Innovative Ways to Do Live Streaming

Live streaming can be customized to fit your brand’s needs and goals. Here are some popular use cases to inspire your strategy:

Virtual Events
Engage audiences through online conferences, trade shows, and networking events.

Online Learning
Deliver remote lessons, training programs, and educational content.

Live Sports Events
Broadcast live matches and game highlights in real time.

Concerts
Stream live concerts and exclusive performances to your audience.

Product Demonstrations
Showcase your products live to boost sales and customer engagement.

Video Game Streaming
Build a strong community by broadcasting live gameplay sessions.

Marketing Campaigns
Increase brand visibility with real-time content and promotions.

Religious Services
Broadcast religious services to allow remote participation.

Government Meetings
Ensure public access to local government events and discussions.

Essentials for Creating Live Streams

Key Streaming Protocols for Live Broadcasting

Streaming protocols play a key role in distributing video content during live broadcasts. Although these technical components work behind the scenes and usually don’t require direct management by broadcasters, having a basic understanding is helpful. Below are some of the most commonly used video streaming protocols:

1. HLS (HTTP Live Streaming)

Developed by Apple, HLS enables content delivery to HTML5 video players and supports streaming on mobile devices. Known for its high security and compatibility, HLS is primarily used for distribution but can also handle ingestion in some cases.

Note: RTMP encoders are generally used for ingestion due to their wide availability and ease of conversion to HLS.

2. RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol)

Previously the standard for live streaming via Flash Player, RTMP is now primarily used for ingesting content from encoders.

Common Use: RTMP is often combined with HLS to ensure low latency and improve streaming reliability and security.

3. RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol)

Similar to RTMP, RTSP is designed to transmit user commands like “play,” “pause,” and “record” between the viewer and the video player. RTSP servers act as intermediaries between the live stream source and the viewer.

4. SRT (Secure Reliable Transport)

This open-source protocol ensures secure live streaming over public networks, reducing latency and speeding up data transfer.

Advantages: Easy to implement and highly secure, SRT is a promising option, although less common than HLS and RTMP due to limited compatibility with current broadcasting tools.

5. WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication)

Introduced by Google in 2011, WebRTC is an open-source protocol that allows real-time audio and video communication between browsers, without the need for additional applications or plug-ins.

Key Use Cases: WebRTC powers real-time communication platforms like Zoom and video chat services.

Understanding these protocols helps broadcasters make the most of live streaming technology and choose the best solutions for their needs.
For example, WebRTC is supported by all major web browsers, enabling seamless global communication.