Our new pandemic ‘normal’ has meant that businesses have already seen the benefits of streaming shows and events live. ‘Watch on demand’ access has also meant that these events have a wider reach and can be streamed live globally at the convenience of the viewer.
Although it is not a new service for the Noba team, who have been streaming and providing the connectivity to stream for over a decade, it is a new concept for many event planners and brands.
In the last 18 months, every type of event has been streamed using a variety of platforms. From global conferences, product launches and fashion shows, to live music gigs and even live court trials. Although the effects of the global pandemic on the live events industry have been undisputedly catastrophic, it has forced event planners to rethink how they reach their audience. Covid-19 has forced the events industry to evolve rapidly and has inadvertently reinvented it, creating a landscape where being able to tune in to a live event stream, or aspects of it is now commonplace.
What is live streaming?
Live streaming means live or recorded media content being delivered to digital devices via the internet. It is content that is recorded and broadcast in real-time. This can include webcasts, podcasts and videos. As streamed content is delivered in real-time, there is no need to wait for ages for files to download, taking up valuable space on your device before you view it.
A brief history of the live stream
Attempts to ‘stream’ media date as far back as the 1940s, but no real progress was made until the late 80’s when computer hardware had advanced enough to display media. There was, however, still the problem of network bandwidth to support the smooth transfer of the data. Many of us remember only too well the frustration of poor bandwidth, causing content to buffer back in the ’80s, ’90s, and, actually, many still suffer from this issue today!
Technological improvements meant that the streaming of audio and video content to digital devices became a reality, and in 1993, the band Severe Tire Damage was the first group to perform live on the Internet.
Why is live event streaming the future?
Although Covid-19 might have accelerated the rise of the online or virtual event, it isn’t the only influencing factor in the rise of the live event stream. As national and global travel ground to a halt, and the education for, and accessibility to online events improved, it began to be perceived as a credible alternative to the prolific executive travel that was previously viewed as crucial to the success of many global brands.
- By 2026, the live streaming market is expected to grow to well over 100 billion dollars.
- There has been a 99% growth in live streaming hours since April 2019.
- Every generation is growing more confident with streaming technology.
- Live streaming is preferred to blog posts or other written content as it is perceived as more engaging.
- According to Eventbrite, 67% of viewers are more likely to buy a ticket for an event or a concert after watching a live video.
- A recent survey by HubSpot revealed that 54% of buyers want to see more video content from the businesses and brands they support.
The benefits of live event streaming
Streaming your event live offers the perfect solution for creating a record of your event, along with enabling you to expand your event audience beyond the physical walls of the venue.
- Streaming allows an almost limitless amount of viewers to experience the event in real-time.
- It is cost-effective and reduces your event carbon footprint.
- It enables unlimited viewership of your event.
- It provides reusable footage for additional exposure across social channels.
- It is easy and convenient for participants to attend all, or part of, the event.
- It provides more easily measurable success, performance and engagement metrics.
What are the ongoing challenges of live event streaming?
It’s nearly 30 years since Severe Tire Damage made its streaming debut, and there have been profound technical advances that have been helping to perfect the business of streaming. There are, however, still challenges with streaming content on the Internet, including latency issues (the delay before a transfer of data begins), and hardware and software compatibility problems. The number one challenge continues to be insufficient bandwidth which stops or lags content, preventing a seamless streaming experience.
Bandwidth issues are also still a problem in many venues and locations, and as brands are getting more adventurous with their marketing, so are the challenges faced with streaming from more remote locations.
Live event streaming and you: how to create and deliver a streamed event
It is true that all you need to be able to live stream is an internet-enabled device, like a smartphone or tablet, and a platform (such as a website or app) to live stream from. Current popular video streaming apps include Facebook Live, Instagram Live stories, Twitch TV (often used by the gaming community), House Party and Tik Tok.
However, these platforms are often not suitable for events that require a secure platform for a private stream to places with an invite-only audience. Noba can deliver a CDN (Content Delivery Network) and custom player that provides a stable and secure platform for mass, simultaneous viewing.
In addition to providing main and backup streaming hardware for resilience, a stable and robust internet connection will be supplied as part of the end-to-end streaming service. Given how critical the internet connection is to a live stream, we always recommend a main and backup connection via two separate internet providers, for example, a dedicated lease line as the main source, and a satellite broadband connection as a backup.
