Admin can now control channel creation from the admin dashboard

app/Http/Controllers/AdminChannelCreationController.php

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace App\Http\Controllers;
+
+use App\Models\AdminAuditLog;
+use App\Models\PlatformSetting;
+use App\Models\User;
+use Illuminate\Http\RedirectResponse;
+use Illuminate\Http\Request;
+
+class AdminChannelCreationController extends Controller
+{
+    public function updateDefault(Request $request): RedirectResponse
+    {
+        $validated = $request->validate([
+            'channel_creation_open' => ['required', 'boolean'],
+        ]);
+
+        $settings = PlatformSetting::current();
+
+        $settings->forceFill([
+            'channel_creation_open' => (bool) $validated['channel_creation_open'],
+        ])->save();
+
+        $this->audit($request, $settings, 'platform.channel_creation_default.updated', [
+            'channel_creation_open' => $settings->channel_creation_open,
+        ]);
+
+        return back()->with(
+            'success',
+            $settings->channel_creation_open
+                ? 'All verified users can create channels.'
+                : 'Channel creation now requires admin approval.',
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function updateUser(Request $request, User $user): RedirectResponse
+    {
+        $validated = $request->validate([
+            'can_create_channel' => ['required', 'boolean'],
+        ]);
+
+        $user->forceFill([
+            'can_create_channel' => (bool) $validated['can_create_channel'],
+        ])->save();
+
+        $this->audit($request, $user, 'user.creator_access.updated', [
+            'can_create_channel' => $user->can_create_channel,
+        ]);
+
+        return back()->with(
+            'success',
+            $user->can_create_channel
+                ? 'User can create a channel.'
+                : 'User channel creation access removed.',
+        );
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param  array<string, mixed>  $metadata
+     */
+    private function audit(Request $request, object $subject, string $action, array $metadata = []): void
+    {
+        AdminAuditLog::query()->create([
+            'admin_user_id' => $request->user()?->id,
+            'subject_type' => $subject::class,
+            'subject_id' => $subject->id,
+            'action' => $action,
+            'metadata' => $metadata === [] ? null : $metadata,
+            'created_at' => now(),
+        ]);
+    }
+}

app/Http/Controllers/AdminDashboardController.php

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ namespace App\Http\Controllers;
 
 use App\Models\Broadcast;
 use App\Models\Channel;
+use App\Models\PlatformSetting;
 use App\Models\User;
 use App\Models\Vod;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Storage;
@@ -20,6 +21,10 @@ class AdminDashboardController extends Controller
                 'channels' => Channel::query()->count(),
                 'live_channels' => Channel::query()->where('is_live', true)->count(),
                 'vods' => Vod::query()->count(),
+                'creator_access_grants' => User::query()->where('can_create_channel', true)->count(),
+            ],
+            'channelCreationPolicy' => [
+                'channel_creation_open' => PlatformSetting::current()->channel_creation_open,
             ],
             'liveBroadcasts' => Broadcast::query()
                 ->where('status', Broadcast::STATUS_LIVE)
@@ -57,6 +62,25 @@ class AdminDashboardController extends Controller
                         'name' => $channel->user->name,
                     ],
                 ]),
+            'users' => User::query()
+                ->with('channel')
+                ->latest('id')
+                ->limit(50)
+                ->get()
+                ->map(fn (User $user) => [
+                    'id' => $user->id,
+                    'name' => $user->name,
+                    'email' => $user->email,
+                    'is_admin' => $user->is_admin,
+                    'can_create_channel' => $user->can_create_channel,
+                    'suspended_at' => $user->suspended_at?->toIso8601String(),
+                    'created_at' => $user->created_at?->toIso8601String(),
+                    'channel' => $user->channel ? [
+                        'id' => $user->channel->id,
+                        'slug' => $user->channel->slug,
+                        'display_name' => $user->channel->display_name,
+                    ] : null,
+                ]),
         ]);
     }
 

app/Http/Controllers/CreatorDashboardController.php

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ class CreatorDashboardController extends Controller
 
         return Inertia::render('dashboard', [
             'channel' => $channel ? $this->channelPayload($channel) : null,
+            'canCreateChannel' => $request->user()->canCreateChannel(),
             'plainStreamKey' => session('plain_stream_key'),
             'streaming' => [
                 'ingestServer' => $streamKeys->ingestServer(),
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ class CreatorDashboardController extends Controller
     public function storeChannel(Request $request, StreamKeyManager $streamKeys): RedirectResponse
     {
         abort_if($request->user()->channel()->exists(), 422, 'This account already owns a channel.');
+        abort_unless($request->user()->canCreateChannel(), 403, 'An admin must enable channel creation for this account.');
 
