# YouTube Channel Streams – Live, Upcoming & Past (`scrapingmonkey/youtube-channel-streams-scraper`) Actor

Collect broadcast listings from YouTube channel handles or IDs. Export stream links, titles, status flags, view labels, schedules, thumbnails, and source-channel context.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/scrapingmonkey/youtube-channel-streams-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ScrapingMonkey](https://apify.com/scrapingmonkey) (community)
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

Catalogue the broadcasts exposed on a YouTube channel's Live tab. **YouTube Channel Streams Scraper** returns stream links, titles, thumbnails, available audience labels, and live, upcoming, or past status inferred from the listing.

Use channel handles or IDs and choose the number of result pages to collect. Each broadcast stays in one row with its source-channel context.

| At a glance | Details |
| --- | --- |
| 📥 Input | Channel handles or UC IDs |
| 📤 Output | Live-tab broadcast listings, status flags, titles, view labels, schedules, and channel context |
| 🔐 Login required | No |
| 📄 Collection | Configurable result pages per input |
| 💾 Delivery | One row per stream result, in one table |

### What the YouTube channel streams scraper collects 🔎

The Actor reads the channel's Live tab and classifies the stream listings YouTube makes available.

- Broadcast ID, watch URL, title, and listing position
- Live, upcoming, or past status and available badges
- Scheduled start value when the listing exposes it
- View or currently-watching label with a parsed numeric value
- Duration and publication wording for broadcasts that expose them
- Thumbnail variants, available creator details, and source-channel information

This is a snapshot of public listings. It does not record streams, read live chat, or continuously monitor a broadcast.

### How to scrape YouTube channel streams 🚀

1. Prepare the channel handles or IDs you want to collect.
2. Add them to `inputList`, one value per item.
3. Set `pagesPerInput` and start the Actor.
4. Check `status` and export the fields needed for your workflow.

```json
{
  "inputList": [
    "NASA"
  ],
  "pagesPerInput": 1
}
```

### YouTube channel streams data fields and output 📦

| Field group | Included data |
| --- | --- |
| Broadcast | ID, watch URL, title, type, and listing position |
| State and schedule | Stream status, live/upcoming flags, badges, and available scheduled start |
| Audience and timing | Displayed views or watching label, duration, and publication text |
| Images and context | Thumbnails, creator details, and source-channel profile fields |

