---
title: How to Create a TV Dashboard and Deploy It Live
description: "## Goal Create a TV dashboard in Twinnoverse, connect its data, add it to a playlist, assign it to a device, and show it on a TV screen. ## What This Guide Helps You Do Use this guide when you…"
url: "https://twinnoverse.com/docs/create-tv-dashboard/"
updated: "2026-06-18"
category: Dashboard Builder / Dashboard Builder Guides
---

# How to Create a TV Dashboard and Deploy It Live

## Goal

Create a TV dashboard in Twinnoverse, connect its data, add it to a playlist, assign it to a device, and show it on a TV screen.

## What This Guide Helps You Do

Use this guide when you want to create a TV dashboard for operations, production, KPI reporting, or internal business display screens.

By the end of this setup, you will have:

- a claimed TV device connected to Twinnoverse
- a data source that feeds the dashboard
- a layout that defines the dashboard design
- a playlist that controls playback on the screen
- a live TV dashboard showing on the device

## How the Whole Flow Works

Before you go step by step, it helps to understand the full Twinnoverse setup model.

To show a live dashboard on a TV, you usually need these parts:

- a [device](https://twinnoverse.com/docs/device-management-bind-claim-and-manage-your-tvs/#1-toc-title), the physical TV or screen running the Twinnoverse Reader app
- a [data source](https://twinnoverse.com/docs/data-sources-feed-live-data-to-your-dashboards/), tells Twinnoverse where the runtime data will come from
- a [layout](https://twinnoverse.com/docs/building-dashboards-with-the-layout-editor/), defines what the screen looks like
- widget labels inside the layout, so the incoming data can map to the correct widgets
- a [playlist](https://twinnoverse.com/docs/tv-playlists-control-what-each-screen-plays/), tells the device what layout to play and for how long

In simple terms:

1. claim the screen so Twinnoverse can control it
2. create the data source so the dashboard has data
3. build the layout so the data has a visual design
4. bind the data source to the layout
5. add the layout to a playlist
6. assign the playlist to the device
7. let the TV load and display the dashboard

You can think of the flow like this:

- **device** = the physical screen
- **data source** = the runtime data feed
- **layout** = the visual design
- **playlist** = the playback plan

## Before You Start Your TV Dashboard Setup

- you can access the [admin portal](https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9n9xl97dzs5f?hl=en-US&gl=TN)
- you have a device ready to claim or edit
- you know whether your data will use REST, WebSocket, Ingest, or Manual

## Step 1: Create the Data Source for the TV Dashboard

1. Open **Data Sources**.
2. Create a new data source.
3. Choose one type:
   - **REST API** for polling an endpoint
   - **WebSocket** for pushed updates
   - **Ingest** for a local gateway that sends data to Twinnoverse
   - **Manual** when operators will enter the runtime values themselves
4. Save the data source.

If you choose **Manual**, continue with [Build a Manual KPI Dashboard](https://twinnoverse.com/docs/build-a-manual-kpi-dashboard/).

## Step 2: Create the TV Dashboard Layout

1. Open **Layouts**.
2. Create a new layout.
3. Design for a **16:9 landscape screen**.
4. Decide what each part of the screen should communicate.
5. Choose the widget families that fit that message.
6. Add the widgets to the layout.
7. Give each data-driven widget a clear label.
8. Save the layout.

Before choosing the widgets, read:

- [Choosing the Right Widgets](https://twinnoverse.com/docs/how-to-choose-the-right-dashboard-widgets/)
- [Widget Reference Guide](https://twinnoverse.com/docs/dashboard-widget-reference-guide/)

## Step 3: Bind the Data Source to the Layout

1. In the Layout Editor, deselect all widgets.
2. In the layout-level inspector, choose the data source.
3. Save the layout again.

## Step 4: Create the Playlist for the TV Dashboard

1. Open **Playlists**.
2. Create a new playlist.
3. Add the layout.
4. Set the layout duration.
5. Save the playlist.

A **playlist** is the device's normal playback plan. It controls:

- which layouts play
- the order they play in
- how long each layout stays on screen

If you need the full explanation before continuing, read [Playlists](https://twinnoverse.com/docs/tv-playlists-control-what-each-screen-plays/).

## Step 5: Assign the Playlist to the TV Device

1. Open **Devices**.
2. Create a device or edit an existing one.
3. Assign the playlist.
4. Save the device.

## Step 6: Claim the TV Device

1. Open the device on the TV.
2. Enter the claim code shown in the admin portal.
3. Wait for the device to connect.

## Step 7: Verify the TV Dashboard Is Live

Confirm all of the following:

- the device is online
- the playlist is assigned
- the layout appears on screen
- the widgets receive data

## Final Checklist

- widget labels match the incoming payload
- the layout has one correct data source
- the playlist contains the expected layout
- the device is assigned to the correct playlist

If all of those are correct, your TV dashboard setup is complete.