OTT live streaming has so much to delve into in terms of technology and the competitive market that strives to deliver the best for the audience. In this dynamic and competitive market, it is not easy to stand on the top by sidelining the other industry giants.
As one of the mainstream mediums, live streaming has shown its potential over the years. The surge of live-streaming platforms is majorly connected to the gaming industry. According to Statista, the giants of the gaming industry collectively recorded approximately 7.2 billion hours of engagement.
Moreover, during the third quarter of 2022, live streaming reached an audience of almost 30 percent among internet users across the globe. Over the past years, live-streaming video has arisen as one of the widely consumed forms of video content over the internet.
According to a recent research report by Markets and Markets named “Enterprise Video Market” stated that the enterprise video market is projected to grow from USD 19.8 billion in 2022 to 31.4 billion by 2027. The market will grow at a CAGR of 9.7% during the forecasted period. Investing in online video content will surely give a boost to the business in the long run.
Advancements in video streaming solutions have made these platforms increasingly accessible over the past decade. This has enabled both beginners and renowned broadcasters to produce and deliver high-quality live-streaming content with ease. Now with the help of streaming solutions, anyone can stream live content without much difficulty.
What are Live Streaming Solutions?
The live streaming solutions are an essential part of streaming content live over the internet. Streaming solutions are used to perform key tasks related to broadcasting. It allows the producer, owner, or streamers to mix different camera sources to create an HD streaming experience and encode the video content.
Working of Live Streaming Solutions
OTT Live streaming solutions perform two primary purposes which include encoding and mixing/production. Encoding is used to encode the live video content. It involves taking the video feed from the source and compressing it into a suitable format for streaming. While Mixing/Producing the live video content is done by mixing and editing the video. It includes mixing different audio and video sources, effects, graphics, and other key components to create a polished final product. By performing these key functions, live-streaming solutions provide broadcasters to create high-quality live-streaming content that entertains and engages viewers across the globe.
Let’s dive deep to understand streaming solutions in depth.
- Encoding
Video recording cameras are primarily made for recording and are not optimized for digital. Live broadcasting solutions take advantage of video encoding technology to convert the streaming content into a suitable format for live streaming. To stream live streaming content, a streaming device, and a reliable internet connection becomes crucial.
- Mixing and Production
The other function of live streaming solutions is mixing and editing. The fundamental purpose of live-streaming mixing solutions is to facilitate the selection and display of content from multiple sources during live broadcasting. The core purpose of mixing is continuous editing for the streaming content.
Key Functions of Live Streaming Solutions
Live streaming solutions enable broadcasters to encode and transmit live-streaming content over the internet. It serves several critical functions in the broadcasting sphere which include:
- Encoding and transmission
The live streaming solutions are responsible for encoding the video content and transmitting it to a streaming platform.
- Audio input management
It also helps in managing the audio inputs that include microphones and other external audio sources.
- Real-time analytics and monitoring
The streaming solutions also provide broadcasters with real-time analytics and monitoring of the content. It includes key statistics like viewership data, streaming quality, and others.
Some of the renowned streaming solutions include OBS Studio, Restream, XSplit, and Streamlabs OBS.
Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Streaming Platform
Widely used broadcasting solutions share several features which include features such as recording videos, and audio, connecting with a camera, and other video editing tools. There are numerous points that you need to consider when choosing streaming solutions. The key point that you need to consider is listed below:
- Potential Compatibility Problem
Potential compatibility problems may arise when using live streaming solutions with certain video hosting platforms beyond popular social networks and streaming websites. Checking for compatibility issues becomes essential if you intend to use other hosting platforms like Vimeo or Dacast.
- Additional Features
Live streaming solutions come in different tiers, and each has different levels of complexity. Some solutions offer the ability to multi-stream to multiple platforms, while others provide additional storage space for saving recordings of your live videos. Before selecting any live streaming solutions, it is essential to explore features that best fit your needs.
- Pricing
The cost of the streaming platform depends on the solution that one requires. While some streaming solutions are available for free, but to access the additional features, it becomes essential to get the paid solution. To deliver a different and enhanced streaming experience, going for a paid option will be a wise decision to deliver the next level of experience.
When selecting a streaming solution, it’s important to review four key characteristics to determine which options may not be suitable for your needs. Factors such as pricing, platform support, and essential features should be carefully evaluated to narrow down your choices and eliminate options that do not meet your requirements. By taking these considerations into account, you can select a streaming solution that aligns with your budget and desired functionalities and effectively meets your streaming needs.