         $validated = $request->validate([
             'display_name' => ['required', 'string', 'max:80'],

app/Models/PlatformSetting.php

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace App\Models;
+
+use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Attributes\Fillable;
+use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
+
+#[Fillable(['channel_creation_open'])]
+class PlatformSetting extends Model
+{
+    protected $attributes = [
+        'channel_creation_open' => false,
+    ];
+
+    public static function current(): self
+    {
+        return static::query()->first() ?? static::query()->create();
+    }
+
+    protected function casts(): array
+    {
+        return [
+            'channel_creation_open' => 'boolean',
+        ];
+    }
+}

app/Models/User.php

@@ -13,13 +13,17 @@ use Illuminate\Foundation\Auth\User as Authenticatable;
 use Illuminate\Notifications\Notifiable;
 use Laravel\Fortify\TwoFactorAuthenticatable;
 
-#[Fillable(['name', 'email', 'password', 'is_admin', 'suspended_at'])]
+#[Fillable(['name', 'email', 'password', 'is_admin', 'can_create_channel', 'suspended_at'])]
 #[Hidden(['password', 'two_factor_secret', 'two_factor_recovery_codes', 'remember_token'])]
 class User extends Authenticatable
 {
     /** @use HasFactory<UserFactory> */
     use HasFactory, Notifiable, TwoFactorAuthenticatable;
 
+    protected $attributes = [
+        'can_create_channel' => false,
+    ];
+
     /**
      * Get the attributes that should be cast.
      *
@@ -32,6 +36,7 @@ class User extends Authenticatable
             'password' => 'hashed',
             'two_factor_confirmed_at' => 'datetime',
             'is_admin' => 'boolean',
+            'can_create_channel' => 'boolean',
             'suspended_at' => 'datetime',
         ];
     }
@@ -50,4 +55,9 @@ class User extends Authenticatable
     {
         return $this->suspended_at !== null;
     }
+
+    public function canCreateChannel(): bool
+    {
+        return $this->can_create_channel || PlatformSetting::current()->channel_creation_open;
+    }
 }

database/migrations/2026_05_15_235625_add_can_create_channel_to_users_table.php

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+<?php
+
+use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
+use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
+
+return new class extends Migration
+{
+    public function up(): void
+    {
+        Schema::table('users', function (Blueprint $table) {
+            $table->boolean('can_create_channel')->default(false)->index()->after('is_admin');
+        });
+    }
+
+    public function down(): void
+    {
+        Schema::table('users', function (Blueprint $table) {
+            $table->dropColumn('can_create_channel');
+        });
+    }
+};

database/migrations/2026_05_15_235629_create_platform_settings_table.php

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+<?php
+
+use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
+use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
+
+return new class extends Migration
+{
+    public function up(): void
+    {
+        Schema::create('platform_settings', function (Blueprint $table) {
+            $table->id();
+            $table->boolean('channel_creation_open')->default(false);
+            $table->timestamps();
+        });
+    }
+
+    public function down(): void
+    {
+        Schema::dropIfExists('platform_settings');
+    }
+};

database/seeders/DatabaseSeeder.php

@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 namespace Database\Seeders;
 
 use App\Models\Category;
+use App\Models\PlatformSetting;
 use App\Models\User;
+use App\Services\Streaming\StreamKeyManager;
 use Illuminate\Database\Seeder;
 
 class DatabaseSeeder extends Seeder
@@ -24,15 +26,35 @@ class DatabaseSeeder extends Seeder
             ['name' => $category['name']],
         ));
 
-        User::factory()->create([
+        PlatformSetting::current();
-            'name' => 'Test User',
+
-            'email' => 'test@example.com',
+        $admin = User::query()->firstOrNew(['email' => 'admin@nyone.net']);
+        $admin->forceFill([
+            'name' => 'Admin User',
+            'password' => 'password',
+            'email_verified_at' => now(),
+            'is_admin' => true,
+            'can_create_channel' => false,
+        ])->save();
+
+        $official = User::query()->firstOrNew(['email' => 'chief@nyone.net']);
+        $official->forceFill([
+            'name' => 'Chief Nyone',
+            'password' => 'password',
+            'email_verified_at' => now(),
+            'is_admin' => false,
+            'can_create_channel' => true,
+        ])->save();
+
+        $channel = $official->channel()->updateOrCreate([], [
+            'category_id' => Category::query()->where('slug', 'creative')->value('id'),
+            'slug' => 'nyone',
+            'display_name' => 'Nyone Official',
+            'description' => 'Official updates and live sessions from Nyone.',
         ]);
 
