Show a viewer's comment on screen during a live stream: pick it in the Comments panel or press Shift+C, choose a style and position, and hide or pin it.
Updated · 3 min read
To show a viewer's comment on screen during a live stream, open Graphics in the browser studio bar and press Comments. A panel lists the latest comments from your live chat; click one and it appears on the picture as a card with the viewer's name and words. The card is drawn into the broadcast itself, so every network and the recording see it. It hides by itself after the time you chose, or stays until you hide it if you pin it. Nothing goes on screen unless you pick it.
The browser studio running. If you pick a comment while the studio is not running, it says the comment appears on air once the studio is running.
Any plan, including the trial.
Steps
Open the studio and go live. Choose Live stream, start a new live with Browser Studio, and go live so comments start to arrive.
Open the Comments panel. In the bar under the picture open Graphics (title, ticker, comments on screen) and press Comments. The panel Comments on screen opens with the newest comments first.
Choose the look once. Style: Classic, Glass, News or Platform colours. Position: Bottom or Top. Show for: 6, 10, 20 or 30 seconds, or Pinned (stays until hidden). The panel remembers your choice.
Put a comment on air. Click a comment in the list (Show on screen). The card slides in on Program with the viewer's name, picture when the network provides one, and the text.
Or use the keys. Shift+C shows the latest comment, Shift+H hides the card, Shift+P turns pinned mode on or off.
Hide it. Press Hide in the panel, or Shift+H. A timed card also leaves by itself.
Check what is on air. The top of the panel says what is on screen now, or Nothing on screen.
The Live stream screen: Preview, Program and the channels panel (test account).
Where the card sits among other graphics
The comment card is drawn after the main picture and after the news ticker, in the same pass as titles, so it is in the broadcast and in the recording. If you use the ticker at the bottom, choose Top for comments so they do not cover each other: Add a news ticker to your live stream. Logos and titles on overlay channels: Overlay channels 1 to 8 and their keys (F1 to F8).
Good practice, for example
Read the comment before you click it. You choose every card; nothing is shown automatically. Skip anything rude or private.
Answer out loud while it is on screen. For example, "Ask the guest about the weekend shift" on screen while you put the question to the guest.
Use Pinned for a question you will discuss for a while, and a 6 or 10 second card for quick greetings.
Mind the length. A long comment is shortened on the card. Short questions read best on a phone.
What can go wrong
The list says No comments yet. No comments have reached the live chat. Check that the broadcast is live on a network whose chat StreamLive Pro reads: Live chat from YouTube and Facebook in one panel.
I clicked a comment and nothing appears on air. The studio is not running, or you are looking at Preview. The card is drawn on Program; start the studio.
The card covers the ticker or a lower third. Change Position to Top, or move the title.
The card disappears too soon. Choose a longer Show for, or Pinned.
Frequently asked questions
Can I show live chat comments on screen without OBS?
Yes. In the browser studio, Graphics then Comments lists the comments; click one and it appears on the broadcast.
Do all networks see the comment on screen?
Yes. The card is part of the picture we send, so every destination and the recording show it.
Can comments appear on screen automatically?
No. You pick each comment, or press Shift+C for the latest one. Nothing is shown by itself.
How long does a comment stay on screen?
6, 10, 20 or 30 seconds, as you choose, or until you hide it when Pinned is on.