# Stream Preview

When having a stream, it is possible to set up a loading screen before your event goes live. Having a stream-loading screen is a valuable asset as it serves as a polished introduction to the streaming experience, presenting a seamless and professional image to viewers. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, a **Stream preview** maintains the audience's engagement during critical moments, as it can serve to provide a buffer for brief technical adjustments or seamless transitions between scenes.

## How to add a stream preview to your event

> **Getting Started**
>
> If you haven't already, begin by following the [Getting Started](https://docs-preview.optiview.dolby.com/pr-863/millicast.md) tutorial to create an OptiView Real-time application and start your first broadcast. You'll need your *publish token* and *stream name* for the steps described below.

Open up the management screen of your stream token and visit the Playback tab. To the right on the *Hosted player path*, there will be a space for an **Offline image URL**. Here place the image's link with an HTTP-compliant URL.

![](/pr-863/assets/images/stream_preview-9bf77399f725a8dc358b6debe4b6c722.png)

Additionally, this feature can be accessed from inside the Broadcaster via the share icon. Under the Hosted Player iFrame URL, click on the Customize button, where a new window will show up with options to customize the player settings.

![](/pr-863/assets/images/Capture_decran_2023-08-07_a_4.37.33_PM-61f5480bfb532cf9eaedf4e7bcb589d5.png)

To ensure the image has been correctly added to the live stream, visit the Hosted player path URL, and you should see the image displayed as the stream is not live.

![](/pr-863/assets/images/Capture_decran_2023-08-07_a_4.41.25_PM-3401c60cdf8a7c7186adf1f79a6c0762.png)

This is not the only customizable setting available for your event. The following are available to be enabled:

![](/pr-863/assets/images/Capture_decran_2023-08-07_a_4.55.22_PM-be060db722946a2c130cad9b7d3a91ec.png)

***Auto Play***

Autoplay is a feature that automatically plays media content, such as videos or music, without requiring the user to initiate each play action manually.

***Muted on Start***

The stream initiates playback without audio when first loaded or displayed.

***Play Button Show***

The start button can be erased from the player from the viewer's perspective.

***Volume Button***

The volume button can be erased from the player from the viewer's perspective.

***Fullscreen Button***

The fullscreen button can be disabled during the live stream.

***Picture in Picture Button***

The option of picture-in-picture can be disabled for the viewers.

***Google Cast Button***

The option of casting to the TV through Google Cast can be enabled or disabled.

***Live Badge***

A live badge can be eliminated from the player from the viewer's perspective.

***User Count***

An overall count of the total viewers on the stream can be enabled/disabled.

***Settings***

The settings icon can be voided from the viewer's screen disabling their ability to view the Media Stats or Report Playback Issues.

***Start in Multiview Mode***

This feature will automatically start the stream with the viewer's perspective being the multiview layout if the stream has been set up as such.

***Hide Labels***

This will hide all logos or labels during the livestream.

***Hide all Controls***

This feature will hide all options from the viewer's perspective.

## Learn more

Learn more by exploring the [developer blog](https://optiview.dolby.com/resources/blog/tag/distribution/) and [code samples](https://github.com/orgs/dolbyio-samples/repositories?q=distribution).