotSwitch supports externally-hosted live streamed video via HLS .m3u8 and .mp4 encoding, and can offer hosted streaming services as a separately priced service as well. Visit [HotSwitch.com](https://hotswitch.com) for more.

Key Features

- Live and stored audience chat
- Video content streaming (HotSwitch and Third-Party hosting)
- Live Trivia with timed player responses
- Realtime Sports Data: Game score, player roster, etc. (contact [e-mail] for more)
- Custom event and host-message branding
- Custom event synopsis
- Admin and moderator features: post deletion, user banning, automated profanity censoring
- Realtime analytics: viewership, engagement, demographics

Supported Operating System Versions

• Android - OS 4.2
• iOS - OS 10.0

Things to keep in mind

- iOS Plugin Currently in development
- Admin event scheduling, management and engagement analytics can be accessed via [HotSwitch Backstage](https://backstage.hotswitch.com) with your enterprise account.
- Further features currently in development or private preview include VIP content, media galleries, subscription-based access and in-app purchases, among others. Please contact [e-mail] to find out more, or to request private preview access for upcoming releases.

Pre-Requisite

In order to be able to use the HotSwitch Social Player, you must install the "HotSwitchChat" plugin:

Logging In

A CENTRAL PLATFORM FOR ALL YOUR INTERACTIVE STREAMS

Backstage is HotSwitch’s content management system (CMS), built to support media streaming and interaction for robust integrations. As an Enterprise partner, you will be able to create show streams, upload live and pre-recorded media, set airtime scheduling, manage sponsor placements, track audience analytics, and launch interactions such as live trivia.

Initially, you will be able to log in with credentials provided by the HotSwitch team. Once logged in, you will be able to edit your account and manage team members.

CMS PORTAL URL:

On your web browser, visit the following web link to log in to your Enterprise account:

https://backstage.hotswitch.com

If you encounter any errors in the process of logging in for the first time with your pre-determined team credentials, please email [e-mail] to let our team know. One of our support members will respond, same-day, with reset credentials.

If you have already logged in and created a custom account and are now having trouble accessing it, please click forgot your password to send a password reset link to your email. 

Dashboard

Your Dashboard will display key content sections to help you navigate your portfolio of shows and episodes.

DEFINITIONS:

• SHOW: A playlist or channel containing a portfolio of sequential streams.
• EPISODE: A stream event (chat, video, and/or interactive) within a show.

Account Settings 

Your Account Settings will allow you to manage team member permissions, create branded accounts, and set your push notification certificates for Android and iOS platforms.

Create a New Show

Creating a new show (or content type, as it will be renamed in Backstage v.2.1.4), is as simple as clicking on the top- right green button from your Dashboard view. It will activate a modal where you can select a few high-level details before launching into the Show Details page.

Show Details Page

Your Show Details page will display key assets and distribution details to manage the user experience in-app. 

 

Episode Details Page

Your Episode Details page will display streamed media and sponsor assets to manage the user experience in chat.

Linking to Zapp Platform

Within Applicaster’s Zapp platform, you will be able to link HotSwitch events by Episode ID and Show ID. You may choose to input only one of the two values. They can be found within the URL structure of your HS Backstage page.

BACKSTAGE - URL STRUCTURE:

backstage.hotswitch.com/dashboard/shows/cc78b7fb0944405ca61/episode/5070cbee57554decbc6fe

Live Trivia Manager

Live Trivia games are inactive by default on every new Episode. Before launching/activating a new Live Trivia game, you must set a few details, including streamed media, and trivia questions. This page explores the inactive state of Live Trivia. The next page will explore the Live Trivia page once a game has been activated and is running.

A. TRIVIA INACTIVE - KEY COMPONENTS:

  

B. TRIVIA ACTIVE -  KEY COMPONENTS:

This page explores the active state of Live Trivia. During this state, viewers will be viewing vertical live stream video and interacting with Trivia components like questions and results.

Analytics Tracking

Your Analytics panel will display key metrics based on viewership, interaction types, and demographics, pulling these from both integrated SDK data and – when applicable – your HotSwitch custom-branded white label applications.

Note: Not all metrics may display depending on the integration type and platform of use. Areas marked with (*) may be available only for deployed white label applications and not integrated SDK plugins.

 

FAQs

WHAT IS A WHITE LABEL APPLICATION?

A white label app allows any person to download your app, sign up and log in for iOS + Android devices from the Apple app store and Google Play Store.

WHAT IS AN EMBEDDED NATIVE SDK?

This type of integration works as a layer that can integrate with existing content. HotSwitch partners with Applicaster to integrate and launch our interactive SDK for your organization. If your organization already owns a published mobile app, the HotSwitch SDK can also seamlessly integrate into that platform as an added feature.

CAN I MONETIZE MY SPONSORS WITHIN THE LIVE CHAT?

Yes! HotSwitch currently offers image, video, notification, and custom-branded messages/polls to enable sponsored content and chatrooms. By request the platform can also integrate Google Ads (DFP), among others, to facilitate the ability for your organization to sell pre-roll ad spots.

WHAT ANALYTICS CAN I MEASURE FROM MY AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT?

The HotSwitch Dashboard aggregates realtime metrics by demographic segments (gender, regional distribution, time zone, age group, etc.), as well as social sentiment (poll answers, messages per minute, sticker reactions, replies, and shares, among others). You will also be able to view big picture indicators such as unique sessions per event, average viewership length, dropoffs, among others.

WILL HOTSWITCH HELP ME LAUNCH MY SOCIAL LAYER?

Yes. Enterprise Tier partners have full access to the HotSwitch development team for integrating and launching any of the software solutions offered by this plan. We often recommend taking advantage of this, as we can help ensure a seamless integration with your existing platforms.

HOW DOES LIVE VIDEO DISTRIBUTION WORK?

HotSwitch’s Embedded Native SDK is built with a live video player. Most live stream formats such as .M3U8 in the HLS format are supported. File hosting through HotSwitch is available, as well as inputting your live stream links from separate hosting platforms. HotSwitch also currently partners with several video hosting organizations and can connect your team to the right service if needed.