Saturday, January 21, 2017

How to export chat from a Twitch.tv vod?

Guide on how to export a chat replay transcript from a Twitch.tv vod.

Here is a quick guide on how to export the chat replay from a video clip on Twitch.tv. You will need to download python, a script and then run it in a command prompt.

Step 1.

Download python 2.7 which you can get from here: https://www.python.org/download/releases/2.7/

Step 2.

Get the Twitch chat replay downloader script from here: https://gist.github.com/PetterKraabol/0daed253f4c4ebce25c3fdac8f3cf0d3

Step 3.

Install python 2.7, extract the script from step 2 and make sure you put them it in a easy to find folder.

I made a folder on my D: Drive called it Temp and extracted the chatreplay.py file into that directory.

Step 4.

Script requires a special module to run called requests. To get this module for Windows Python install you can use the easy_install.exe script located in your python\scripts folder.

Open up a command prompt, go to the directory for python27, then scripts, then type easy_install.exe requests

That should download the required module.

Step 5.

Start up the command prompt and then go to the directory where you installed the chatreplay.py script.

Then type python chatreplay.py VOD#



Replace VOD# with a number to the video clip you want to get the chat replay transcript from on twitch.tv.

Then that finishes, inside the directory where you have the chatreplay.py script will have a text file with the VOD# as name. If you open that up all the chat from that vod will be in there.

And thats basically how you would do it! Please note this script and the API it uses is not really supported for this sort of a thing and may change at some point making this script not work anymore.


Tuesday, January 17, 2017

I followed to say I'm reporting you!

[15:58] <zaycara> i followed just to tell you that i reported you for veiw botting , unfollowed now

[17:01] <swishyswish> I followed you to tell you I reported you. Have a good day
[17:01] <swishyswish> View bot with partner? not sure how you have made it this far
[17:01] <swishyswish> :) :)

So this happened yesterday during my streaming session.  It was the first time I streamed a game called, "Tiger Knight: Empire War".

 


I have enabled Follower-Only Chat a while ago so these two guys had to wait 5 minutes in order to write in the chat. Both appear to be streamers of this game so I guess that's how they found my channel by looking at current streamers under the game directory.

This problem appears to be creeping up more and more across twitch.tv. Recently I've checked out a r/twitch reddit post talking about a similar sort of a thing.


My advise for streamers who get accused of such things has been to document it and ignore it.
Monday, December 19, 2016

Follower-Only Chat feature for Twitch.tv

New Feature: Follower-Only Chat

A new feature has been pushed out to a select number of partner streamers (update - everyone has this feature now) called "Follower-Only Chat"! It allows you or your mods to restrict chat based on how long viewers have followed the channel. You can set it to 0 minutes or to a maximum of 3 months.

Some example commands to enable the feature:
  • /followers 30m, or /followers
    Viewers need to follow to chat for 30 minutes.
  • /followers 2h, or /followers
    Viewers need to follow to chat for 1 hours.
  • /followers 2d, or /followers
    Viewers need to follow to chat for 2 days.
  • /followers 1w, or /followers
    Viewers need to follow to chat for 1 week.
  • /followers 3mo, or /followers
    Viewers need to follow to chat for 3 months.
You can also enable or disable the feature using the cogwheel in the chat box. And they also have some default time frames for the feature if you don't want to setup your own custom time.


I have just started using it and already see a notable difference in the chat, and the amount of followers gained per day.

Follower-Only Chat Stats Twitch.tv
If a viewer isn't following your channel and you have this feature enabled they will be alerted with the following text when they attempt to chat in your channel.

"This room is in 5 minutes followers-only mode. Follow daopa to join the community!"

Follower-Only Chat Alert

I setup a 5 minute time frame for my channel, if you setup a different time it will list it in the alert.

The PRO's and CON's of using this new feature for your twitch.tv channel.

