Live Streaming Beginner's Guide [Webinar Recording]

Catholic live streaming, stress-free and automated

It's a common question we get from Catholic parishes, schools, and dioceses: How can we set up a live stream?

We're excited to say that broadcasting live video on your website (and pushing your stream to other platforms like Facebook Live) is now easier than ever, thanks to eCatholic LIVE powered by StreamSpot.

How did we get here? In the past, eCatholic would frequently refer people to the good folks at StreamSpot for live streaming services. StreamSpot is a leader in the live streaming industry that particularly focuses on streaming church services. As we learned more about StreamSpot, it became clear that our vision was similar to theirs:

Now, we've joined forces with StreamSpot to produce eCatholic LIVE. With StreamSpot's patented StreamSpot Sync® Automation technology, eCatholic LIVE gives you a streaming platform that can automatically begin a live broadcast. Then, your viewers can watch your stream directly on your website. You can also effortlessly manage your live streaming schedule and share, trim, and download completed streams within the eCatholic interface.

"Working with eCatholic is a bit of a dream come true. Now that we've both established ourselves as leaders in each of our respective spaces, the fact that eCatholic LIVE is now a product that's jointly available is going to be such a great thing for the Catholic community."

- Brian Duerring | StreamSpot Co-Founder and CEO

Why Catholics should live stream

Whether you want to evangelize, entertain, or inform, live streaming technology lets you reach your audience like never before. Here are some creative ways you could benefit from live streaming:

• Catholic Parish: In addition to Sunday Mass, you can also privately stream weddings and funerals, then instantly have a downloadable recording to provide to parishioners and families.
• Catholic School: Go live from your gymnasium and broadcast sporting events for out-of-town family members. (Plus, coaches get footage to review after the game!)
• Catholic Diocese: Help your entire diocese get connected by broadcasting ordinations, the Chrism Mass, and other diocesan events live from your cathedral.

To put it simply, live streaming is an incredibly powerful tool for the New Evangelization.

"We find tremendous value in live streaming the Mass and broadcasting (proclaiming) the message of Jesus Christ to members of the community who can't be here. We find a unity here that's made possible by live streaming the message of Jesus Christ."

- Fr. Eric Roush | St. Susanna Catholic Church - Mason, Ohio

Anatomy of a live stream

Getting started with live streaming can seem overwhelming. This is why we developed our Live Streaming Beginner's Guide, which breaks down the three essential pieces to going live. Here's a quick breakdown:

1. Capture: You can use professional-quality mounted cameras to produce the best broadcast, or you can get started with equipment you may already have (e.g., tablets or other handheld mobile devices).
2. Encode: Convert your audio and video into a format that can be used for streaming. We recommend the StreamSpot ONE Encoder, the first 100% automated, self-configuring encoder from StreamSpot.
3. Transmit: Use eCatholic LIVE to automatically distribute your feed to your website, Facebook LIVE, and other platforms! Your broadcast will then be visible to your audience, regardless of their device or internet speed. 

To make it as simple as possible, you can purchase a Turn-Key Streaming Bundle to get up and running in no time! With this option, one convenient package is delivered to your door. It'll contain all the equipment you need, which will be pre-configured with your eCatholic LIVE account. After an easy installation, you'll be ready to go live!

Easy-to-use live streaming features

Yes, live streaming can be stress-free and automated. Here are some of the features you'll enjoy with eCatholic LIVE:

• Schedule broadcasts: You can go live without physically being there. This means your broadcast will start/stop based on your streaming schedule (perfect for Catholic Mass)!
• Go live on Facebook: Automatically stream (or schedule a broadcast from your archives) directly to your Facebook page or profile via Facebook Live.
• Easily post broadcasts on your website: Just drag-and-drop to add your eCatholic LIVE player to your website; no need to mess with a complicated embed codes!
• Get help when you need it: Our streaming experts will help you set up, troubleshoot, and answer any questions you have about going live.

This is just the beginning. Whether you need simulated live broadcasts, easy archive mangement tools, Roku and Apple TV integration, and more, eCatholic LIVE has you covered. Check out our complete list of live streaming features as well as our convenient Live Streaming Packages and pricing.