Livestreaming

Livestreaming is the real-time broadcast of audio and video content over the internet to an audience. It typically combines live video with live chat or other interactive features, allowing viewers to respond as the stream unfolds.

Historically, streaming began in the 1990s with early protocols and progressive bandwidth improvements. The rise of platforms dedicated to live video transformed the field: YouTube Live and Twitch popularized consumer streaming in the 2010s, followed by Facebook Live, Instagram Live, and specialized platforms for gaming, education, and events.

Technology: broadcasters use cameras and microphones connected to encoders (software like OBS Studio or hardware devices) to compress and send a data stream to a content delivery network via an ingest server, commonly using the RTMP protocol. The CDN distributes the stream to viewers, often with transcoding to multiple resolutions. Latency varies from sub-second to several seconds depending on configuration and platform.

Applications: gaming streams, live performances, news and sports coverage, educational webinars, and interactive Q&A sessions.

Monetization: streams may generate revenue through ads, channel subscriptions, tips/donations, sponsorships, and merchandise.

Challenges and considerations: copyright and DMCA compliance, community moderation, bandwidth costs, and platform dependence. Accessibility features and captions improve reach.

Metrics: concurrent viewers, peak simultaneous viewers, average watch time, engagement (chat activity), and revenue data.