  • Pro's
    • Allows you to prevent spam bots from spamming links and other text in chat.
    • Unwanted raid chat prevention
    • Trolls who get banned and create new accounts will have to wait longer to keep up the trolling.  Most likely they wont even bother and leave the channel due to the time restriction.
    • Can be used as some long time loyalty perk, rewarding long time channel followers.
    • Similar to Sub-Only chat blocking but with out the pay wall.
  • Con's
    • Some viewers will not like being restricted from chat and will possibly leave your channel due to that reason.
    • 3rd party websites that have embedded streams and chat may not have the ability for viewers to follow.
Additional Notes
This feature is in a experimental phase but pretty sure if all goes well they will push this out to all broadcasters of twitch.tv soon. Update - this feature has been rolled out to everyone.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016

New dashboard interface goes live at twitch.tv!

New Dashboard interface made available to all streamers at twitch.tv!

Twitch just pushed a update to the dashboard interface for all streamers which makes the menus rearrangeable and collapsible. Handy to switch around the board and hide away parts you don't really use on a daily basis.

Here is how the new dashboard looks from default:


Panel Sections include the following:
  • Announcements - seems they will use this to link updates, status message and news articles.
  • Stream Information - use this to set your stream title, broadcast language, and what game your currently playing.
  • Stream Health - shows if your stream is configured correctly, the status and additional information for troubleshooting problems via Twitch Inspector.
  • Video Preview - displays your stream on the dashboard.
  • Stats - variety of different statistics for your stream.
    • The number of people currently watching the stream.
    • How long you have been streaming for in the current session.
    • Number of clips that have been made.
    • Total number of channel views.
    • Number of followers
  • Host - view all the different channels hosting your stream. 
  • Run Commercial (Partners Only) - slider showing a ad block time frame with a button to trigger advertisements.
You can still access the old dashboard interface at the moment by visiting the link in the announcements section or by adding the following parameter to the end of the dashboard url "/dashboard?show_previous=true"

Here is a screenshot of the old dashboard interface:

Advantages of the new dashboard over the old is pretty straight forward, you can hide sections and make the dashboard alot smaller taking up a small amount of screen space.
Saturday, December 3, 2016

Moderator Chat Commands List

Twitch moderator chat tools in actionTwitch moderators carry a lot of responsibility. One moment the chat feels like a friendly hangout, the next it can turn into chaos during a raid or heated discussion. The good news is you still have fast, reliable commands that let you step in quickly without hunting through menus.

Twitch has added excellent dashboard tools over the years, including Mod View and stronger AutoMod options, yet the classic chat commands remain some of the fastest ways to keep things under control. Here is a clear, practical guide to the moderator commands that matter most in 2026.

Quick Actions for Individual Viewers

These commands help you handle specific people fast when something needs immediate attention.

  • Timeout a user
    /timeout username seconds reason
    Temporarily removes someone from chat. Leave the seconds blank for a default length (usually around ten minutes). Add an optional reason so you have a record and the user understands what happened. This works great for first offenses or moments that just need to cool down.
  • Ban a user
    /ban username
    Permanently removes someone from your channel. Use this for serious or repeat problems. Banned viewers lose the ability to follow or chat until you lift it.
  • Unban a user
    /unban username
    Brings someone back after a ban. You can also use a one-second timeout on a currently timed-out user to end it early.
  • Clear the entire chat
    /clear
    Wipes every message from the chat window at once. Extremely useful when a raid brings in a flood of spam or offensive content. Use it thoughtfully since it removes everything at once.

Chat Mode Commands

These commands change how the whole chat behaves. They are your go-to options when you need to slow things down, reward supporters, or protect the community during busy periods.

  • Subscribers Only Mode
    /subscribers
    Only subscribers can chat. Excellent for celebrating milestones or giving your paying supporters a more exclusive space. Turn it off anytime with /subscribersoff.
  • Followers Only Mode
    /followers time
    Viewers must have followed your channel for a set period before they can chat. You can use flexible times such as /followers 10m, /followers 2h, /followers 3d, or up to three months. This mode shines during raids or harassment waves because many trolls simply will not wait around. Turn it off with /followersoff. Short windows of ten to thirty minutes usually work well without frustrating your regular community.
  • Slow Mode
    /slow seconds
    Limits how often anyone can send a message. Values like /slow 15 or /slow 30 keep chat readable during busy moments without completely silencing people. Disable it with /slowoff.
  • Emote Only Mode
    /emoteonly
    Chat becomes emotes only. Perfect for fun celebrations, meme nights, or cutting down on text spam and spoilers. The streamer and moderators can still type normally. Return to regular chat with /emoteonlyoff.
  • Unique Chat Mode
    /uniquechat
    Blocks repetitive copy-paste messages that spammers and bots love to use. This is the modern replacement for the old R9K mode. It works especially well during raids. Turn it off with /uniquechatoff.