Complete illustrative success item. The fictional values below demonstrate the output and are not a live result:

```json
{
  "input": "TrailJournal",
  "status": "success",
  "id": "TrailWalk01",
  "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrailWalk01",
  "type": "stream",
  "title": "Live trail planning: routes and questions",
  "description": "A shaded forest loop with route notes at https://example.com/trail #hiking",
  "thumbnail_url": "https://example.com/trail-large.jpg",
  "thumbnails.url": [
    "https://example.com/trail-small.jpg",
    "https://example.com/trail-large.jpg"
  ],
  "thumbnails.width": [
    160,
    1280
  ],
  "thumbnails.height": [
    90,
    720
  ],
  "duration_seconds": 3720,
  "duration_text": "1:02:00",
  "views": 8400,
  "views_text": "8.4K views",
  "published_text": "Streamed 2 days ago",
  "badges": [],
  "is_live": false,
  "is_upcoming": false,
  "is_premiere": false,
  "is_members_only": false,
  "stream_status": "past",
  "scheduled_start_time": null,
  "accessibility_text": "Live trail planning: routes and questions by Trail Journal",
  "author.id": "UCabcdefghijklmnopqrstuv",
  "author.name": "Trail Journal",
  "author.handle": "@TrailJournal",
  "author.url": "https://www.youtube.com/@TrailJournal",
  "author.avatar_url": "https://example.com/trail-large.jpg",
  "author.avatar_thumbnails.url": [
    "https://example.com/trail-small.jpg",
    "https://example.com/trail-large.jpg"
  ],
  "author.avatar_thumbnails.width": [
    160,
    800
  ],
  "author.avatar_thumbnails.height": [
    160,
    800
  ],
  "author.is_verified": false,
  "source_channel.id": "UCabcdefghijklmnopqrstuv",
  "source_channel.handle": "@TrailJournal",
  "source_channel.name": "Trail Journal",
  "source_channel.url": "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCabcdefghijklmnopqrstuv",
  "source_channel.canonical_url": "https://www.youtube.com/@TrailJournal",
  "source_channel.vanity_url": "https://www.youtube.com/@TrailJournal",
  "source_channel.description": "Weekend walks, route guides, and quiet places.",
  "source_channel.avatar_url": "https://example.com/trail-large.jpg",
  "source_channel.avatar_thumbnails.url": [
    "https://example.com/trail-small.jpg",
    "https://example.com/trail-large.jpg"
  ],
  "source_channel.avatar_thumbnails.width": [
    160,
    800
  ],
  "source_channel.avatar_thumbnails.height": [
    160,
    800
  ],
  "source_channel.banner_url": "https://example.com/trail-large.jpg",
  "source_channel.banner_thumbnails.url": [
    "https://example.com/trail-small.jpg",
    "https://example.com/trail-large.jpg"
  ],
  "source_channel.banner_thumbnails.width": [
    1060,
    2120
  ],
  "source_channel.banner_thumbnails.height": [
    175,
    350
  ],
  "source_channel.subscribers": 12000,
  "source_channel.subscribers_text": "12K subscribers",
  "source_channel.videos_count": 25,
  "source_channel.videos_count_text": "25 videos",
  "source_channel.views": 500000,
  "source_channel.views_text": "500K views",
  "source_channel.country": "United States",
  "source_channel.joined_date": "Joined Jan 1, 2020",
  "source_channel.keywords": [
    "hiking",
    "trail guides"
  ],
  "source_channel.keywords_raw": "hiking \"trail guides\"",
  "source_channel.external_links.title": [
    "Website"
  ],
  "source_channel.external_links.url": [
    "https://example.com"
  ],
  "source_channel.external_links.display_url": [
    "example.com"
  ],
  "source_channel.external_links.icon_url": [
    "https://example.com/trail-large.jpg"
  ],
  "source_channel.rss_url": "https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCabcdefghijklmnopqrstuv",
  "source_channel.available_countries": [
    "US",
    "GB"
  ],
  "source_channel.is_verified": false,
  "source_channel.is_family_safe": true,
  "source_channel.is_subscriber_count_hidden": false,
  "position": 1
}
```

The table and JSON use the same flat field names, including literal dotted keys. The views field may represent a displayed view total or current-watching figure; views\_text preserves the label needed to distinguish them. Thumbnail and avatar columns keep variants aligned by position. The stream\_status value is inferred from listing flags and is not a continuously verified broadcast state.

Optional values can be `null`, empty strings, `false`, or empty lists. Missing counts are normally `null`; numeric values parsed from abbreviated labels remain approximate. Failed rows preserve `input` and `status` and set the result-data fields to `null`. `position` is the running order of saved results for that input, not a global ranking.

### Input requirements and coverage ⚙️

| Parameter | Type | Default | Rules |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `inputList` | array of strings | Required | One or more channel handles, with or without @, or UC channel IDs. Full channel URLs are not accepted. No fixed batch-size maximum. |
| `pagesPerInput` | integer | `1` | At least 1; no fixed upper bound. Limits result pages for each input. |

Handles allow 1–100 Unicode word characters, periods, hyphens, or middle dots after an optional @. A channel ID must be UC followed by 22 letters, digits, underscores, or hyphens. Other valid values are treated as handles. Leading and trailing spaces are removed.

YouTube controls page size. Collection stops at the requested page limit or when the list ends, whichever comes first. The initial result page counts as page 1; each continuation uses another page. Repeated items within an input are skipped, but repeating the input itself starts a separate collection.