-        User::factory()->create([
+        if (! $channel->streamKey()->exists()) {
-            'name' => 'Admin User',
+            app(StreamKeyManager::class)->rotate($channel);
-            'email' => 'admin@example.com',
+        }
-            'is_admin' => true,
-        ]);
     }
 }

resources/js/pages/admin/dashboard.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,23 @@
 import { Head, Link, router } from '@inertiajs/react';
-import { Ban, Radio, Shield, StopCircle, Undo2, Users } from 'lucide-react';
+import {
+    Ban,
+    KeyRound,
+    Lock,
+    Radio,
+    Shield,
+    StopCircle,
+    Undo2,
+    Unlock,
+    UserCheck,
+    Users,
+    UserX,
+} from 'lucide-react';
+import type { LucideIcon } from 'lucide-react';
 import { useState } from 'react';
+import {
+    updateDefault as updateChannelCreationDefault,
+    updateUser as updateUserCreatorAccess,
+} from '@/actions/App/Http/Controllers/AdminChannelCreationController';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import {
     Dialog,
@@ -42,15 +59,35 @@ type AdminChannel = {
     };
 };
 
+type AdminUser = {
+    id: number;
+    name: string;
+    email: string;
+    is_admin: boolean;
+    can_create_channel: boolean;
+    suspended_at: string | null;
+    created_at: string | null;
+    channel: {
+        id: number;
+        slug: string;
+        display_name: string;
+    } | null;
+};
+
 type Props = {
     stats: {
         users: number;
         channels: number;
         live_channels: number;
         vods: number;
+        creator_access_grants: number;
+    };
+    channelCreationPolicy: {
+        channel_creation_open: boolean;
     };
     liveBroadcasts: LiveBroadcast[];
     channels: AdminChannel[];
+    users: AdminUser[];
 };
 
 type ModerationAction =
@@ -61,11 +98,37 @@ type ModerationAction =
 
 export default function AdminDashboard({
     stats,
+    channelCreationPolicy,
     liveBroadcasts,
     channels,
+    users,
 }: Props) {
     const [action, setAction] = useState<ModerationAction>(null);
 
+    function setChannelCreationDefault(channelCreationOpen: boolean) {
+        router.patch(
+            updateChannelCreationDefault(),
+            {
+                channel_creation_open: channelCreationOpen,
+            },
+            {
+                preserveScroll: true,
+            },
+        );
+    }
+
+    function setUserCreatorAccess(user: AdminUser, canCreateChannel: boolean) {
+        router.patch(
+            updateUserCreatorAccess(user.id),
+            {
+                can_create_channel: canCreateChannel,
+            },
+            {
+                preserveScroll: true,
+            },
+        );
+    }
+
     function confirmAction() {
         if (!action) {
             return;
@@ -112,7 +175,7 @@ export default function AdminDashboard({
                     </div>
                 </div>
 
-                <section className="grid gap-3 sm:grid-cols-2 xl:grid-cols-4">
+                <section className="grid gap-3 sm:grid-cols-2 xl:grid-cols-5">
                     <Stat icon={Users} label="Users" value={stats.users} />
                     <Stat
                         icon={Radio}
@@ -125,9 +188,73 @@ export default function AdminDashboard({
                         value={stats.live_channels}
                         live
                     />
+                    <Stat
+                        icon={UserCheck}
+                        label="Creator grants"
+                        value={stats.creator_access_grants}
+                    />
                     <Stat icon={Shield} label="VODs" value={stats.vods} />
                 </section>
 
