Broadcast Bridge user guide

Organize breakout groups and send a timed sequence of text prompts while you facilitate a Zoom meeting.

Before you start

• A Zoom host account with Zoom Apps, breakout rooms and co-host enabled.
• Zoom Desktop and a current desktop browser on your computer.
• Guests join your meeting normally; they do not need to install Broadcast Bridge.

Keep two windows open: Zoom hosts the meeting. The browser Control Room contains Setup, Rooms, Live and History and runs your text-message schedule. Keep both Control Room and the in-meeting Zoom App open throughout the session.

1. Add the app and open Control Room

1. Configure your own instance using the supplied README and Zoom setup guide, then use Development → Local Test → Add app now in your own Zoom registration. See setup steps.
2. Open your authorization link, sign in with the Zoom account you will use as host, and review and allow the requested permissions.
3. Start a meeting in Zoom Desktop as host, then open Apps → Broadcast Bridge.
4. Select Open Control Room. It opens a separate browser window. If prompted, select Continue with Zoom and use the same host account.

Need help opening the app? See Troubleshooting.

2. Complete Setup

1. Follow the connection steps on Setup until Broadcast Agent appears in Zoom Participants.
2. In Zoom, select Participants → Broadcast Agent → More → Make co-host. Return to Setup and select Sync rights if needed.
3. Review the starter text-message sequence. Use it as provided or edit and save the messages and timing for your session.

3. Plan and open rooms

1. On Rooms, choose the number of groups or target group size, then select Build grouping.
2. Review the groups and adjust assignments before launching.
3. Select Open rooms. This creates the rooms, assigns guests and opens them. Guests move automatically or accept an invitation according to your Zoom meeting settings.
4. Use the participant controls to move someone to another available room during the session. A destination marked Return unavailable cannot currently be used; choose another room.

4. Send timed messages

On Live, select Start Broadcasts to start the prepared sequence. Keep Control Room open while messages are being sent. Use the pause and resume controls to adjust the pace, or Send text now to send the next message early. Wait for the current delivery to finish before advancing again.

When the exercise ends, select Close rooms. Zoom returns guests according to its closing countdown. You can prepare another grouping and open the next round.

5. Finish and view History

End the meeting in Zoom using End meeting for all. Dismiss the meeting-ended notice if shown; Control Room then opens History automatically.

History shows the meeting’s general chat, participants and groups. Select a meeting and use Download History for a readable report. Download raw record provides the underlying data when you need it.

Everyone chat messages visible to Broadcast Agent are saved automatically while it is present. Private messages and earlier chat are excluded. The app does not record audio, video or screen content. See the instance data-handling note for storage and deletion details.

Troubleshooting

• Sign-in is requested: use Continue with Zoom in Control Room and sign in with the meeting host’s account.
• Room controls are unavailable: check that Broadcast Agent is in this meeting and has co-host rights, then use Sync rights on Setup.
• A guest has not entered a room: ask them to check Zoom for a breakout invitation. Your Zoom settings determine whether joining is automatic.
• Messages have stopped: keep Control Room open, check its connection status and confirm the broadcast sequence is running.
• A chat message is missing from History: check that it was sent to Everyone while Broadcast Agent was present. Messages sent while the Agent was absent cannot be recovered.

For further help, contact your instance operator.

Remove the app

1. Sign in to Zoom App Marketplace.
2. Open Manage → Added Apps → Broadcast Bridge.
3. Select Remove and confirm.

Removal revokes the app’s Zoom access. When Zoom’s removal notification is received and verified, Broadcast Bridge deletes the associated authorization and server-side session data, including History. Download any reports you want to keep beforehand. Browser copies and backups are explained in the instance data-handling note.