An Ultimate Guide for OTT Linear Broadcasting in 2021

Television and radio have been gradually phased out, with internet streaming taking their place. Although people are abandoning traditional radio and cutting the cord on cable, there is still a need for linear streaming.

OTT linear broadcasting allows users to watch the same kind of streaming they're used to while making it more accessible than before.

We'll talk about linear broadcasting and how the industry is migrating to the internet in this piece. Following that, we'll walk you through how to set up OTT linear broadcasting using a professional live streaming solution.

What is linear broadcasting:

The continuous transmission of predefined programmes on one channel is referred to as linear broadcasting. Traditional television and radio stations have used this broadcasting approach for years.

Let's imagine your favourite radio station is 101.9 FM, which broadcasts top 40s music. This station operates daily.

Scheduled programming is available at all times of the day. Each show's producers fill their time slot with a combination of songs, live elements, and sponsored advertisements.

It doesn't matter if much of the show is live or produced. Linear broadcasting is distinguished by the fact that listeners can tune in at any moment of the day and find something to listen to. The same may be said for traditional television channels.

Live Linear Streaming vs Live Broadcasting

Although live linear streaming and live broadcasting go hand in hand, there are important technological distinctions between the two.

Pre-produced content that is merely presented during the continuous broadcast can be included in live linear streaming. Live broadcasting, on the other hand, shares content that is being recorded in real-time.

The Transition from Linear TV to OTT Broadcasting:

The linear broadcasting model is still in use, but the delivery mechanism is evolving. People are abandoning cable in favour of internet alternatives based on OTT technologies.

"By 2022, it is expected that 25% of American homes will have cancelled their cable subscriptions."

The convenience of watching your favourite show from any internet-enabled device is unparalleled, which is why traditional linear TV is being phased out in favour of OTT streaming.

Thanks to OTT technology, users can watch anything broadcast over the internet on their cellphones, tablets, PCs, and laptops.

Smart TVs are also designed for OTT streaming, so you won't have to give up anything when you cut the cable and switch.

Customers are rapidly migrating to the internet streaming era, and incumbent radio and television networks are scrambling to stay up in order to satisfy their loyal fans.

How to set up linear OTT broadcasting:

When it comes to OTT linear broadcasting, there are two general beginning points. The majority of broadcasters in your position are either starting from scratch or moving away from traditional linear television.

If you already own a television or radio station, this process is a breeze because you already know how broadcasting works and have most of the necessary equipment.

1. Make a strategy and plan:
To prevent becoming overwhelmed throughout this process, make sure you have a firm plan in place that specifies what you want to achieve and how you plan to achieve it.

You'll need to pick what kind of shows you'll be streaming at this stage. Will you be uploading only prerecorded content, or will you also include live video? This should be easy to decide if you already have a network with well-received programmes, but if you're beginning from scratch, you'll need to do some brainstorming.

To begin, figure out who your target audience will be. What do you have to give them, and how are you going to present it to them? News and current affairs updates, entertainment, and education are all common uses for linear broadcasting. Choose a broad direction and then narrow it down from there.

2. Choose a Live Streaming Platform:
Hosting linear broadcasts requires a professional-grade live streaming platform. You'll need a dependable platform with all of the features required for linear broadcasting.

When it comes to OTT delivery platforms, there are a few things to look for:

Hosting of real-time video
VOD streaming is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
There are no limits to the number of people who can
Monetization via advertisements and subscriptions
Confidentiality and safety

Look at the costs associated with the live streaming platform as well. You'll probably have to pay a monthly subscription fee plus extra fees for extra bandwidth. Check whether its suits your budget

3. Make an investment in equipment:
You'll need to invest in professional-grade equipment if you're starting from scratch. Use recording devices such as cameras and microphones should be prioritized. You'll need equipment that can create high-quality content.

A computer is also required to run your live streaming platform as well as other production software. A laptop may suffice, but a desktop computer with numerous monitors is excellent for advanced broadcasting.

With linear broadcasting, you can automate a lot of things, but if you use any live footage, you'll be mixing films and switching sources in real-time, so you'll need a powerful computer.

Your PC will help run your encoding software as well. This programme takes images from your camera and changes them into digital files that can be streamed in real-time. Another alternative is a hardware encoder, but a software encoder is the best bet if you're new to broadcasting.

4. Organize Your Content:
In linear broadcasting, planning your programming ahead of time is critical to your success. Depending on the live streaming system you select, this step will appear a little different.

You can create video packages for Webnexs and organize different live video channels and on-demand video content to play in a specific order.

Because you'll likely plan your calendar weeks or even months, you should be able to schedule your content in bulk on the production side. As previously said, any live video content will necessitate some real-time mixing and mastering, requiring some labor.

5. OTT monetization:
It's critical to make money from your radio station. Broadcasters monetize linear streams in a variety of ways, including commercials, subscriptions, or a combination of the two.

Consider standard television, which you've been watching for a long time. You pay for cable and have to sit through advertisements every ten minutes or so. OTT linear broadcasters frequently use the same general model.

On the other hand, the radio is a little different. Sirius XM utilized the subscription approach, but the service was never particularly successful. Sponsored commercials are used on regular radio, and this is something you may do as well.

Consumers benefit from OTT broadcasting since they can pay for particular channels that they want to watch rather than the huge packages that traditional providers give.

6. Your Content Should Be Promoted
It's crucial to get your material in front of the proper people. Starting with social media is a smart idea. You have the option of marketing your content naturally or through sponsored advertisements.

If you already have a TV or radio station, we recommend informing your viewers or listeners that they may find you online regularly. To get viewers to tune in online, several broadcasters in this position make some content exclusive to their online platforms.

Make your promotions unique, and remember to keep your target demographic in mind before launching any campaign.

7. Begin streaming now:
It's time to start streaming once you've completed all of your preparations and have your equipment in place. This should be as simple as clicking "Start Streaming" on most platforms.

Conclusion:

Are you prepared to begin internet-based linear broadcasting? This should not be difficult to achieve with the help of the correct live stream hosting platform.

We encourage taking advantage of free trials to find the video hosting platform that best meets your needs. In fact, Webnexs is a good place to start.

All of our professional broadcasting features are available during our 30-day risk-free trial. To know more, create a Webnexs account.