Helpful Utility Commands

These extra commands make daily moderation smoother and give you better information before you act.

  • Send an Announcement
    /announce Your message here
    Posts a highlighted, standout message in chat. Great for important updates, rule reminders, or giveaway details that you want everyone to notice.
  • Check User Information
    /user username
    Shows when the account was created, past timeouts or bans on your channel, and lets you leave private moderator notes. One of the most useful commands before deciding on stronger action.
  • Monitor or Restrict a User
    /monitor username and /unmonitor username
    Keeps a closer watch on someone without immediate punishment.
    /restrict username and /unrestrict username
    Hides that user’s messages from regular viewers while moderators and the streamer can still see them. Useful for suspected ban evaders or people you want to observe quietly.
  • View Channel Point Requests
    /requests
    Opens the queue so you can quickly approve, reject, or refund Channel Points redemptions.

Best Practices for Effective Moderation

Commands work best when you use them with good judgment and clear communication. Here are a few habits that help strong moderators stand out.

  • Keep your chat rules easy to find in panels or through your bot so everyone knows the expectations upfront.
  • Start with lighter tools like a timeout or slow mode before moving to a ban. Most situations just need a quick reset.
  • During raids, followers-only or unique chat modes often calm things down fast without killing the energy for too long.
  • Combine chat commands with Twitch’s newer dashboard tools. AutoMod handles a surprising amount automatically, and Shield Mode gives you extra protection when you need it.
  • Stay in sync with your streamer. A quick heads-up when you enable a mode or take a bigger action keeps everyone on the same page.
  • Remember that even moderators have rate limits. Stay calm and deliberate rather than spamming commands in a panic.

These commands give you real power to shape the chat experience. The best moderators treat them as part of a bigger toolkit that also includes empathy, clear rules, and Twitch’s improving built-in features. Keep practicing them, stay consistent, and your community will feel the difference.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Series 1 shows up in hosting stats

What is "Series 1" in Twitch Stats for hosting mean? 

If you have checked your stats on the dashboard for who is hosting your channel, pretty sure you will see something called "Series 1" in the list. Here is a screenshot of today's hosting stats from my channel.



  • Series 1: 40
When someone hosts your channel, they will show up on the dashboard in the section right under playing. Series 1 has never been listed there so I started to wonder what can this stat mean that's showing up here?

Oddly enough while checking other stats out, I found a link! Here is a screenshot of the same Video Play's section but with a different filter by which is "Player Type".



  • android: 40
Turns out its something related to android and/or mobile users and may have nothing to do with hosting.


Undefined showing up in stats

What does undefined mean when you are looking at Twitch.tv URL Videoplay stats?

For the longest time I have been wondering what undefined is when you are looking at Video Plays by URL filter for stats on the dashboard. And it turns out it was really simple to figure out what exactly it was by using the other filters.

 

Here is a screenshot of the Video Plays by URL set.
  • player.twitch.tv: 500
  • undefined: 40
  • www.twitch.tv: 20
Now here is another screenshot of the exact time frame but instead of by "URL", its by "Player Type".



  • embed: 500
  • android: 40
  • site: 20
As it turns out, Android matches in both sections, so when you are checking by URL, the undefined really means android users i.e. Mobile.

Undefined issue solved, now to the player.twitch.tv problem.

The URL stats use to show domain names for all the different websites that had your stream embedded on but due to changes to the embed code its now showing everything as player.twitch.tv.

I have made a suggestion on twitch's uservoice section for a additional parameter we can add to have some sort of tracking of numbers from the various embed sites. Lets see if that gets any traction!