YouTube Live Broadcast Checking

Check and manage YouTube channels to find their next scheduled live broadcasts using the YouTube Data API v3 and a Google API key.

YouTube Live Broadcast Checking Skill

Checks upcoming live broadcast schedules and current live status for YouTube channels using the YouTube Data API v3.

Repository: https://github.com/StevenHo1394/openclaw/tree/main/skills/youtube-live-broadcast-checking

Features

• Add/remove channels to a watchlist
• Get next scheduled broadcast for a channel
• List all upcoming broadcasts across watchlist
• Check if a channel is currently live (get_live_broadcast)

Prerequisites

• A Google Cloud project with YouTube Data API v3 enabled
• An API key with YouTube Data API access
• The API key must be set as environment variable YOUTUBE_API_KEY for the agent session

Tools

add_channel(channel_id)

Add a YouTube channel to the watchlist.

Parameters:

• channel_id: Channel ID (e.g., UCabcd1234) or handle/URL (the skill will resolve)

Returns: { id, name, status: "added" } or error

remove_channel(channel_id)

Remove a channel from the watchlist.

Parameters:

• channel_id: Channel ID

Returns: { removed: true } or error

list_channels()

List all channels in the watchlist.

Returns: Array of { id, name, added_at }

get_next_broadcast(channel_id)

Get the next upcoming broadcast for a specific channel.

Parameters:

• channel_id: Channel ID or handle

Returns: Broadcast object with video_id, title, scheduled_start_time, thumbnail_url, video_url or null if none scheduled.

check_upcoming_broadcasts(channel_ids?)

Check upcoming broadcasts for multiple channels. If channel_ids omitted, checks all watchlist channels. Accepts channel IDs, handles (e.g., @chan22), or display names; these are resolved automatically via YouTube API search.

Parameters:

• channel_ids (optional): Array of channel IDs, handles, or display names

Returns: Array of broadcast objects sorted by start time.

get_live_broadcast(channel_id)

Check if a channel is currently live streaming.

Parameters:

• channel_id: Channel ID or handle

Returns: Live broadcast object with video_id, title, description, actual_start_time, concurrent_viewers, video_url or null if not live.

Usage Example

// Add a channel
await skill.tools.add_channel({ channel_id: 'Sami Live HK' });

// Check who's live now
const live = await skill.tools.get_live_broadcast({ channel_id: 'Sami Live HK' });
if (live) {
  console.log(`Live: ${live.title} (${live.concurrent_viewers} viewers)`);
}

// Get next scheduled broadcast
const next = await skill.tools.get_next_broadcast({ channel_id: 'UCfYvxA4eSAvoES5fffhnRnA' });

Installation

1. Copy the skill directory to ~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/
2. Run npm install inside the skill folder to install googleapis
3. Add "youtube-live-broadcast-checking" to the desired agent's skills array in openclaw.json
4. Ensure the agent's session has YOUTUBE_API_KEY set (e.g., in auth-profiles.json or gateway environment)
5. Restart the agent or wait for next session

Storage Behavior

The watchlist is persisted to disk in watchlist.json and survives agent restarts, improving performance and consistency across sessions.

Quotas & Limits

• YouTube Data API has daily quota limits (10,000 units by default). Each channels.list or search.list call costs varying units. Monitor your quota in Google Cloud Console.
• If you encounter 403 errors, you may have exceeded your quota.

Troubleshooting

• Missing YOUTUBE_API_KEY: Ensure the environment variable is set for the agent session.
• Quota exceeded: Check your Google Cloud Console quota usage.
• Channel not found: Verify the channel ID; you may need to use the channel's handle or URL if the ID is unknown.

Version History

v1.3.7 (latest)

• Updated documentation to clarify persistent watchlist storage (watchlist.json) across restarts.
• Bumped version to 1.3.7 across all manifest files (package.json, openclaw.plugin.json, clawhub.json, SKILL.md).

v1.3.6

• Exposed resolveChannelId as public tool resolve_channel_id for external use.
• Updated version to 1.3.6 across all manifest files (package.json, openclaw.plugin.json, clawhub.json, SKILL.md).

v1.3.5

• Improved check_upcoming_broadcasts to accept display names (e.g., 'Sami Live HK') or handles (e.g., '@chan22') in addition to channel IDs, resolving them automatically via YouTube API search.
• Updated tool documentation accordingly.
• Bumped version to 1.3.5.

v1.3.4

• Internal refactor and documentation updates.

v1.3.3

• Fixed manifest: requiredEnvVars now correctly includes YOUTUBE_API_KEY
• Updated documentation to accurately describe in-memory watchlist storage (no persistence)
• Clarified usage requirements and troubleshooting

v1.3.2

• Refactored internal architecture: config.js isolates env access; store.js provides in-memory watchlist (no file I/O)
• Resolved static analysis warnings about mixing env/file access with network
• Plugin manifest updated to reflect proper requirements (still inaccurate in 1.3.2)

v1.3.1

• Version bump only (no code changes)

v1.3.0

• NEW tool: get_live_broadcast – detects if a channel is currently live streaming
• Updated description to mention live status capability
• Added version field to manifest

v1.2.0

• Initial release with watchlist management, get_next_broadcast, and check_upcoming_broadcasts