Platform Development for Live Streaming
Given that the live streaming business is expected to reach $70 billion by 2022, it's understandable that you'd want a piece of the action. Building a live streaming app, on the other hand, isn't easy and necessitates meticulous planning.
Many decisions must be made along the process, including which platform is the best for streaming content.
I'll walk you through the steps of making a live streaming app in this article. But first, let's define the term "live streaming app" in a broader sense.
What Is The Definition Of A Live Streaming App?
Live-streaming apps, as the name implies, allow users to simultaneously capture and transmit video. The number of such apps has expanded in recent years as a result of high-speed internet and sophisticated camera technologies.
Influencer marketing, entertainment, corporate promotion, and the way people interact on the internet have all benefited from these apps. Here are some of the most popular live streaming apps among users:
- Facebook Live
- Twitch
- Periscope
- Kuaishou
- Douyu
- Bilibili
- 17
Facebook Live is a well-known site for gamers to broadcast their gaming sessions, while Twitch is another well-known platform for players to broadcast their gaming experiences. Douyu, on the other hand, is a Chinese equivalent of Twitch with a larger number of active users.
Stats on Live Streaming that are Interesting
- In 2018, China had 425 million live streaming users.
- Live video is preferred by 80% of US customers over blog articles.
- By 2022, the live streaming market is anticipated to be worth $70 billion.
- The rate of live stream viewing is 10-20 times that of on-demand videos.
- Live-streamed material is consumed by 67 percent of global consumers in 2018.
Live Streaming Apps Can Be Divided Into Three Types.
Before you start building your live streaming software, you'll need to figure out which class it belongs to. Below are the three most common types of live-streaming apps.
Apps for Live Broadcasting
Live broadcasting is perhaps the most frequent type of live-streaming app. The programme allows users to broadcast live video and audio recordings to anybody with access to the stream. These apps have given rise to a slew of internet celebrities and influencers.
Twitch, YouTube Live, Livestream, and Periscope are some of the most popular live streaming apps.
Streaming Audio
If you remove the video from the equation, you'll have an audio streaming app. You can listen to audio that is being delivered over the internet in real time using an audio streaming app.
This category includes Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music.
Streaming Video On Demand
Users can schedule and watch their favorite TV episodes online whenever they want using this type of live streaming app.
Hulu, YouTube TV, and Amazon Prime Video are all popular video-on-demand apps.
How Do You Create A Live Streaming MVP?
The process of developing live broadcasting apps will be the topic of this article.
Define your target audience and their requirements.
You don't want to build a live streaming service based on guesswork. Instead, you should learn about the genuine needs and opinions of the app's users. Plan and conduct user interviews to detect problems early on.
Early input will help you build the live app on the proper track. Furthermore, you may have already secured your first beta testers.
Selecting Monetization Techniques
At some point, you'll want to monetize your live streaming service, and here are three popular options.
- Paid app — users must pay a price to download the app.
- Premium — make the software available for free, but with some features reserved for paying customers.
- Advertisements — place adverts on the app to earn money through advertising.
For live streaming, hosting, and storage, use a dependable platform.
After that, you'll have to figure out which platform is best for streaming, hosting, and storing the content. Choosing the lowest service is almost never a good idea.
You might be able to get away with sacrificing quality for money at first, but as the number of users and traffic grows, the poor performance becomes apparent. Laggy streams and low-resolution films are unacceptable to users, and the app will be abandoned.
Make a fantastic UI/UX design
You'll need to build a beautiful UI/UX for the app in addition to selecting a feasible platform for streaming the material.
Technology is simply one component of a successful live-streaming app. You must stand out in a highly competitive sector by providing excellent customer experience. As a result, you'll need to put money into getting the app's UI/UX design right.
When compared to a busy interface, a minimalist approach frequently works better.
Construct and Test Your MVP
You may have a slew of ideas for the app, but the best way to test them out is to create an MVP. An MVP is a stripped-down version of the software that only includes the elements that are absolutely necessary for it to work. It's easy to use and allows you to collect user feedback quickly.
