# YouTube Channel Lives API (https://www.socialcrawl.dev/platforms/youtube/channel-lives)

> Fetches live streams and past streams from a YouTube channel's Live tab — title, URL, thumbnail, view count, publish time, duration — plus a `continuationToken` when more results are available. Pass `handle` or `channelId` for the first page; forward `continuationToken` for subsequent pages.

TL;DR: `GET /v1/youtube/channel/lives` costs 1 credit per call and returns SocialCrawl's unified JSON schema. Single x-api-key auth, 100 free credits on signup.

## Parameters

| Parameter | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `channelId` | no | YouTube channel ID. |
| `handle` | no | YouTube channel handle (with or without @). |
| `continuationToken` | no | Continuation token from a previous response — fetches the next page. |

## Code example

```bash
curl "https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/youtube/channel/lives" \
  -H "x-api-key: sc_YOUR_API_KEY"
```

## FAQ

### How do I list a YouTube channel's live streams?

Send a GET to /v1/youtube/channel/lives with a handle or channelId. The response lists live and past streams with title, URL, thumbnail, view count, publish time, and duration.

### Does it include finished broadcasts or only live ones?

Both. The endpoint mirrors a channel's Live tab, so you get current live streams and the archive of past broadcasts in one feed.

### Do I pass a handle or a channel ID?

Either. Provide handle (with or without @) or channelId for the first page. Exactly one of the two is required.

### How do I page through all streams?

Each response carries a continuationToken when more results exist. Forward it on the next request and repeat until the token is empty to collect the full archive.

### How much does the lives endpoint cost?

It is a standard endpoint at 1 credit per request, and every new account starts with 100 free credits to try it.

See the full YouTube API: https://www.socialcrawl.dev/platforms/youtube

## Pricing

- Standard endpoints: 1 credit per call
- Advanced endpoints: 5 credits per call
- Premium endpoints: 10 credits per call
- 100 free credits on signup, no credit card required. Cached responses cost 0 credits. Credit packs never expire.
- Full pricing: https://www.socialcrawl.dev/pricing

## Explore with AI

Questions this API answers, phrased for an AI assistant:

- How to list a YouTube channel's live streams via API
- YouTube live stream data API without Data API quota