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YouTube can schedule when a live broadcast starts, but it does not schedule different playlists to play at different hours within that broadcast. For that, schedule the content in your playout setup: in OBS, create a scene for each time block and use the Advanced Scene Switcher plugin to change scenes automatically. Put an ordered playlist in each scene with an OBS VLC Video source.

Broadcast scheduling and playlist scheduling are different

A YouTube live broadcast is the event viewers watch; a YouTube live stream carries the audio and video feed into that event. Scheduling a broadcast controls the event and its connection to a stream. It does not tell YouTube to rotate playlists or change the feed’s content at a particular hour. That change has to happen in the encoder or playout layer, such as OBS.

YouTube’s API requires a scheduled start time when creating a scheduled broadcast. Its broadcast reference says that if an end time is omitted, the broadcast is treated as indefinite. Neither setting creates a schedule for what OBS plays during the broadcast. See the YouTube Live Broadcasts API reference and YouTube Live Streams API reference.

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Choose how to organize the content

One continuous sequence

Use one OBS scene with a VLC Video source containing an ordered playlist if the stream should play a single sequence without time-based changes. OBS documents loop and shuffle options for VLC playlists. VLC must be installed on the computer running OBS. Check the source’s visibility behavior: depending on its setting, playback can stop, pause, or continue when the source is hidden. See the OBS VLC Video Source guide.

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Different playlists or layouts by time block

Create a separate scene for each daypart when each block needs its own playlist or other visual elements. For example, make a “Morning” scene with a morning playlist and a “Evening” scene with an evening playlist. An Advanced Scene Switcher macro can then switch to the appropriate scene at the chosen time.

This approach makes the scene—not YouTube—the schedule for what viewers see. Decide whether switching scenes should preserve playback or restart sources, then test that behavior with your selected OBS and source settings.

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Set up time-based scene changes in OBS

  1. Install the required software. Install OBS Studio and VLC on the computer that will run the broadcast. Install Advanced Scene Switcher from its official OBS plugin listing. The listing at the time of research identified release 1.36.1, a minimum OBS Studio version of 31.1.1, and Windows, macOS, and Linux support. Compatibility and releases can change, so check the current listing before installing.
  2. Make a scene for each daypart. In OBS, add a scene for each scheduled block, such as “Morning” and “Evening.” Add a VLC Video source to each scene and configure its ordered media playlist. Confirm the intended loop or shuffle setting and source visibility behavior.
  3. Open Advanced Scene Switcher and create a macro for each change. Use a date/time condition for the time the block should begin and a scene-switch action targeting the corresponding scene. Repeat for each daypart. The plugin’s macros combine conditions and actions; consult its current documentation and interface for the exact available controls.
  4. Check the time basis. Verify the computer’s clock and timezone, and confirm that the time conditions match the schedule you intend to follow. Account for daylight-saving changes if they affect the computer’s timezone.
  5. Test every boundary before relying on automation. Confirm the expected scene is active immediately before and after each change time. Listen for audio gaps or overlap, verify the right source is visible and playing, and check whether a scene change restarts a playlist as expected.
  6. Run a complete rehearsal. Keep OBS connected to the intended YouTube live event and watch the feed during a test switch. Check that the encoder stays connected and that the video and audio remain correct. The plugin’s configurable features do not guarantee that an individual computer, network, or stream will operate unattended without interruption.

Plan for YouTube’s content rules

Automating a playlist does not change the rights or policies that apply to the material. Use content you own or are authorized to stream, and check YouTube’s rules for copyright and live content before broadcasting. A scheduled scene change is a technical control, not permission to rebroadcast someone else’s work.

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Or let it run in the cloud

If the goal is to keep uploaded videos playing on a YouTube channel without leaving an OBS computer running, StreamNeo is a cloud option. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud; it does not stream from a camera or to other platforms.

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