Imagine being at the center of the action, interacting and sharing live moments with millions around the world, no matter the distance between you and them, and living every moment as if you were there. From social events that excite you to conferences that open up new horizons. Live Streaming offers a unique opportunity to connect with the world around us. So let's find out more about what live streaming is, and how long it's been around..
Live streaming
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Live streaming is a technology that transmits real-time data of an event over the internet without having to record and store it first.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines live streaming as the transmission of live video and/or audio of an event over the internet. It is very similar to live streaming done via TV or radio, except for the fact that you don't have to pay to reserve time on the broadcast channel to do so.
This includes streaming matches, events,
conferences, social media videos, video game broadcasts, and more. What sets
live streaming apart from TV and VOD is that it allows for instant two-way
communication between the influencer and the audience as well as between
different viewers
How long does live streaming date back to?
The first live webcasts date back to the late 1990s, primarily on RealPlayer, one of the earliest media players of the early internet era.
However, due to technological limitations at the time, such as low video quality, it took another decade before live streaming events began to gain momentum.
YouTube launched its first live streaming session in 2008, followed by Twitch in 2011. Since then, livestreaming has been steadily gaining popularity. Today, many live streaming platforms are available, such as YouTube Live, Twitch, Facebook Live Riverside, and of course, Facebook Live.
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How does live streaming work?
A live streaming session begins when data is captured by a video or audio input device, such as a camera and microphone. This raw digital data is then compressed, encoded, and segmented before being sent to a content delivery network (CDN) for distribution.
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The CDN will cache each piece of this data and then send it to all users watching the stream. The data is split to avoid sending it all at once, preventing bottlenecks and saving bandwidth. Once the user receives this data, it must be decompressed, decrypted, and converted back into video and audio information by a dedicated application, such as a video player (usually within the browser)
All of this should happen within milliseconds to minimize video and audio latency as much as possible. The goal is for viewers to see and hear what the livestream is recording with the shortest possible delay, preferably in real time.
Live streaming is no longer an option, it's a necessity.
Whether you're a content creator or a large corporation, live streaming allows you to connect with your audience and expand your reach.
Live streaming has transformed events and activities from previously limited access to an inexhaustible list of participants from all over the world - allowing any individual, entity, or organization to reach more people than ever before.
The latest statistics found that the number of hours of live streaming content viewing reached 8.5 billion hours in the second quarter of 2024.
Live streaming makes sense for events of all sizes, not just mega-events.
Regardless of your industry, livestreaming can be extremely useful. MarketingWeek says that live streaming “is key to building credibility.” You might use livestreaming for sporting or entertainment events. Maybe you produce TV programs or long-form content. Or you might use live video streaming to promote your other products and services as a business, as well as using live streaming to cover breaking news. ”
Whether you're a new media company, a TV show producer, or an advertising agency, you can leverage the benefits of live streaming to reach a larger audience and promote your valuable content across multiple platforms.
Why not get started today? SHARE - a company that specializes in professional live streaming services - is ready to provide you with a free consultation.