MediaBlaster – Video CMS, Vimeo Import, Live TV & Podcasts

MediaBlaster turns WordPress into a structured media CMS for video, podcasts, and scheduled live channels. Manage your catalog, embed native players, import Vimeo libraries, publish podcast RSS feeds, and expose app-ready content through the MediaBlaster REST API.

MediaBlaster is the content and configuration layer. It is not a video host or a complete frontend theme. Use a WordPress theme, Gutenberg blocks, Elementor, or a custom website or app to present your content. Bring your own Vimeo account, CDN, or direct HLS, DASH, or MP4 hosting.

Core Features

Video CMS

Manage Movies, Videos, Series, Episodes, metadata, posters, thumbnails, captions, chapter tracks, and HLS, DASH, or MP4 sources. No complete frontend video library layout is included.

MediaBlaster Player

HLS, DASH, and MP4; Video.js with native fallback; post-backed sources; captions and chapters; locked states when experimental subscriptions are enabled.

• Shortcode: [mediablaster_player]
• Channel schedule: [mediablaster_channel_player]
• Legacy alias: [tv-video-player]
• Gutenberg blocks: mediablaster/player, mediablaster/channel-player
• Elementor widget when Elementor is active

WordPress-native editing

• MediaBlaster Player Gutenberg block
• MediaBlaster Channel Player Gutenberg block
• MediaBlaster Audio Player Gutenberg block
• MediaBlaster Player Elementor widget
• MediaBlaster Audio Player Elementor widget

Vimeo integration

Opt-in, disabled by default. OAuth; browse/select videos; metadata and thumbnail import; import supported Vimeo playback URLs; review-before-import; bulk import; drafts by default. Playback data depends on account, permissions, and API response.

Podcasts

Disabled by default. Production-ready shows and episodes, immutable GUIDs, directory-quality RSS, subscriber-aware playback, write-capable podcast REST, RSS diagnostics, and Audio Player ([mediablaster_audio_player], mediablaster/audio-player block, Elementor widget).

Live Channels and EPG — Beta

Disabled by default. Live streams, Channel Playlists, Channels, weekly scheduler, compiled airings, web Channel player ([mediablaster_channel_player] / mediablaster/channel-player), now/schedule/player REST, EPG/Linear REST, live-channel deep links. Content/schedule/API layer only—not a Pluto TV replacement.

REST API and App Config

/wp-json/mediablaster/v3/ for content, search, categories, podcasts, channels, EPG, deep links, and app config. See **MediaBlaster → Docs**.

Subscription foundation — Developer Preview

Disabled by default. Requires WPST_SUBSCRIPTIONS_ENABLED in wp-config.php. Early entitlements, tiers, access groups, subscribers, and Stripe Checkout. Test before production membership use. Extra provider classes are not complete integrations.

What You Can Build

• Content backend for a video library or streaming website
• Podcast network with RSS and embedded audio players
• Scheduled live channels with app-ready EPG data
• Headless media site or content API for apps, including custom Roku apps

How MediaBlaster Works

1. MediaBlaster manages content, metadata, players, schedules, feeds, and app configuration in WordPress.
2. The site owner selects and pays for their own media hosting.
3. A theme, page builder, custom frontend, or connected app presents the content.

MediaBlaster does not upload, encode, host, or deliver video as a SaaS platform. Use HLS, DASH, or MP4 URLs from compatible hosts. Vimeo is a native opt-in integration; other providers are owner-configured.

Optional Roku Launch Kit

The free plugin can be the WordPress backend for custom apps. The MediaBlaster Roku Launch Kit is an optional commercial product sold separately. It connects a custom Roku app to MediaBlaster content and App Config and is not included with the WordPress.org plugin: https://www.mediablaster.io/roku-launch-kit

External Services

Vimeo

Contacted only after an administrator enables Vimeo and starts OAuth or import. May transmit client ID, redirect URL, authorization code, and credentials or tokens. Library requests retrieve account/video metadata, thumbnails, tags, descriptions, durations, and playback files from Vimeo. Thumbnail import downloads the remote image. Connection data is stored in options. Activation alone does not connect Vimeo.

