Live Sports Streaming Archives - Page 2 of 2

5 Best Live Video Streaming Apps for Mobile

by admin | Jul 18, 2017 | Live Video Streaming

The genesis of live video streaming apps is much older than 2017. When Android was still young, there was a veritable chorus of choices – Ustream and Tango. Live video streaming apps couldn’t fit in neatly with Android phones as the phones weren’t smart enough yet. Today, Android phones have shown their prowess and free live streaming apps are too many. One of the foremost honorable mentions is Meerkat, which was initiated in 2015. In a display of pure and elegant streaming, this live streaming app took the web by storm. However, many apps raced ahead of Meerkat and soon, Meerkat was forced to shut down.

Before getting into the details of the best live streaming apps, here are a few stats:

9 in 10 American adults have a smartphone
By the end of 2020, more than 70% of the world population is estimated to have a smartphone. In other words, the number of smartphone users stands at an estimated 6.1 billion.
With smartphones becoming mini-TV destinations, approximately 53% of the total video content watched was watched on smartphones
Ericsson Mobility report reveals that video traffic is all set to grow 55 percent every year till 2020.

All these stats substantiate that live video streaming through smartphones is yet to reach its saturation. This market is here to shine and prosper. That being said, let us now look at the 5 best live video streaming apps:

Periscope:

Periscope is a live streaming app for Android and iOS, owned by Twitter. Quite obviously, you should have a Twitter account to avail the services of this live streaming app. With this app, you stream videos either to a selective group or to all. If you wish to put on an exhibition of enchanting live video streaming, it is important to share the broadcast link on Twitter and other social networking sites such as Facebook. To view your live video stream, people need not download Periscope app. They can watch directly on their respective Twitter feeds. Viewers can like the videos and comment their thoughts.

There is a provision to replay videos for 24 hours only after the broadcast has ended. Another endearing option in Periscope is the presence of “Replay Highlights” which allows your fans and followers to re-watch the best parts of the concluded live video stream. And yes, this is a boon to all your followers who couldn’t catch-up live. There is also a provision to save your broadcast once the live video stream has concluded. To discover live video streams, make the best use of the Discover tab. One of the defining features of this live video streaming app is that it provides real time statistics on the number of live viewers, replay viewers, etc. Its web interface is genuinely intuitive and a few select partners can avail live 360 degree video streaming feature. If you are serious about Periscope, spare a thought for it and download it without any qualms.

Facebook Live:

Facebook is a true-blue social networking platform just like Twitter. Its service is not limited to social networking. Its services have gone into overdrive in the wake of live video streaming. Initially, its live streaming services were made available only to popular actors and performers. Today, it is no longer a celebrity service. Every Facebook user can avail its services. At the bottom of the screen, viewer comments can be seen. And of course, likes and emoticons floating all across the screen is commonplace. Apart from watching live video streams on the web, you can watch them on the official Facebook app as well.

There is a built-in provision to start live video streaming from the status box of the mobile application. To go live, choose “Go Live” option. It is as easy as it can get. Be informed that the maximum duration of any Facebook live video is capped at 90 minutes. There is also a provision to save videos for later viewing. Facebook has a massive user base of 2 billion active users and this is a propitious time to stay connected with your fans by creating events and groups. Broadcasting selectively to events and groups is very much in Facebook’s scheme of things.

Instagram Live Stories:

If you not much of a Facebook and Twitter user, then try Instagram Live Stories. Prior to 2016, this live streaming feature was absent in Instagram. Today, Instagram has become the symbol of instant gratification through its “Stories” screen and it can be used as a live video streaming app. Implementation of live video streaming in Instagram is different from that on Facebook and Twitter. For all intents and purposes, Instagram is a mobile-only application. Moreover, there is no option to save live video streams. Hence, it is impossible to save precious moments and this makes Instagram play second Fiddle to Twitter’s Periscope and Facebook Live.

Any live video can be streamed continuously for as long as 60 minutes. When you engage in live video streaming, your profile picture shall be tagged with a “LIVE” badge. Please be informed that your live videos will feature in “Stories” section.

