Broadcast operations

Unlock and lock the broadcast console

Enter the console password to change the settings that could take a broadcast off air, and lock the console again when you walk away.

Updated 3 min read5 parts
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The Feed Console has a second password on top of staff permissions. It protects the settings that could take a broadcast off air — a feed’s push details, creating or deleting playouts — while everyday operating stays outside it. An operator can run the show all night without it; nobody can quietly repoint a camera.

What the password protects

ActionNeeds the console password?
Create, edit or delete a feed — including its type, Base URL and Stream IDYes
Rename a feedNo
Create or delete a playoutYes
Start, Stop, Next, Sync; add, remove or reorder playlist videos; save a playout’s settingsNo
Create or delete a custom pipeline, or change its Adaptive bitrateYes
Wire, switch or remove routes on the Pipelines board; rename a custom pipelineNo
Add, edit, switch or remove simulcast destinations on feeds and eventsNo
Create, edit, reorder or delete live channelsNo
Settings → Content → Streaming — allowed stream domains, off-air placeholder and limitsYes — the tab is hidden while locked
Turning languages on or off in Settings → Locale → LanguageYes
Add, fully edit or delete a radio stationYes
Rename a radio station, change its artwork or reorder stationsNo

Unlock the console

  1. 1
    Notice you’re locked

    While the console is locked, protected buttons such as New feed and New playout are hidden, and editing a feed offers Rename feed only.

  2. 2
    Open the unlock screen

    Go to the console unlock screen, headed Protected and Enter console password. The Studio doesn’t link to it from locked pages, so ask your administrator for the team’s bookmark.

  3. 3
    Enter the password

    Type it into Password — the eye icon shows what you typed — and select Unlock. A wrong entry shows “Incorrect password.”

  4. 4
    Carry on

    The Studio takes you to the Dashboard. Go back to the page you were on, and the protected buttons reappear.

The Studio
Studio console unlock screen, the Protected card with the Password field and the Unlock button

How long an unlock lasts

An unlock lasts 2 hours and belongs to you alone — each staff member unlocks separately. It covers the whole Feed Console and radio station changes at the same time.

Lock it again

  1. 1
    Find the lock button

    While you’re unlocked, Feeds, Playouts, Pipelines and a pipeline’s details page show an Unlocked button with the hint “Click to lock the console again”.

  2. 2
    Lock now

    Select it. The Studio confirms “Console locked.” and hides the protected buttons again.

The password itself

The console password is set for your whole platform when it’s configured — it isn’t changed from Settings. If your platform has no console password, the lock is off and every action above is open to anyone with the right permissions. To set, change or remove it, contact your TKDS account team.

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