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To rerun a gaming VOD as a YouTube Live stream, you can send it from OBS on a computer that stays on, or use a cloud service that streams the uploaded video for you. OBS offers local control and costs no software fee; a cloud service avoids keeping a streaming PC running. In either case, use content you have rights to rebroadcast, configure the YouTube stream in Live Control Room, and do not assume that a rerun will qualify for monetization.
Choose OBS or a cloud stream
| Consideration | OBS on your computer | Cloud service |
|---|---|---|
| Where the stream runs | OBS encodes and sends the video from your computer. The computer and its network connection need to remain available while the broadcast runs. | The service streams from hosted infrastructure, so you do not need to dedicate a local PC to encoding throughout the broadcast. |
| Setup and control | Configure the encoder in OBS and manage the broadcast through YouTube Studio. YouTube supports scheduled streams and reusable stream settings. | Service-specific scheduling and automation vary. Check the provider’s current capabilities and limits before subscribing. |
| Software cost | YouTube’s verified encoder directory describes OBS as open-source software for video recording and live streaming at no charge. | Pricing and plan limits depend on the provider. YouTube’s directory lists Gyre as a cloud option for continuous prerecorded streams, but does not establish its current pricing or limits. |
| Viewer rewind | YouTube’s DVR setting may let viewers pause and rewind during the live stream. It may be limited or unavailable for streams longer than 12 hours. | |
| Rights and platform policies | The same YouTube rules apply whichever method you use. You remain responsible for the rights to the video and audio and for meeting YouTube’s policies. | |
OBS suits creators who want to use a local encoder and can keep the computer and connection running. A cloud service suits creators who want the stream to run without a dedicated home PC. Neither approach guarantees uptime, audience reach, watch time, or monetization.
What you need before starting
- A gaming VOD you are authorized to stream, including its music and other audio.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled. YouTube says first-time activation can take up to 24 hours.
- A stream key from YouTube Live Control Room. Treat it like a password: do not share it, and reset it if you think it has been exposed.
- For the OBS method, a computer able to play the VOD and run OBS for the entire broadcast, plus a network connection that remains available.
- For a cloud method, a provider whose current supported formats, duration, scheduling, storage, and pricing suit your needs.
Rerun the VOD with OBS
- Check rights first. Confirm the game publisher permits your intended use and review the VOD for music or other material you are not licensed to rebroadcast. YouTube requires the necessary rights for live and archived content.
- Enable live streaming if needed. In YouTube Studio, begin the live-streaming setup for your channel. If this is your first time, allow up to 24 hours for activation.
- Create or schedule an encoder stream. In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create a stream or schedule one for the intended start time. YouTube supports encoder streams and allows settings to be reused.
- Copy the stream key. In the stream’s settings in Live Control Room, copy the key and enter it in OBS’s stream configuration. Keep it private; it connects your encoder to your YouTube channel.
- Load the VOD in OBS. Add the authorized video file as a media source and check that it plays with the intended picture and sound. If you use scenes or overlays, verify that they do not obscure the video or introduce material you lack rights to use.
- Check the scheduled event settings. YouTube provides auto-start and auto-stop controls. Confirm the settings on the actual event rather than assuming they are enabled or configured as you expect.
- Start the encoder at the planned time. Start streaming from OBS and confirm that YouTube Live Control Room is receiving the feed before relying on the broadcast.
- Keep the computer and connection available. Because OBS is encoding and sending locally, the broadcast depends on the computer and network remaining available. YouTube does not guarantee a particular uptime for this setup.
Set expectations for a long broadcast
DVR and rewind
YouTube’s DVR feature can let viewers pause, rewind, and continue during a live stream. YouTube says DVR may be limited or unavailable when a stream exceeds 12 hours. An archived recording may remain available after the event even when DVR is disabled, depending on YouTube’s processing and your settings.
Reused content and monetization
YouTube’s monetization policy applies to live streams. On July 15, 2025, YouTube clarified its policy by renaming “repetitious content” as “inauthentic content”; it describes repetitive or mass-produced material without materially varied creative, educational, or other viewer value as ineligible for monetization. That does not mean every VOD rerun is automatically ineligible, but a rebroadcast alone is not a promise of monetization. Eligibility depends on the content and channel’s circumstances.
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Cloud streaming services
A cloud service sends the prerecorded video from hosted infrastructure rather than depending on a dedicated local encoding PC. YouTube’s verified encoder directory lists Gyre as a cloud-based tool for 24/7 live streaming of prerecorded videos on YouTube. That directory listing indicates category fit; it is not an endorsement and does not establish a provider’s current plan features, pricing, limits, or referral terms. Verify those details with the service before choosing it.
For a YouTube-only channel that wants an always-on rerun, StreamNeo is another cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops the uploaded video from the cloud, so your computer can be off. Every slot supports the uploaded video up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. The monthly option is $9.99 per month.
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Rights and content checks before rebroadcasting
- Game footage: YouTube says monetization of game content depends on commercial-use permission from the publisher. Check the publisher’s current streaming policy; extended gameplay without appropriate permission or qualifying commentary may not be accepted for monetization.
- Music and other audio: Make sure you have the rights needed for both the live stream and its archive, including applicable music rights. A VOD that was previously uploaded is not, by itself, proof you can rebroadcast every element in it.
- Channel value: Consider whether the rerun adds distinct viewer value rather than simply repeating material. YouTube’s inauthentic-content policy may affect monetization where content is repetitive or mass-produced without meaningful variation.
Troubleshoot a VOD rerun
YouTube is not receiving the OBS feed
- Check that OBS is configured with the stream key for the intended event and channel.
- Confirm that live streaming is enabled for the channel; first-time activation can take up to 24 hours.
- In Live Control Room, check that the scheduled event is the one you intend to use and that it is receiving the encoder feed.
- If you suspect the key was exposed, reset it in YouTube’s stream settings and update OBS with the replacement.
The broadcast does not start or stop as expected
- Review auto-start and auto-stop on the specific scheduled stream in YouTube Live Control Room. YouTube provides these controls, but confirm the event’s actual configuration before leaving it unattended.
- For an OBS stream, verify that OBS is running and the computer and network remain available for the planned duration.
Viewers cannot rewind, or the archive differs from the live event
- Check the stream’s DVR setting. YouTube says DVR can be limited or unavailable for streams longer than 12 hours.
- Do not treat DVR and the archived recording as the same feature: archive availability can depend on YouTube processing and your settings.
The video is claimed or is not eligible for monetization
- Review the rights for game footage, music, and other included material, including rights for live and archived use.
- Check the game publisher’s current commercial-use rules and YouTube’s monetization policy. A previous upload or successful live session does not establish that a later rerun is cleared or monetizable.
Or let it run in the cloud
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