Broadcast Me:

Broadcast Me is available as a free live video streaming application for Android enabled smartphones. For iOS enabled platforms, it is available as a paid app. To function properly and seamlessly, this live stream app leverages a multimedia server which supports RTMP (Real Time Messaging Protocol) publishing. To use this app for stable and professional streams, there is a mandatory requirement to be fulfilled in its entirety: Encode your live vide stream with H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec.

Live.ly:

The team behind the popular Musical.ly app has announced itself on the world live streaming stage in 2016 through Live.ly app. Not only does this app enable you to watch live streams but also broadcast live. You can join live conversations by posting comments. And yes, there is a provision to send loves to your dear viewers. Another noteworthy feature is “Daily Leaderboard” which helps you identify, browse and follow the top contributors. If you happen to have an account in Musical.ly, it connects Musical.ly to Live.ly and your profile page will feature posts of Musical.ly. This viable live stream app also has a feature to find and send invites to friends through your phone contacts. Of course, you can find them through their user names as well.

StreamNow:

It is time to stoke the embers of grey cells as it is extremely important to have your own live streaming Android and iOS app to stay in touch with your enthusiastic users. StreamNow lets you monetize your live video streams by drumming up subscription based revenue generation model where users will be persuaded and convinced to pay monthly or yearly or as per session fees. For instance, if your live streaming session is on Investment Banking- Merger and Acquisition of two reputed airlines, your users can pay per session basis. There is another monetization feature called Pay per View wherein you can charge live streaming broadcasts every time a user watches your video. Here is a pro tip- Provide free access for one-time viewing. If the users intend to watch again, charge them a certain fixed amount of money.

To do away with the hassles of filling long Sign-in forms, StreamNow is equipped with Social Login feature which can be used by users to secure login from their respective social networking accounts such as Facebook and Twitter. Just like Periscope and Facebook Live, StreamNow has a commenting system which takes social engagement to the next level. To increase your conversion rates, it is important to keep your audiences posted about your upcoming live video streaming events. Hassles in payment processing can un-nerve your users. To address this, StreamNow is built with PayPal payment gateway wherein payments across the globe can be processed without any hassles.

StreamHash is also available as a desktop software. It is essentially a Node JS platform hinging on Laravel 5.2 framework. To make it UI responsive across multiple screens and different resolutions, Bootstrap is used. Popular browsers such as Safari and IE do not support WebRTC streaming protocol. This can cause serious concerns to Safari and IE users. To help you strike the perfect chord with your target audiences, StreamHash converts WebRTC into RTP protocol by using Kurento server. This live streaming software further converts RTP protocol to RTMP by using Wowza server. To know more about its features, visit StreamNow.

StreamNow has one of the best customer support teams. All technical issues are handled by the technical support team and web developers. Hence, bouncing of tickets is minimized. If you have any doubts or concerns, feel free to drop a line or two in the comments section. I shall reply in a day or two. Keep watching this space for insights on live stream tv apps and live video streaming. Do subscribe to our newsletter. My best wishes are with you and your live video streaming venture. Cheers!

How To Create a Live Sports Streaming Website with StreamNow

by admin | Jun 3, 2017 | Live Video Streaming

The best matches aren’t necessarily played in a rolling stadium fitted with swanky arc lights and stippled with celebrity players. They most often happen in your own backyard, as your little one learns how to kick a ball or score a homerun for the first time. These little moments can be priceless and it’s natural to want to follow them through your kitchen window. Except, as your child grows, you’re likely to miss more and more of these moments. Your backyard will be replaced by your child’s schoolyard and you will be slowly eclipsed by a tribe of little minions. In time, you will be relegated to the sidelines. Literally. But therein lies an opportunity. Along with you, there may be hundreds of other parents wanting to follow their child’s matches at school or on the field. And there’s a perfect solution to keep them clued in while making some moolah on the side. Say hello to online sports streaming.