A Live Streaming App's Tech Stack
You'll still need to select on programming languages, databases, messaging queues, and other development features, just like with other mobile apps. However, there are three areas that require your attention.
- The Protocol for Streaming
To broadcast video, there are two main protocols:
- WebRTC Protocol • RTMP Protocol
RTMP
For high-definition streaming, the RTMP protocol is employed. RTMP is used to transmit live streams at concerts and conferences. The ability to send high-quality audio/video is the biggest benefit of using RTMP.
However, this comes at the cost of a lengthier processing time, as the screen capture and the viewer's screen are separated by 10-20 seconds.
WebRTC
WebRTC is a well-known protocol for real-time communication. It's available on video-calling services such as Google Hangouts, Zoom, and BeLive. While WebRTC is faster, it will have no effect on transmission quality if the bandwidth is insufficient.
2.Platform for Streaming
We've already stated how vital it is to choose a platform that is suitable for content streaming. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is an excellent choice in this instance. It gives you the tools you need to manage streams, host the app, and provide content to consumers.
3.Content Distribution Network (CDN)
Choosing the correct CDN guarantees that the live broadcast is available and performing well for the users. AWS CloudFront is a streaming platform that powers services like Netflix and AWS MediaLive.
Amazon Chime may also be used to create real-time WebRTC video rooms. Agora.io is an excellent choice for interactive real-time broadcasts, especially if AWS is unable to provide the necessary performance.
When it comes to picking a tech stack for live streaming apps, nothing is set in stone. What matters most is that you define the challenges you want to solve and change the stack accordingly.
Must-Have Live Streaming MVP Features
You'll need the following features to create an MVP for a live streaming app:
- User sign-up/sign-in - A simple registration form that allows users to create an account and check in to the app using their credentials.
- Live streaming - Allows the user to record and broadcast a live feed to subscribers of his or her channel as well as the general public.
- Search - A search box that allows users to look for information based on topics, popularity, trending topics, channels, locations, or interests.
- User profile - Friends and subscribers can see the user's personal information and profile image.
- User gallery - On the user's profile, store and organize recorded videos.
- Rating and commenting system - Live streaming apps rely on social interaction. As a result, it's critical to incorporate a commenting/rating system so that viewers can provide input on the video.
- Features for a Live Streaming App That Aren't Required
- Once you've got an MVP that the people like, you may think about adding these features to improve the user experience.
- Social sign up - Allows users to sign up with their social network accounts in one click, avoiding the time-consuming process of filling out forms.
- Expanded user profile - Add sophisticated areas like interests, preferences, location, and personalizations to go beyond the standard name and profile picture.
- More advanced streaming options - Consider including features like filters or screen sharing, which open up new ways to use the app.
- Chats - Including a chat feature allows the streamer to interact with the audience in real time.
- Improved search features - Increase the number of search parameters accessible. Users can, for example, search for films within a certain radius of their current location.
- Feed - Create a more interactive feed that allows consumers to customize the types of content they receive.
- Subscriptions - Introduce different types of subscriptions and make it easy for consumers to manage them from the app.
- Recommendations - Based on the users' choices and viewing history, provide them related material.
- Notifications - Allow the app to send the user push notifications when intriguing material is being broadcast.
What Does It Cost To Create A Live Streaming MVP?
There is no set fee, and you cannot create a live streaming app for free. The cost of developing a live streaming app or MVP is determined by the scope of the project, the number of hours required, and the design complexity.
Here's a table with a development cost estimate for one platform based on an hourly rate of $50, as well as extra services such as design, QA, project management, and others that may be requested.
Project Management Streamlined
To give the most efficient and timely project, we use a streamlined project management technique.
A Committed Group of Experts
We have a fantastic team of specialists dedicated to providing high-quality services at competitive pricing.
Project completion within the allotted time
Our goal is to provide high-quality services in a timely manner in order to become the finest in town.
Working knowledge of the industry
We've been in the sector for a long time, responding to the needs of a large number of international clientele.
a wide range of services
We provide a wide range of services to our clients in order to meet all of their digital marketing needs.
There is assistance available.
We provide our consumers with 24/7 help and support for any inquiries they may have, as well as full aid in resolving their problems.