### YouTube channel streams use cases 🎯

#### Broadcast catalogues

Inventory the public stream listings of known channels, keeping titles, links, and available timing information together.

#### Event planning

Collect upcoming entries and exposed scheduled start values to prepare a review list of announced broadcasts.

#### Audience snapshots

Compare repeated exports of visible audience labels while retaining whether YouTube described them as views or watching.

#### Archive research

Review past broadcast titles and durations on a channel's Live tab before selecting individual videos for deeper extraction.

### Pricing and billable stream rows 💰

Check the Actor's **Pricing** tab for the current pricing model and rate.

Under dataset-item pricing, each saved success or failed row can be billable. Automatic retry attempts do not independently add rows. The number of billable items follows saved results, not requested pages. A collection that ends without results or a failed request can produce a failed row; if a later page fails, earlier saved results remain.

Image variants and other list fields remain in their parent row and do not create separate dataset items.

### YouTube Channel Streams Scraper API and integrations 🔌

Use the Actor ID from the **API** tab as $ACTOR\_ID and your Apify token as $APIFY\_TOKEN.

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/$ACTOR_ID/runs?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"inputList":["NASA"],"pagesPerInput":1}'
```

The request starts a run. Retrieve the dataset when it finishes, or use a completion webhook to send results to your application. Apify schedules can repeat collection; exports and integrations support JSON, CSV, Excel, Google Sheets, Make, and Zapier workflows.

### Reliability and limits ⚠️

Up to five requests run concurrently, with automatic retries for temporary failures. Invalid, unavailable, or unresolved inputs are visible as failed rows. YouTube can restrict public access or omit fields.

The Live tab can contain current, upcoming, and archived broadcasts. A stream with no live or upcoming marker is classified as past, so inspect the source labels when status accuracy matters. View and watching figures have different meanings. Schedules and status can change after collection; private, removed, or restricted streams may not appear.

Pagination preserves results already saved, but a page limit, inaccessible continuation, or changing source list can leave a partial collection. A completed run does not prove that every historical item was available.

### Frequently asked questions ❓

#### Does this return only broadcasts that are live now?

No. It reads the Live tab, which can include live, upcoming, and past broadcasts. Filter stream\_status for your workflow.

#### Is views the live audience count?

Sometimes. Read views\_text: a watching label differs from the displayed view count of a past broadcast.

#### Can it record a stream or export live chat?

No. It returns broadcast-listing metadata and does not record media or collect chat messages.

#### Is scheduled\_start\_time always available?

No. It is populated only when YouTube exposes a scheduled start value in the listing.

#### Can I poll the Actor to watch status changes?

You can schedule repeated runs and compare snapshots. Each run observes the public listing at collection time; it is not a continuous monitor.

### Support, responsible use, and related actors 🛟

For support, share the run ID and a safe public example input through the Actor's support channel. Keep tokens and credentials out of messages.

Use public data and media within the privacy, copyright, and other obligations that apply to your project.

# Actor input Schema

## `inputList` (type: `array`):

Add channel handles or UC channel IDs, one per item. You may include @ before a handle. Do not enter channel links.

## `pagesPerInput` (type: `integer`):

Number of result pages to collect for each input. YouTube controls the page size. Results are saved after each page; collection stops when the list ends. Bootstrap requests do not count as result pages.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "inputList": [
    "NASA"
  ],
  "pagesPerInput": 1
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

Success and failed rows. Check the status column.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "inputList": [
        "NASA"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("scrapingmonkey/youtube-channel-streams-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "inputList": ["NASA"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("scrapingmonkey/youtube-channel-streams-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "inputList": [
    "NASA"
  ]
}' |
apify call scrapingmonkey/youtube-channel-streams-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,scrapingmonkey/youtube-channel-streams-scraper"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/9A9zmWHH05c1DA4Jn/builds/7PA7xMYaryM76MkR3/openapi.json