Vimeo Terms of Service: https://vimeo.com/terms
Vimeo Privacy Policy: https://vimeo.com/privacy

Stripe

For the subscription developer preview only. Contacted when subscriptions are enabled, Stripe credentials are set, and checkout, customer, subscription, or billing-portal actions run. May include name/email, user ID, site URL metadata, Price ID, and return URLs. Stripe returns IDs/statuses; webhooks send events. Checkout/portal users go to Stripe-hosted pages. Activation alone does not contact Stripe.

Stripe Services Agreement: https://stripe.com/legal/ssa
Stripe Privacy Policy: https://stripe.com/privacy

User-selected media hosting

During playback, the browser connects to media URLs configured by the site owner. That provider may receive IP, browser, referrer, cookies, or other request data under its terms. MediaBlaster does not auto-select a provider. Site owners document services they configure.

Support

• Built-in docs: MediaBlaster → Docs
• Product info: https://www.mediablaster.io
• Free training: https://www.skool.com/ai-content-creators-6489/classroom/44d3f393
• WordPress.org support forum for free-plugin questions.

License

MediaBlaster is licensed under the GPL v2 or later.

https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

1. Install and activate MediaBlaster.
2. Open MediaBlaster → General Settings.
3. Enable only the modules you need (Vimeo, podcasts, and Live Channels are off by default).
4. Configure a video source or connect Vimeo if desired.
5. Add or import content.
6. Use MediaBlaster blocks, Elementor widgets, shortcodes, theme templates, or the REST API.
7. Review MediaBlaster → Docs.

Activation alone does not create a finished streaming website.

3.2.1

• NEW: Channel web player follows the compiled Live Channels schedule ([mediablaster_channel_player], mediablaster/channel-player block).
• NEW: Public Channel Schedule display ([mediablaster_channel_schedule], mediablaster/channel-schedule block, Elementor widget) with Now Playing / Up Next, progress, and auto-refresh.
• NEW: GET /mediablaster/v3/channels/{id}/player refresh endpoint for schedule-synced web playback.
• UPDATED: Channel posts open in the block editor (show_in_rest).
• FIXED: [mediablaster_player] on a Channel no longer looks for Channel rovidx_smarttv_URL meta; it plays the current airing.

3.2.0

• NEW: Admin UI shell, Features settings, grouped sections, toggles.
• NEW: Setup Wizard onboarding (skip/resume/restart; drafts apply on Finish Setup).
• NEW: Vimeo Integration rebuild (Connection, import defaults, Connect guard, metabox, API/SSL).
• NEW: Import from Vimeo card UI with Review & Import bulk flow.
• NEW: Live Channels & EPG (Beta) via Features (rovidx_smart_tv_live_channels_enabled).
• NEW: Live, Channel Playlists, Channels, weekly Channel Schedule UI, airings compiler.
• UPDATED: Channel Scheduler — local times, precise resize, overnight blocks, Undo, DST-safe weekly recurrence.
• NEW: Linear REST /channels, /now, /schedule, /epg, /live, admin /linear/*.
• NEW: App Config linearTv; deep link mediaType=liveFeed; Linear TV docs.
• NEW: Podcasts → Integrations admin shell and Distribution side panels via mediablaster_podcast_distribution_actions for paid distribution add-ons.
• UPDATED: Features switchboard for Podcasts, Live Channels/EPG, Vimeo (off by default).
• UPDATED: Podcasts leave Beta — immutable GUIDs, canonical entitlements, production RSS, write-capable REST, RSS diagnostics, accessible audio player.

3.1.2

• NEW: Deep-link API and deep_link metadata on content items.

Earlier history: see changelog.txt in the plugin package.