A Keyhole Into Online Sports Streaming:

The sports sector is poised to reach close to $74 billion by 2019. But this colossal number doesn’t only speak of the multi-million dollar celebrity sports teams that form the face of the sector. It also mirrors thousands of backyard stories that could hold even more significance for some people. Little League matches, neighbourhood charity sports events, office sports days; the works. By leveraging live sports streaming online, amateur sports matches have a way of reaching an audience around the world. This way, sports connoisseurs sitting halfway across the globe can still follow the beats of a live match, without having to miss out on crucial moments. Plus, if you monetise your stream well, it is a phenomenal way to fill your piggy bank. Online sports streaming is no longer limited to sophisticated technology. With a few basic pieces of hardware and a versatile streaming software, you can get an online sports streaming platform up and running in a matter of days. StreamNow, for example, is an excellent framework that allows you to plug a live stream into your existing website. If you’re wondering how to stream sports online, we’ve got you covered. Follow this nifty guide to create a sports streaming website of your own.

Example of Online Sports Streaming:

Let’s begin with an example to demonstrate how you can establish an online sports streaming window. Offices across the world regularly organise employee engagement activities for their employees. These range from carnivals, fairs and family meets to intra-company sports tournaments and annual sports days. However, many organisations are geographically fragmented, with offices often spanning the length and breadth of a country and sometimes, even the world. Here, lies the challenge. Sports matches, in particular, are geography-specific, and oftentimes, employees in remote corners of the country have no access to these engaging events. Of course, while participation may be difficult, live streaming serves as a medium that binds remote employees together, showcasing real-time action as a match unfolds. Many companies don’t have the wherewithal or expertise to leverage live sports streaming online. That’s where you come in. With a professional video camera and a capture card, you can set up a live stream through StreamNow. This will allow you to relay a sports match to various nodes around the world. And for every view, you can charge a fee to the company. The concept can work just as well in a B2C setup. Neighbourhood sports events and friendly weekend games can be ideal for streaming content.

Elements Required for Online Sports Streaming:

If you were to classify your live streaming infrastructure into key buckets, you would have five chief categories. Let us walk you through what you’ll need.

Internet Connectivity:

The lifeblood of live streaming is the internet. When it comes to establishing a robust connectivity ecosystem, be sure to build in redundancy. You may have a wireless connection as your primary connectivity tool. In addition to this, tuck a hotspot into your work bag to serve as an inexpensive, yet effective way to source an internet connection while at a game. A hotspot is usually available at telecom stores.

Recording Hardware:

The kind of video camera that you use really depends on the scale of your project. If you intend to turn your live streams into a full-time venture, it would be worthwhile to invest in a professional camera. This would allow you to move around freely, focussing on certain elements of the game and even interviewing players during breaks. A video camera requires a capture card to transform video content into a live stream.

Encoders:

There are two ways through which you can deliver a live stream. If you choose to stream your content exclusively through software, you will need to add a software encoder to your kitty. Flash Media Live Encoder is a wonderful tool, and is absolutely free. Alternatively, you could opt for a hardware encoder, but your costs may rise significantly and you will need a video source that meshes with your encoder.

Streaming Service:

For a seamless, sophisticated stream, turn to StreamNow. With a whole arsenal of unique features, StreamNow allows you to create an exclusive profile for yourself, monetise your stream through banner ads, save all live streaming videos, post statuses akin to social media and create a dynamic subscription plan. Offering a sleek, ritzy interface to users, it is a superior solution for broadcasters across the board.

Monetisation:

Watching sports from the comfort of your couch can send a rush of adrenaline coursing through your veins. It’s exciting, and leaves you feeling part of the game, even from thousands of miles away. By handpicking games and opportunities in your vicinity, you can tap the latent demand for backyard sports consumption through live streaming. StreamNow offers an assortment of monetisation tools to help you get started. Subscription plans, user-defined paid events and sponsored banner ads can catapult your revenue stream to the big league.

Set Up Your Own Online Sports Streaming Brand:

There’s no doubt that live sports streaming online, holds the ticket to success if executed well. Assess your market for opportunities associated with sports to carve a niche for yourself that stands out. Amateur online sports streaming is a nascent sector today. However, over time, you’ll discover what works and what doesn’t, which sports models hold the maximum monetisation potential and whom to approach for what. And when you do, you’ll score a homerun that will last you a lifetime.

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