diff --git a/backend/src/ingestion/youtubei.ts b/backend/src/ingestion/youtubei.ts
index c1edbda..f921c45 100644
--- a/backend/src/ingestion/youtubei.ts
+++ b/backend/src/ingestion/youtubei.ts
@@ -306,10 +306,14 @@ function normalizeAction(action: any): ChatMessage | null {
       }
     }
     
+    // Extract channel ID from author object (item.author.id contains the YouTube channel ID)
+    const authorChannelId = item.author?.id;
+    
     return {
       id: String(item.id ?? item.timestamp_usec ?? Date.now()),
       author: String(item.author?.name ?? 'Unknown'),
       authorPhoto: item.author?.thumbnails?.[0]?.url,
+      authorChannelId: authorChannelId ? String(authorChannelId) : undefined,
       text: resolveMessageText(item),
       publishedAt: resolveTimestamp(item.timestamp ?? item.timestamp_usec),
       badges: badges.length > 0 ? badges : undefined,
diff --git a/shared/chat.ts b/shared/chat.ts
index 77e1cef..597e692 100644
--- a/shared/chat.ts
+++ b/shared/chat.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export type ChatMessage = {
   id: string;
   author: string;
   authorPhoto?: string;
+  authorChannelId?: string;
   text: string;
   publishedAt: string;
   badges?: Badge[];