What is Live Streaming? (Definition & Examples) |

Live streaming (or livestreaming) has become so common that 30 percent of Internet users stream live every week. It is possible to watch and make live streams using a variety of various devices and apps It's now easier than ever before to begin.

In this post We'll show you what you need to know regarding live stream.

•         The following article will describe what live streaming means (including a technical explanation).            
  
•         We'll present live streaming statistics and landmarks.            
  
•         In this article, we'll discuss the advantages of HTML0 and some examples for live stream.            
  
•         and we'll show what you'll need to create your own live stream.            
  

        Turn a livestream into profit. Check out the platform which has at least $1 million of communities.  

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What exactly is live streaming?

Quick live streaming definition

Live streaming refers to the process of presenting to your audience on video in real-time. In the past, this was restricted to only media companies that had the technology to broadcast live to their audience.

However, in the last few years the live streaming technology has revolutionized the internet as more users are making and enjoying that live experience from their homes--no need for the expense of a TV studio.

What exactly is live streaming... technically

Coding
Technically, your camera inputs raw digital images. But these are too big to stream efficiently. Therefore, an encoder (software or hardware) converts the video in real time into codecs (ie. h.264). This makes the files small enough for streaming and makes the format so that any device could understand it.

Compression
The video is split into what's known as I-frames and P-frames as well as B-frames. I-frames function a little similar to a standard JPEG image. They contain a full frame of the image with all its particulars.

P-frames and B-frames operate in a different way. They just capture the parts of the video which changes in motion vectors by tracking. It is much smaller, simpler to compress and quicker to replay. For example, in an YouTube video in which a person talks against an unchanging background, the majority of the background's pixels do not alter.

• P-frames (Predictive frames) are used to record the motion and changes in the body of the speaker's face as well as body movements through looking at prior frames.        
  
• B-frames can be even more effective, since they have the ability to refer to both prior and subsequent frames, resulting in an entire picture.      
  

Internet speed
Live streaming requires a continuous flow of information. This is known as bit rate, the amount of data your device can stream every second.

• HD720 (HD) video requires 2-4 4 Mbps        
  
• 1080p is required to download 4-6 minutes        
  
• 4k needs 15-25 Mbps        
  

When doing live streaming, your upload speed needs to keep up with the amount of data that your stream sends.

Your viewers don't actually need the same speed. Video players reduce quality if connections are slow or buffer (downloading two to three seconds earlier) in order to make streaming smooth. We also use Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)--this copies your files in real-time to a server nearer to your viewers, as it needs information to travel over longer distances.

    Latency

There is no way to guarantee that a video will be live. It's almost always a few seconds delay. We term this delay latency.

Live Statistics streaming

• 30% of internet viewers view live streams every week.      
  
• Most commonly live streamed content includes breaking news (34%) and live sports (29 percentage).      
  
• 91.7 percent of the internet's users globally view live streaming throughout the month.      
  
• 52% Of TikTok customers want to stream live video.      
  
• Smart televisions have become the top place to stream live streamed content (35.3 percent of all streamed video).      
  
• 28 A majority of online videos consumed online live streamed.      
  
• The most long live streaming in history ran for more than 624 hours from the Zhejiang Luyuan Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. in China.        
  
• The record for live streaming for most viewers was set by Spanish streaming channel Ibai, with 3.44 million Twitch users for his La Velada del Ano (3).      
  

How live streaming became feasible (Timeline)

The list isn't exhaustive however, here's a brief timeline of the tech developments that allow live streaming.

The 1990s saw the advent of technology that allowed "packets" from media sources to be streamed, and then rendered prior to a full download.
1993 - The MPEG-1 compression standard is published that allows for practical streaming of video
1995 - Starlight, a company Starlight developed the first video streaming from satellites.
1995 - First internet radio: Radio HK.
1995 - RealPlayer launches, becoming the first streaming media player. It was later included as an option in Windows 98 installation.
1996: The Real-time Transportation Protocol is invented, creating the framework to send videos and audio across networks.
1998- Starlight announced the first web conferencing products.
1999 - The Victoria's Secret fashion show is one of the first live streaming shows, with an estimated 1.5 million people watching.
2002 2002 Flash Player adds video capabilities that make embedding video content a possibility.
2007 - The launch of Justin.tv (later rebranded as Twitch), which included Justin Kan wearing a camera all day long. It was later expanded to several channels, allowing viewers to broadcast.
2009 - Both Ustream and Live stream launched
2011 2012 YouTube has added live streaming into its offering. It was launched in 2005 (fun detail: the initial video was named "Me at the Zoo). Facebook introduced live streaming in the year 2015, Periscope in 2015, and Instagram in 2016.

Benefits of live streaming

Live Streaming is a method of delivering energetic.

• Super interactive  viewers cannot only view live However, they also have the ability to chat, ask questions, and provide feedback in different ways.      
  
• Perfectly imperfect: Unlike edited video, which content creators may consider themselves obligated to refine the content, live streams can't accomplish this (at the very least, not at this point). Therefore, live streams feel natural, and are more enjoyable.    
  
• It's less time-consuming: There may be prep and setup for live streams, but they are often less work than, say, working hard on creating the video that you want to make. This may involve scripting, re-shooting, editing or other editing.    
  
• Costs of production are lower  Commonly, it's less lifting for starting and then launching.      
  
• The repurposing  The user can cut and adapt the live stream to different formats and purposes after the event, and also creating a recorded version of it.      
  
