Is there a market for Providing Live Streaming?

B

Bassman2003

Veteran
Hello,

I have had my own production company since 2002 and shoot a lot of everything. I see a trend of people wanting to live stream their events and wonder about providing this as a service. My first thought - is there a business model here? Is there a demand outside of weddings and concerts to roll into corporate jobs? Maybe even beyond events to mini produced live "shows" from companies. Sort of like a podcast you get brought in to produce.

My other thoughts are it is like 'playing NBC Sports or ESPN'. Way to difficult for the budget provided.

So I am wondering if this is worth pursuing? Any money involved? I do not want to go film e-sports! I do not want to be an IT guy with some cameras. I would like anything I get into to be an extension of my video company.

Your thoughts on my random post here! Thanks.
 
My company manages a high end event rental venue. Live streaming is a significant part of the AV services revenue, mostly for corporate events. Depending on the requirements, the average live streaming support ticket for this venue is around $1k.

http://www.scielectronicsinc.com/audiovisual

I’ve done event recording for a local independent record store, similar to the NPR tiny desk concerts.
Those are only done with original music performers who control copyrights to their music. But that is more like $150-$250 per event and done as a store promo.

Copyright for performance events can be a minefield. It is best to consult a copyright attorney for guidance and services contract development for concerts or festivals. But you need written clearances included in the contracts to protect yourself.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for your input. It seems like it is going to be part of the landscape but trying to decide if it worth gearing up for. I am a one man band so adding this will border on needing another person along which changes the jobs for me.
 
This year I have done the majority of my work in streaming. And most of it has been corporate or branded shows (Brand X presents: A Conversation with Famous Musician.) Depending on my client, I can be providing as little as myself as an encoding engineer, or as much as a Network Operations Center for multi-platform streaming services, bonded cellular uplinks, video and network engineering services, and project management.
 
It’s very much dependent on your clientele. Some of the most common and lucrative work is multi camera corporate seminar. This is usually a presenter with a PowerPoint and perhaps a second speaker or a physical demo. A couple cameras (wide & tight) plus the laptop presentation all fed to a switcher along with basic audio. The output of the switcher is recorded to hand out to attendees, archived, and also live-streamed. The wide shot is a lock off and the tight angle is basic operating with the switcher setup on a table next to the camera. Done right it’s a one-man operation. You can make extra money if you provide the projector or monitor for the presentation along with a PA system, but some venues (mostly hotel meeting rooms) either provide it or insist on events using the hotel’s for a fee.

Like anything else worth doing, this is not something one casually stumbles into. There are a lot of people making a very healthy living off such work. While I described the above as a one-man job, that person better have properly kit to do the work effectively and efficiently. Otherwise someone else will underbid him or he won’t be able to deliver for clients. Also, that same job could take three people and it’s important to know when it is appropriate to go one way v the other.
 
Thanks for the input. Would you say that streaming is or will become a necessary offering for any video professional? Sort of like delivering over the internet instead of the old ways? The unknown of the internet connections have scared me off for a long time but I think I could add value in this space if I can find some niches.
 
Bassman2003 said:
Thanks for the input. Would you say that streaming is or will become a necessary offering for any video professional? Sort of like delivering over the internet instead of the old ways? The unknown of the internet connections have scared me off for a long time but I think I could add value in this space if I can find some niches.
Click to expand...

Why don't you just advertise it as one of your capabilities then get as much "in place" as possible, whether that's buying, renting or a combination?

I think the term video professional is too broad to say streaming will become a necessary offering.

If it's a task that requires another person maybe that person could also be an equipment owner - a one stop shop for you until you own, at which point you could probably bring in some cheaper assistance.
 
So funny I saw this tonight. Just got home from shooting a wedding and there was a group paid to be there live streaming. I have no idea what that means for market... but I have never seen this before. Then, I haven't shot a wedding in 4 years either but apparently it's a thing now. They were running 2 GH5 camera with a box on top (sling something), and had an assistant on an iPad and using radios.

