WordPress.org
Get WordPress
WordPress.org

Plugin Directory

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

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

By Rovidx Media, Inc.
Download

Description

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]
  • Legacy alias: [tv-video-player]
  • Gutenberg block: mediablaster/player
  • Elementor widget when Elementor is active

WordPress-native editing

  • MediaBlaster 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, now/schedule data, 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

Blocks

This plugin provides 2 blocks.

  • MediaBlaster Player Display a MediaBlaster video player.
  • MediaBlaster Audio Player Display a MediaBlaster podcast episode audio player.

Installation

  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.

FAQ

Does MediaBlaster host or encode my videos?

No. It manages content and playback metadata. You supply compatible media hosting.

Can MediaBlaster build a complete streaming website by itself?

No. It supplies content, players, blocks, widgets, and APIs. Theme, page builder, or custom frontend still provide catalog and design.

How can I display MediaBlaster content in WordPress?

Player and Audio Player Gutenberg blocks, matching Elementor widgets, [mediablaster_player] / [mediablaster_audio_player], theme templates, and /wp-json/mediablaster/v3/.

Does MediaBlaster work with Vimeo?

Yes, as an opt-in OAuth and import integration. Available playback files depend on Vimeo’s API, account, and video permissions.

Does the free plugin include a Roku application?

No. It supplies the WordPress backend and REST API. A custom Roku app can use the API; the optional Roku Launch Kit is sold separately.

Are podcasts and Live Channels production-ready?

Podcasts are production-ready in 3.2.0 (still disabled by default). Live Channels remain Beta and should be tested for your workflow.

Are subscriptions production-ready?

They are an explicitly enabled developer preview. Test thoroughly before production use.

What happened to WP Smart TV and Roku Direct Publisher?

WP Smart TV was renamed MediaBlaster. Existing content and legacy metadata are preserved where possible. Roku Direct Publisher endpoints and admin screens were removed in 3.x after Direct Publisher was discontinued. Old JSON feed: https://github.com/rovidxmedia/wp-smart-tv-legacy

Back up before upgrading from WP Smart TV 2.x.

Reviews

Works great, but steep-ish learning curve at first

July 19, 2023
WP Smart TV is a great plugin for those who have a little bit of time setting up. I needed it to set up a Roku channel, and it worked. However, it took many months to get it actually working. To be clear, this is not the extension’s fault, it’s mine. I was using Roku Direct Publisher which is completely different from Roku SDK channels. As soon as I converted to using SDK channels, it worked fine. All you have to do is add the feed URL provided by WP Smart TV and insert into your manifest. I use this service called ‘Wistia’ which allows 10 free video streams for free accounts, and it works well with this. As soon as I got the MP4 stream from Wistia, I put it into WP Smart TV and it worked great! I had trouble getting the recipes to work, which is what makes the rows in the app work. Though, after a bit of researching and poking around, I’m sure I’ll figure it out at some point or another. I don’t think that it’s this plugin’s fault, but rather something’s wrong with my Roku channel’s code. I would recommend this plugin 100% for people in specific use cases like mine.

feed not working

January 18, 2023 5 replies
The plugin does not work. The JSON feed produced is not compatible with Roku. Also no response from support.

Alternative to Vimeo Pro?

December 5, 2022 1 reply
Hi Rob, I appreciate all your support the plugin has been really cool. I am trying to see if there is an alternative to using Vimeo Pro to sync videos from site to Roku Direct Publisher. I am using Dream Host VPS basic. Is it possible to just point Roku to my website instead of Vimeo?

EPIC!!!

September 12, 2020
Say this worked perfectly the only thing i could not figrue out how to do is how to do an audio station with shoutcast. However I will be purchasing the amazon firestick one soon. This is going to help our small hosting company offer to our client’s channel works perfect with our wowza streaming engine. Keep up the amazing work.

Did not work for us.

May 11, 2020 1 reply
Nice plugin…we followed the video tutorials from developer and it still wouldn’t work.
Read all 14 reviews

Contributors & Developers

“MediaBlaster – Video CMS, Vimeo Import, Live TV & Podcasts” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.

Contributors

Translate “MediaBlaster – Video CMS, Vimeo Import, Live TV & Podcasts” into your language.

Interested in development?

Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.

Changelog

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.

Meta

Ratings

3.9 out of 5 stars.

Your review

See all reviews

Support

Got something to say? Need help?

View support forum