+                <section className="rounded-md border bg-card p-5 shadow-sm">
+                    <div className="mb-4 flex flex-col gap-3 md:flex-row md:items-center md:justify-between">
+                        <div className="flex items-start gap-2">
+                            <KeyRound className="mt-0.5 size-5 text-primary" />
+                            <div>
+                                <h2 className="font-semibold">
+                                    Channel creation access
+                                </h2>
+                                <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                                    Control who can create a creator channel.
+                                </p>
+                            </div>
+                        </div>
+                        <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+                            <Button
+                                variant={
+                                    channelCreationPolicy.channel_creation_open
+                                        ? 'outline'
+                                        : 'default'
+                                }
+                                size="sm"
+                                onClick={() => setChannelCreationDefault(false)}
+                            >
+                                <Lock className="size-4" />
+                                Approval only
+                            </Button>
+                            <Button
+                                variant={
+                                    channelCreationPolicy.channel_creation_open
+                                        ? 'default'
+                                        : 'outline'
+                                }
+                                size="sm"
+                                onClick={() => setChannelCreationDefault(true)}
+                            >
+                                <Unlock className="size-4" />
+                                Open to all
+                            </Button>
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+                    <div className="grid gap-2">
+                        {users.map((user) => (
+                            <CreatorAccessRow
+                                key={user.id}
+                                user={user}
+                                defaultOpen={
+                                    channelCreationPolicy.channel_creation_open
+                                }
+                                onChange={(canCreateChannel) =>
+                                    setUserCreatorAccess(user, canCreateChannel)
+                                }
+                            />
+                        ))}
+                        {users.length === 0 && (
+                            <EmptyState text="No users found." />
+                        )}
+                    </div>
+                </section>
+
                 <section className="rounded-md border bg-card p-5 shadow-sm">
                     <div className="mb-4 flex items-center justify-between gap-3">
                         <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
@@ -317,7 +444,7 @@ function Stat({
     value,
     live = false,
 }: {
-    icon: typeof Radio;
+    icon: LucideIcon;
     label: string;
     value: number;
     live?: boolean;
@@ -333,6 +460,78 @@ function Stat({
     );
 }
 
+function CreatorAccessRow({
+    user,
+    defaultOpen,
+    onChange,
+}: {
+    user: AdminUser;
+    defaultOpen: boolean;
+    onChange: (canCreateChannel: boolean) => void;
+}) {
+    const effectiveAccess = defaultOpen || user.can_create_channel;
+
+    return (
+        <div className="grid gap-3 rounded-md border bg-background p-3 md:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_auto] md:items-center">
+            <div className="min-w-0">
+                <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+                    <span className="truncate font-medium">{user.name}</span>
+                    {user.is_admin && (
+                        <span className="rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                            ADMIN
+                        </span>
+                    )}
+                    {user.suspended_at && (
+                        <span className="rounded-md border border-destructive/40 bg-destructive/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-destructive">
+                            SUSPENDED
+                        </span>
+                    )}
+                    <span
+                        className={
+                            effectiveAccess
+                                ? 'border-success/40 bg-success/10 text-success rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium'
+                                : 'border-warning/40 bg-warning/10 text-warning rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium'
+                        }
+                    >
+                        {effectiveAccess ? 'CAN CREATE' : 'NEEDS APPROVAL'}
+                    </span>
+                    {defaultOpen && !user.can_create_channel && (
+                        <span className="rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                            DEFAULT
+                        </span>
+                    )}
+                </div>
+                <div className="mt-1 truncate text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                    {user.email}
+                    {user.channel && (
+                        <>
+                            {' - '}
+                            <Link
+                                href={showChannel(user.channel.slug)}
+                                className="text-primary hover:underline"
+                            >
+                                {user.channel.display_name}
+                            </Link>
+                        </>
+                    )}
+                </div>
+            </div>
+            <Button
+                variant={user.can_create_channel ? 'outline' : 'default'}
+                size="sm"
+                onClick={() => onChange(!user.can_create_channel)}
+            >
+                {user.can_create_channel ? (
+                    <UserX className="size-4" />
+                ) : (
+                    <UserCheck className="size-4" />
+                )}
+                {user.can_create_channel ? 'Remove grant' : 'Grant'}
+            </Button>
+        </div>
+    );
+}
+
 function Thumb({ url }: { url: string | null }) {
     return (
         <div className="grid aspect-video overflow-hidden rounded-md bg-zinc-950 text-white md:aspect-square">

resources/js/pages/dashboard.tsx

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ type CreatorChannel = {
 
 type Props = {
     channel: CreatorChannel | null;
+    canCreateChannel: boolean;
     plainStreamKey: string | null;
     streaming: {
         ingestServer: string;
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ type Props = {
 
 export default function Dashboard({
     channel,
+    canCreateChannel,
     plainStreamKey,
     streaming,
     categories,
@@ -190,88 +192,112 @@ export default function Dashboard({
                 </div>
 