Good for them, annoying for me. 300 people at the wedding, photographers, plus my 4 cameras, plus multiple people/cameras for the live stream. Getting crowded with all this new fangled tech I tell you. Could barely move without bumping into someone or having someone in my shot (or vice versa).
 
It is a changing landscape no doubt. It seems to me that people are enamored with broadcasting their stuff, hence the popularity of YouTube. When I say a necessary offering I am looking at how so much is delivered to peoples' web pages or social media accounts these days. It is a natural progression that they will care more and more about the live stream straight to those channels rather than the polished edit some time later. Let face it, the world's attention span is ever decreasing and instant is winning over better later.

My main concern in offering this service is having a fast, reliable internet connection on location. It would make or break this service. I am not a big phone person, so I don't have the inclination to use a hotspot to run a paying job. I need some schooling up on what is available for sure.
 
What’s the streaming specific equipment and software needed for live internet broadcast?

Let’s say I connect 3 cameras to my Odyssey 7Q+ and use its live switching function and then the mixed signal out of that... what device(s) is needed to actually get that on the internet?

Maybe something like the Blackmagic Web Presenter + laptop? (it’s only 720p though)
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicwebpresenter
 
Last edited:
You would need an SDI or HDMI IP network encoder connected an Oddysey output or an SDI capture device on a laptop.
Then you would need software like OBS on a computer or a dedicated IP streaming switcher to setup an RTMP protocol link to a streaming service.
You have to consider audio too.
 
I looked into it a bit. For a very simple setup, the Odyssey7Q with that black magic thing and a computer would be an easy way to do simple Multicam broadcasts on YouTube etc. The Apollo function of the Odyssey has ways of syncing the video and audio without time code as well (no sure if there will be any drift on long runs or not though). In my case I’d need an HDMI to SDI converter as well. So for $650 I could have a very basic setup. Not the most professional but could be a cheap way to be able to offer it and tip my toes into the world of live streaming...
 
With HDMI cameras, I'd get the $300 BMD ATEM mini or a used bigger switcher. Then you can use a cheap audio mixer, and a computer to generate the stream.

I'm working on another way right now, but not enough detail to write it up yet. But I bought 3 cheap used PTZ cameras on eBay. Cheap enough that I wouldn't even consider fooling with HDMI cameras that have no remote controls. There are some limitations with what I bought, which is why they were silly cheap.
 
dmitrizigany said:
I looked into it a bit. For a very simple setup, the Odyssey7Q with that black magic thing and a computer would be an easy way to do simple Multicam broadcasts on YouTube etc. The Apollo function of the Odyssey has ways of syncing the video and audio without time code as well (no sure if there will be any drift on long runs or not though). In my case I’d need an HDMI to SDI converter as well. So for $650 I could have a very basic setup. Not the most professional but could be a cheap way to be able to offer it and tip my toes into the world of live streaming...
Click to expand...

This use was exactly the intent behind the Odyssey / Apollo design. Up to four video feeds, perhaps two locked off cameras, a computer and a manned camera. Mount the Odyssey to the top of the manned camera and then feed the output to another computer or streaming box. I know a number of people who make a living doing one-man band multicamera corporate seminar work this way.
 
I'm gonna say it's possible but hard. I offer live streaming as one of my services, but don't have a lot
of clients for it. Partly because of the 'live' part of it. To do a good live stream, you need to really
nail down quite a few things.....good broadband internet with good upload speed being very important
at the venue you are streaming from. And I'm talking a dedicated line for you, don't share the public
wireless connection with all the attendees. Then you have cameras, capture cards, tripods, SDI and HDMI
cables to run to the switcher, mics, mixer and XLR cables, laptop, radios and headsets to communicate with
any possible camera ops hires, and so on. You may need to hire camera ops, create animated graphics, load
pre recorded movies for inclusion into the live and many other things. Basically, it's very similar to being a
producer/director of live TV news and talk shows, which I did for a few years. Your big advantage is that
you don't have any post production time, as you 'mix' the show live. One big disadvantage is summed up
in the question 'why live?' As in, why would the client pay you the extra money involved in doing a live show?
Many clients are perfectly happy, having their conference posted online a few days after it happened...so
recording it and doing a 'Multicam edit' after the fact is cheaper and easier. Sports is one area I think it makes a
lot of sense to livestream online....but a lot of other events have a limited 'live value.' So just be aware of
that and think about the 'why live?' question.
 