Top 10 Essentials for live event streaming
- The essential equipment for a live streaming service
- Camera(s).
- A Tripod(s) for the camera.(s)
- Microphones, depending on the environment.
- Lapel mic – small wireless microphone with a dedicated receiver, clips onto the speaker.
- Shotgun mic – good for picking up sound from all directions.
- Handheld mic – great for interviews. Usually transmits to a large receiver.
- Streaming destination
- A video encoder
- A knowledgeable team
- Reliable internet
- Power supply
- Come prepared
- Configure your stream settings
- Test your stream
- Monitor your stream
It’s a good idea to also use an audio mixer as people have different speaking volumes.
Don’t forget to configure your audio, as audiences are less forgiving for poor audio quality than video!
Where online (or on a network) will your stream be available for your audience?
An encoder takes your final audio and video stream and turns it into a language that the internet will understand and display as live video. We would not recommend streaming on your own device as it takes up a lot of processing power and could significantly slow down or even crash your computer. We would recommend using a hardware encoder.
There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to video streaming live events, so don’t get caught out; it’s not a one-man job. Depending on the venue or size of the event, you will need to consider setup, derig, and general equipment management. With larger streams you will often have a team of 2 or 3, including a camera operator/s, and a streaming manager. Radio comms are also a good idea with larger events.
First and foremost, you will need a reliable network connection. This can be provided via satellite and long-range bonded 4/5g. Having a dedicated network means that you are guaranteed bulletproof internet connectivity from 5Mbps to 10Gbps.
A bit obvious, we know!
It’s important to always be prepared for the worst. Don’t count on the venue to provide these “trivial” items for you. Our box of tricks always contains chargers/batteries, a selection of cables, power strips, some basic lighting, network switches, splitters, and last but not least some good old Gaffer Tape!
A good chunk of work lies in preparing your layouts and streaming destination. By layouts, we mean creating different arrangements of video and audio to switch between during the stream. Add graphics, logos, and backgrounds, and prepare any titles you want to appear during the stream.
Create the stream page and fill out all the details: title, tags, etc. If this is a public event, it’s practical to set up your stream page in advance so you can share the link with others.
Stream to a private destination first to ensure everything is working properly. Test and adjust your audio, video, switching, and graphics. Don’t forget to stop your test stream and make sure you will be streaming to the correct location after the test is complete.
After clicking “Start Stream”, you need to monitor the stream. Switch between shots or layouts, if necessary. Monitor and reply to comments to increase engagement if your public live stream has a chat section. Once the event is over, don’t forget to stop the stream.
How Noba can help
As well as providing crystal clear, cutting edge streaming services, Noba can deliver bulletproof internet connectivity from 5Mbps to 10Gbps. All of our connections come with seamless failover options and can be installed in as little as 24 hours to ensure uninterrupted, perfect streaming every time.
Noba is proud to have delivered some great live streaming moments over the years.
Live event streaming case study: Tommy Hilfiger
Our client, Picnic Productions approached Noba to provide a robust, superfast WiFi network.
The show was a three-way collaboration between Tommy Hilfiger, Lewis Hamilton and H.E.R. and took place at Tate Modern Museum in London.
With media teams from around the world needing to upload content instantly, VIP guests and press teams requiring rapid access to social media, and the 100 strong production team wanting to be always connected, Noba were the perfect connectivity partner for this event.
Our team provided the network for the live stream that was viewed by hundreds of thousands, plus full production, media, press and guest WiFi for over 1,000 users.
We also ensured a team of highly skilled Noba engineers were onsite throughout to monitor the network in real-time and ensure the solution provided was faultless.
This allowed Picnic Productions to focus on running the show without having to worry about internet connection. With Noba, they had total peace of mind that our rock-solid WiFi would not let them down.
Our team are experts in the events industry providing secure WiFi for over a decade. From warehouses to boats, there’s no environment we haven’t worked in. So regardless of your WiFi needs, Noba is the solution for your next live event stream.
Book your call with our MD Nick Taylor today.
Get in touch
Get in touch with Noba for your next live event streaming moment by giving us a call on 0345 612 3008. Alternatively, you can email hello@localhost and a member of our friendly team will be in touch.