                 {!channel ? (
-                    <section className="grid gap-6 lg:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_340px]">
+                    canCreateChannel ? (
-                        <Panel
+                        <section className="grid gap-6 lg:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_340px]">
-                            title="Create your channel"
+                            <Panel
-                            description="Each account can own one public channel in this version."
+                                title="Create your channel"
-                        >
+                                description="Each account can own one public channel in this version."
-                            <form
-                                onSubmit={createChannel}
-                                className="grid gap-4"
                             >
-                                <Field
+                                <form
-                                    label="Display name"
+                                    onSubmit={createChannel}
-                                    error={createForm.errors.display_name}
+                                    className="grid gap-4"
                                 >
-                                    <Input
+                                    <Field
-                                        value={createForm.data.display_name}
+                                        label="Display name"
-                                        onChange={(event) =>
+                                        error={createForm.errors.display_name}
-                                            createForm.setData(
+                                    >
-                                                'display_name',
+                                        <Input
-                                                event.target.value,
+                                            value={createForm.data.display_name}
-                                            )
+                                            onChange={(event) =>
-                                        }
+                                                createForm.setData(
-                                        placeholder="Nyone Live"
+                                                    'display_name',
-                                    />
+                                                    event.target.value,
-                                </Field>
+                                                )
-                                <Field
+                                            }
-                                    label="Slug"
+                                            placeholder="Nyone Live"
-                                    error={createForm.errors.slug}
+                                        />
-                                >
+                                    </Field>
-                                    <Input
+                                    <Field
-                                        value={createForm.data.slug}
+                                        label="Slug"
-                                        onChange={(event) =>
+                                        error={createForm.errors.slug}
-                                            createForm.setData(
+                                    >
-                                                'slug',
+                                        <Input
-                                                event.target.value.toLowerCase(),
+                                            value={createForm.data.slug}
-                                            )
+                                            onChange={(event) =>
-                                        }
+                                                createForm.setData(
-                                        placeholder="nyone-live"
+                                                    'slug',
-                                    />
+                                                    event.target.value.toLowerCase(),
-                                </Field>
+                                                )
-                                <Field label="Category">
+                                            }
-                                    <CategorySelect
+                                            placeholder="nyone-live"
-                                        categories={categories}
+                                        />
-                                        value={createForm.data.category_id}
+                                    </Field>
-                                        onChange={(value) =>
+                                    <Field label="Category">
-                                            createForm.setData(
+                                        <CategorySelect
-                                                'category_id',
+                                            categories={categories}
-                                                value,
+                                            value={createForm.data.category_id}
-                                            )
+                                            onChange={(value) =>
-                                        }
+                                                createForm.setData(
-                                    />
+                                                    'category_id',
-                                </Field>
+                                                    value,
-                                <Field
+                                                )
-                                    label="Description"
+                                            }
-                                    error={createForm.errors.description}
+                                        />
-                                >
+                                    </Field>
-                                    <textarea
+                                    <Field
-                                        value={createForm.data.description}
+                                        label="Description"
-                                        onChange={(event) =>
+                                        error={createForm.errors.description}
-                                            createForm.setData(
+                                    >
-                                                'description',
+                                        <textarea
-                                                event.target.value,
+                                            value={createForm.data.description}
-                                            )
+                                            onChange={(event) =>
-                                        }
+                                                createForm.setData(
-                                        className="min-h-28 rounded-md border bg-background px-3 py-2 text-sm shadow-xs outline-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-[3px] focus-visible:ring-ring/50"
+                                                    'description',
-                                    />
+                                                    event.target.value,
-                                </Field>
+                                                )
-                                <Button
+                                            }
-                                    type="submit"
+                                            className="min-h-28 rounded-md border bg-background px-3 py-2 text-sm shadow-xs outline-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-[3px] focus-visible:ring-ring/50"
-                                    disabled={createForm.processing}
+                                        />
-                                >
+                                    </Field>
-                                    <Save className="size-4" />
+                                    <Button
-                                    Create channel
+                                        type="submit"
-                                </Button>
+                                        disabled={createForm.processing}
-                            </form>
+                                    >
-                        </Panel>
+                                        <Save className="size-4" />
-                        <Panel title="OBS readiness">
+                                        Create channel
-                            <ReadinessRow done label="Channel metadata" />
+                                    </Button>
-                            <ReadinessRow label="Private stream key" />
+                                </form>
-                            <ReadinessRow label="Prepared broadcast" />
+                            </Panel>
-                            <ReadinessRow label="Live ingest signal" />
+                            <Panel title="OBS readiness">
-                        </Panel>
+                                <ReadinessRow done label="Channel metadata" />
-                    </section>
+                                <ReadinessRow label="Private stream key" />
+                                <ReadinessRow label="Prepared broadcast" />
+                                <ReadinessRow label="Live ingest signal" />
+                            </Panel>
+                        </section>
+                    ) : (
+                        <section className="grid gap-6 lg:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_340px]">
+                            <Panel
+                                title="Channel creation requires approval"
+                                description="An admin can grant creator access from the admin console."
+                            >
+                                <div className="border-warning/40 bg-warning/10 text-warning flex items-start gap-3 rounded-md border p-3 text-sm">
+                                    <ShieldAlert className="mt-0.5 size-4 shrink-0" />
+                                    <span>
+                                        This account can browse and follow
+                                        channels, but cannot create a channel
+                                        yet.
+                                    </span>
+                                </div>
+                            </Panel>
+                            <Panel title="OBS readiness">
+                                <ReadinessRow label="Channel metadata" />
+                                <ReadinessRow label="Private stream key" />
+                                <ReadinessRow label="Prepared broadcast" />
+                                <ReadinessRow label="Live ingest signal" />
+                            </Panel>
+                        </section>
+                    )
                 ) : (
                     <div className="grid min-w-0 gap-6 xl:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_380px]">
                         <div className="grid min-w-0 gap-6">