Couldn't agree more with Alaskacameradude! I have and continue to carry Terradek Vidiu unit in my ENG camera bag, but have not used it much in the past year. I had a BM Web presenter which I sold a few months ago because it was just not getting any work. In my markets, when one of my corporate clients does an event, I usually get hired to shoot a piece and coverage and the odd time live stream a speech. This usually happens when the client has overseas offices and there is one presentation from the CEO or big wig that every one needs to see live. But that happens less and less these days. Main reason is the AV companies here, who have exclusive contracts with the hotels provide that service, they also gripe when they see me shooting on "their turf" but only to me and never to the client. All to say, I found it difficult to compete with them and most of the corporate stuff here is in hotels. The bandwidth issue is major as we all know, and in other situations such as universities, I have gotten caught in meetings explaining that the "...we have wireless internet everywhere" does not mean it is fast enough for the job. Or trying to explain why "buddy" can FaceTime live and I can't. So I am back to Pan, Tilt and Invoice. Easier.
 
I agree. I have been telling clients for many years it is not worth it to live stream compared to a post-prepared upload. But, I think the times are changing no matter what. My hope in starting this thread was to start a conversation about offering this service and maybe some brainstorming on possible niches. Not every job needs a live component but some might be improved with a live component. All within reason and budget, which is often limited.

I am spending a lot of time editing at the computer executing the exact strategy Alaska brings up. As a one man band, I have operated this way for a long time. I aim to try to limit my editing time in the future and it is takes more live style productions, then I think it is worth looking into.
 
I was the lead camera op for the live stream of the NAACP Image Awards Red Carpet from Hollywood this year. We had four cameras, two of them wireless, host talent, interviews with all of the A-listers coming down the red carpet.

A friend of mine owns the company. It's equipment intensive and his constant mantra is that it can suck because you can do everything on your end perfectly but you are often held hostage by incompetence or technical issues that you have
zero control over with the streaming uplink and if it goes wrong, YOU are blamed. Not the ISP, venue or uplink provider, you will be blamed, which can be frustrating as hell. Our entire setup lost power twice during rehearsals but luckily, not
during the event.

For me personally, shooting live events of any kind is about as much fun as a root canal. I do them because they pay, but there is usually zero creativity or artistry, it's an engineering service kind of thing, it's both boring and stressful to me.
Also, there is a phenomenom, I don't know what to call it, but think of it this way. Live events are usually conceived, staged, and ran in a way that almost seems to deliberately screw up any kind of video documentation of said event, unless
the event is conceived for television or live streaming. Think about it, the sound is always for the live audience and a lot of what makes the sound work for the live audience makes the sound sound like garbage for the video live stream.

Same with lighting, stage lighting, unless conceived for video, usually looks hideously bad on video. I just worked on a live shoot for an expo. The entire stage BG were giant LCD screens, that when shot with our cameras (Sony F55s), was
solid twitching, flickering, filled with moire and bleeding colors, it looked horrible on the live recording and we, the video crew had zero input, meeting with the event organizers, etc. If you do weddings and corporate live events, you'll constantly
be running into this factor. People in general, want to make no contribution to making sure that event is video friendly, yet they complain when the things they have put in motion make the video look like garbage, then they complain that it's our
fault. I HATE doing live events, they are really just a big headache typically.
 
Last edited:
ok. Then lets move away from live event discussions. :) Surely these are not the only area for live streaming. I guess everything live streamed in a "live event"...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top