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What are Channels?

Blue Billywig Channels lets you create a fully branded, standalone video experience — your own streaming portal. Channels combines your video content into a single, customizable destination with swim lanes, grids, carousels, search, detail pages, and more.

Key Features

  • Branded video hub — customize colors, fonts, logos, and layout to match your brand
  • Multiple layout types — sliders, carousels, grids, and featured headers
  • Search — built-in search across all channel content
  • Detail pages — dedicated landing pages per video with related content
  • Playlists & clips — organize content into playlists or feature individual clips
  • Responsive — works across desktop, tablet, and mobile browsers
  • Monetization — full ad support (VAST, VPAID, Google IMA)
  • Analytics — built-in viewing statistics and event tracking
  • Deep linking — link directly to specific videos within a channel

How It Works

A channel is configured in the Blue Billywig Online Video Platform (OVP). You select content (clips, playlists, projects), choose a layout, and customize the appearance. The platform generates a channel that can be:

  1. Embedded on your website using JavaScript or iframe embed codes
  2. Embedded in a mobile app using the React Native, SwiftUI, or Compose Channel SDK
  3. Accessed as a standalone page via a direct URL

Channel URL Format

Every channel has a unique URL:

https://{publication}.bbvms.com/ch/{channelId}

For example: https://demo.bbvms.com/ch/1152

Platform Support

PlatformMethodDocumentation
Web (any website)JavaScript embed or iframeSupport site
React Native app@bluebillywig/react-native-channelReact Native SDK
SwiftUI app (iOS)BBChannelSDK via SPMSwiftUI SDK
Compose app (Android)com.bluebillywig:channel-composeCompose SDK

Channel Elements

Channels are built from four element types:

A logo image and/or title text displayed at the top of the channel.

Video Player

An inline video player showing a clip, playlist, or project. Only one player element per channel. Options include:

  • Show/hide title and description
  • Playlist display position (right of player or below)
  • Content presentation mode (inline player, deep link, or detail page)

Playlist

A collection of videos displayed as a slider, carousel, or grid. Multiple playlist elements can be added. Options include:

  • Slider, carousel, or grid layout
  • Customizable thumbnail aspect ratios (16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 21:9, 4:5)
  • Show/hide video titles

A large hero-style element with a custom image (recommended 1600×600px), title, and a single featured video.

Configuration

Channels are configured in the Blue Billywig OVP under Content Management → Channels. Available settings include:

  • Color theme — Light or Dark
  • Fonts — Primary and secondary font families and colors
  • Background color — Presets or custom hex code
  • Border radius — Controls corner roundness (0px = square)
  • Padding — Left/right outer spacing (0px = full width)
  • Maximum width — Constrain the channel width
  • Search — Enable/disable the search bar
  • Button styling — Border radius, colors, hover states

Next Steps