routes/web.php

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <?php
 
+use App\Http\Controllers\AdminChannelCreationController;
 use App\Http\Controllers\AdminDashboardController;
 use App\Http\Controllers\AdminModerationController;
 use App\Http\Controllers\ChannelController;
@@ -36,8 +37,10 @@ Route::middleware(['auth', 'verified'])->group(function () {
 
     Route::middleware('admin')->prefix('admin')->name('admin.')->group(function () {
         Route::get('/', AdminDashboardController::class)->name('dashboard');
+        Route::patch('channel-creation', [AdminChannelCreationController::class, 'updateDefault'])->name('channel-creation.update');
         Route::post('channels/{channel:slug}/suspend', [AdminModerationController::class, 'suspendChannel'])->name('channels.suspend');
         Route::post('channels/{channel:slug}/restore', [AdminModerationController::class, 'restoreChannel'])->name('channels.restore');
+        Route::patch('users/{user}/creator-access', [AdminChannelCreationController::class, 'updateUser'])->name('users.creator-access.update');
         Route::post('users/{user}/suspend', [AdminModerationController::class, 'suspendUser'])->name('users.suspend');
         Route::post('broadcasts/{broadcast}/stop', [AdminModerationController::class, 'stopBroadcast'])->name('broadcasts.stop');
         Route::delete('vods/{vod}', [AdminModerationController::class, 'deleteVod'])->name('vods.destroy');

tests/Feature/AdminDashboardTest.php

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ namespace Tests\Feature;
 
 use App\Models\Broadcast;
 use App\Models\Channel;
+use App\Models\PlatformSetting;
 use App\Models\User;
 use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
 use Inertia\Testing\AssertableInertia as Assert;
@@ -34,4 +35,65 @@ class AdminDashboardTest extends TestCase
                 ->where('channels.0.thumbnail_url', '/storage/channels/demo/thumb.jpg'),
             );
     }
+
+    public function test_admin_dashboard_exposes_channel_creation_controls(): void
+    {
+        $admin = User::factory()->create(['is_admin' => true]);
+        $creator = User::factory()->create(['can_create_channel' => true]);
+        Channel::factory()->for($creator)->create(['display_name' => 'Creator One']);
+
+        $this->actingAs($admin)
+            ->get(route('admin.dashboard'))
+            ->assertOk()
+            ->assertInertia(fn (Assert $page) => $page
+                ->component('admin/dashboard')
+                ->where('channelCreationPolicy.channel_creation_open', false)
+                ->where('users.0.id', $creator->id)
+                ->where('users.0.can_create_channel', true)
+                ->where('users.0.channel.display_name', 'Creator One'),
+            );
+    }
+
+    public function test_admin_can_update_channel_creation_default(): void
+    {
+        $admin = User::factory()->create(['is_admin' => true]);
+
+        $this->actingAs($admin)
+            ->patch(route('admin.channel-creation.update'), [
+                'channel_creation_open' => true,
+            ])
+            ->assertRedirect()
+            ->assertSessionHasNoErrors();
+
+        $this->assertTrue(PlatformSetting::current()->channel_creation_open);
+    }
+
+    public function test_admin_can_grant_user_channel_creation_access(): void
+    {
+        $admin = User::factory()->create(['is_admin' => true]);
+        $user = User::factory()->create(['can_create_channel' => false]);
+
+        $this->actingAs($admin)
+            ->patch(route('admin.users.creator-access.update', $user), [
+                'can_create_channel' => true,
+            ])
+            ->assertRedirect()
+            ->assertSessionHasNoErrors();
+
+        $this->assertTrue($user->refresh()->can_create_channel);
+    }
+
+    public function test_non_admin_cannot_update_user_channel_creation_access(): void
+    {
+        $user = User::factory()->create();
+        $target = User::factory()->create();
+
+        $this->actingAs($user)
+            ->patch(route('admin.users.creator-access.update', $target), [
+                'can_create_channel' => true,
+            ])
+            ->assertForbidden();
+
+        $this->assertFalse($target->refresh()->can_create_channel);
+    }
 }