• The urgency of live streaming can feel a little more pressing. If it's a person who posts a recording after, catching a live event makes you feel special and helps increase participation.    
  

What are you required for live streaming

It's a great overview of this video for those who are starting to get started with Live streaming!

But otherwise, here's an outline of live streaming for creators .

To live stream, you need:

1. AV source

The best part regarding live streaming in the present is it doesn't require any expensive devices. Most modern smartphones come with all the necessary features to manage a live stream.

Here are a few potential video options:

• Smartphone video: Most phones are able to create HD video. Some modern phones shoot 4K. Do remember that your phone's cameras on the front and back may have different resolutions. However, both are likely to be adequate for a live stream. It's easier to stream direct using your mobile.    
  
• Webcam: A few computer streamers choose to use either an internal computer webcam, or else using an external webcam. This would be used for live streaming that is done using a laptop or desktop.    
  
• Professional camera: More established streamers typically employ professional cameras such as DSLRs for live streams. They can be connected to a laptop or phone and will send you a better quality video and permitting you to select the lens that most suit your look and feel.    
  

Sound is essential! Here are some options:

• Mic built into your computer or phone (not advised) The phone or computer microphones are far away from your mouth when you are watching a live stream, and often have low-quality sound recorders. You should pick from the choices listed below.    
  
• Headphones: Bluetooth or wired headphones put the microphone near your mouth, enhancing the quality of your sound and decreasing background disturbance. Any headset is usually an improvement over your device's built-in mic.    
  
• Lapel mic The lapel mic is attached to the collar of your shirt and picks up audio closer to the mouth, making for better high-quality. It is wired as well as wireless, and some higher quality microphones have features such as noise canceling.    
  
• Shotgun microphone  (also known as a shotgun microphone is a distance from your face (often is attached to the highest of the camera) and captures the direction of the voice.      
  
• Condenser microphone for desktop use  The majority of streamers today are using desktop condenser microphones like those of the Blue Yeti, which plugs directly into the computer and receives sound directly from the mouth of your user.      
  

Here are some more live streaming tricks to boost your game.

2. Software for streaming (optional)

Streaming software doesn't have to be required, since you can live stream directly to major platforms. It's beneficial for those looking to:

• For sharing an image on a computer screen. It could be part as a slideshow, or even for gaming.        
  
• In order to utilize more than one camera (ie. different angles).    
  
• to add overlays, images, logos, chat boxes or cards.        
  
• To mix different audio sources (e.g. music).    
  
• In order to stream on multiple platforms at the same time (e.g. Facebook + YouTube and LinkedIn ).    
  

To illustrate this, we talked about the platform StreamYardin our post about Zoom Alternatives. It does a lot of these kinds of things.

3. Live streaming platforms

It's pretty simple. You need a streaming platform that supports streaming, such as YouTube as well as Twitch.

You can try it ! Mighty allows you to stream live via your mobile or Mighty app. You could even create your own branded app to stream from. It's also easy to make money from it or charge per stream or even create a membership using streaming integrated into.

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Live streaming has benefits for business

If you run a business and want to grow, then you must understand the benefits of live streaming. Live streams may not appear as perfect or polished as the promo video that you worked on, but live streaming has something more distinctive.

We've already mentioned that it creates an intimacy between you and your audience which is unscripted and real, which is a huge benefit for your company. In addition, live streaming holds the potential of being truly unexpected and spontaneous (in the best way possible). ).

Here are a few of the additional advantages of live streaming for a business:

• Host events without needing the space or location. Live streaming lets businesses hold virtual gatherings and discussions without needing to all gather in a single city.    
  
• Make educational possibilities: A live stream could be an opportunity to add value by teaching! Companies can make use of live streams (especially with a webinar format) to inform customers about their products and build brand awareness.    
  
• The audience can stream live from wherever anyone in the world can catch the live stream using an internet connection and a gadget. This brings your audience closer and makes it easier to reach them.    
  
• Earn from ticketing and events Business can design premium digital products like live streams as sources of income, by selling tickets or gating them.    
  

Do not just make use of your live stream for selling. Give your customers something of value, educate them, inspire them, get them involved. This is what makes live streaming effective for your company.

Live streaming is our favorite so we've added live stream functionality to our various plans.

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Live streaming example

There are numerous huge old live streams. Examples include:

• Michael Jackson's memorial service was among of the live streams that were watched by the most people at the time (2009).      
  
• In 2012 NASA live streamed the Mars Curiosity landing. It is still possible to watch NASA live streamings on space.    
  
• In 2014 gamers on Twitch were playing Pokemon along with commands given by the chat. Later, it was discovered that 1.16 million players played, while 55 million people watched.    
  

And these are awesome! Live streaming can be a powerful tool to connect people. In fact, we even have the live streams of our very own: People Magic Summit, with top creators and community leaders (this year's attendees included celebrities such as Marie Forleo, Nathan Barry and Amanda Goetz). You can rewatch sessions here!

Here are a few more generic examples of what live streaming might look like:

• The Mighty Network host announces a weekly challenge on a live stream each Monday.        
  
• A musician goes live via IGTV or TikTok and hosts an intimate concert for viewers.        
  
• Gamer who plays Roblox and Fortnight and broadcasts to viewers.        
  
• Colleges offer a virtual class  which is delivered via live streaming.      
  
• A thought-leader interviews an individual on LinkedIn live regarding an upcoming book release.        
  

You can now read: 11 of the Top Social Engagement Methodologies for Community