tests/Feature/CreatorChannelTest.php

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ namespace Tests\Feature;
 
 use App\Models\Category;
 use App\Models\Channel;
+use App\Models\PlatformSetting;
 use App\Models\StreamKey;
 use App\Models\User;
 use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
@@ -13,9 +14,9 @@ class CreatorChannelTest extends TestCase
 {
     use RefreshDatabase;
 
-    public function test_user_can_create_one_channel_and_receives_one_time_stream_key(): void
+    public function test_user_with_creator_access_can_create_one_channel_and_receives_one_time_stream_key(): void
     {
-        $user = User::factory()->create();
+        $user = User::factory()->create(['can_create_channel' => true]);
         $category = Category::factory()->create();
 
         $response = $this->actingAs($user)->post(route('creator.channel.store'), [
@@ -39,9 +40,48 @@ class CreatorChannelTest extends TestCase
         $this->assertDatabaseCount(StreamKey::class, 1);
     }
 
-    public function test_user_cannot_create_more_than_one_channel(): void
+    public function test_user_without_creator_access_cannot_create_channel(): void
     {
         $user = User::factory()->create();
+
+        $response = $this->actingAs($user)->post(route('creator.channel.store'), [
+            'display_name' => 'Nyone Live',
+            'slug' => 'nyone-live',
+        ]);
+
+        $response->assertForbidden();
+
+        $this->assertDatabaseMissing(Channel::class, [
+            'user_id' => $user->id,
+        ]);
+    }
+
+    public function test_channel_creation_can_be_opened_by_default(): void
+    {
+        PlatformSetting::current()->forceFill([
+            'channel_creation_open' => true,
+        ])->save();
+
+        $user = User::factory()->create();
+
+        $response = $this->actingAs($user)->post(route('creator.channel.store'), [
+            'display_name' => 'Nyone Live',
+            'slug' => 'nyone-live',
+        ]);
+
+        $response
+            ->assertRedirect(route('dashboard', absolute: false))
+            ->assertSessionHas('plain_stream_key');
+
+        $this->assertDatabaseHas(Channel::class, [
+            'user_id' => $user->id,
+            'slug' => 'nyone-live',
+        ]);
+    }
+
+    public function test_user_cannot_create_more_than_one_channel(): void
+    {
+        $user = User::factory()->create(['can_create_channel' => true]);
         Channel::factory()->for($user)->create();
 
         $response = $this->actingAs($user)->post(route('creator.channel.store'), [

tests/Feature/DashboardTest.php

@@ -30,6 +30,19 @@ class DashboardTest extends TestCase
         $response->assertOk();
     }
 
+    public function test_creator_dashboard_exposes_channel_creation_access(): void
+    {
+        $user = User::factory()->create(['can_create_channel' => true]);
+
+        $this->actingAs($user)
+            ->get(route('dashboard'))
+            ->assertOk()
+            ->assertInertia(fn (Assert $page) => $page
+                ->component('dashboard')
+                ->where('canCreateChannel', true),
+            );
+    }
+
     public function test_home_page_exposes_channel_display_media_props(): void
     {
         $channel = Channel::factory()->create([