What Is Simulcasting? Understanding How It Works And Its Benefits

Simulcasting  is simultaneously sharing the same media content into different locations at the same time. 

As a streamer, you might be constantly coming across the term “Simulcasting”, 

In the olden days, simulcasting was a word used in radios and television networks to distribute and broadcast sports events, tv shows, music at the same time. whereas now the online streaming world has given a new definition to it.

To know more about the definitions, benefits and how to simulcast a content, dive deep into this article to know more.

What is Simulcasting?

Simulcasting  means simultaneous broadcasting and broadcasting refers to sending a signal or data to multiple stations at the same frequency and time.

But multistreaming is where media content is broadcasted to different channels.

whereas, simulcasting is processed through high stability transmitters and structured implementations with timed signal distribution.

Benefits of Simulcasting

Simultaneously streaming your content provides more opportunities to streamers, some of the live stream benefits are listed below,

  1. Expansion of viewership
  2. Target Multiple places at one time
  3. Minimize cost and increase efficiency 
  4. Create viewer engagement 
  5. Branding.

1. Expansion of viewership

When you place your content on the vast array of networking platforms, the advantages you reap are innumerable, and the most clear-cut one is viewer expansion and more sellable content.

Simulcasting makes it even simpler to access more audiences.

2. Target Multiple places at one time

As a content creator, you will be exposed to multiple social media platforms. Instead of targeting one place at a time. 

With the help of simulcasting, you can stream across multiple platforms at the same time with low latency.

3. Minimize cost and increase efficiency

The amount of time and effort required to broadcast content on one single platform is humongous; imagine doing it separately for every single platform. Tedious right!

But with a simulcasting platform, you can go live on multiple platforms simultaneously  and save an ample amount of energy, time, and production costs.

4. Create viewer engagement

Viewer engagement is crucial to any business, as all businesses are fighting to engage their audience with new products and services.

Simulcasting platforms offer chat and communication features that help streamers to actively engage with their audience while at the same time understanding their needs and resulting in a profitable business collaboration.

5.Branding

Word-of-mouth marketing still persists, and branding is built through communication established through verbal, visual, and vocal forms.  Simulcasting does that for you !

Creating brand awareness while simulcasting  your content works like a charm.

Platforms like OnTheFly offer brand overlays, headers, and footers to express your brand identity and create product visibility.

Understanding the benefits of simulcasting is one thing; making use of it is another. Invest wisely.

⚡️ Read Also: The 10 Best Multistreaming Software for Creators! 🌟

How Does Simulcast Work?

There are three ways in which simulcasting works in the streaming 

  • Transcoding: 

Transcoding is one of the best ways to simulcast a content

To simulcast a content, the media needs to be transcoded so that it can be cast into different platforms. 

Since different streaming platforms demand a specific set of bitrate and conditions, a encoder converts the content into the required one to simulcast it smoothly.

Most of the simulcasting platforms have an in-built encoder to convert the uploaded files. Once the file is transcoded it can be simulcasted.

  • Simulcasting software:

The second best way to simulcast a content is to pick the best simulcasting software, i.e, multistreaming software. 

Simulcasting software helps users to broadcast the content live into multiple social media platforms and most of the top simulcasting software are built with features to personalize and customize the user streaming experience.

  • Codes:

Other simpler ways to simulcast is to use shared QR codes and links to connect with the social media pages and accounts.

What Are The Popular Simulcasting Examples?

  • In 1926, the majestic BBC simulcasted a live symphony performance as radio signals.
  • “You are there” a popular television show in the 1930’s was simulcasted.

What Is The Difference Between Simulcast And Multicast: Are They Same?

Yes, Multicast and simulcast are the same, they both help users broadcast content at multiple locations at the same time.

MulticastSimulcast
Multicast transmits data based on requirement and demandSimulcast transmits data simultaneously to different mediums
Example– Live streaming on social platformsExample-TV and Radio broadcasting
Targeted locations at one timeMultiple locations at one time

How to Simulcast a Live Stream Successfully?

A successful live streaming is accomplished with the following steps, 

  1. Prepare a plan
  2. Choose the right social media platforms
  3. Go for the best multistreaming platform
  4. Invite guests and participants
  5. Engage viewers in the streaming
  6. Monitor the data
  7. Generate leads

1. Prepare a plan

Before you go live or have the idea to establish your content through a multi-streaming platform, create a crystal clear plan. 

Each plan should tick off the following elements,

  • Target audience:

Understanding your target audience is the key to producing quality content, if you understand your audience well, the major task of connecting with them is easily achieved.

  • Content-based on the trend:

Outdated content will result in repetition or creates a plagiarized impact on your viewers.

To avoid that,  produce content that’s valuable, original, and keeps up with the ongoing trend. Make sure you prioritize your target audience.

  • Brand building:

Building your own brand amidst the huge market is how you create a space for yourself in the streaming market. 

Simulcasting and multistreaming platforms offer brand building overlays to register your identity when you go live. 

Execute a plan and build your brand accordingly for successful brand building through simulcast streaming.

2. Choose the right social media platforms

Nowadays, social media platforms are the go to place for networking for all kinds of businesses, it’s a land of opportunity for consumers and business owners to connect and sell their content.

Entrepreneurs are actively participating in extending their audience reach to sell their products, Social media streaming and ad campaigns are the go-to options. 

Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter play a major role in attracting viewers. Find the platform where you fit in and establish your multistreaming now.

3. Go for the best multistreaming platform

It all comes down to this, choosing the right multi streaming platform gets the job done.

How to choose the best multistreaming platform ?

Look for prominent features like encoders, recording, audio mixing, low latency, high resolution streaming, branding, and, of course, pricing.

When you choose the best multistreaming platform, the platform will look after your content, so choose wisely!

Some of the top Four multistreaming platforms are listed below

i. OnTheFly

OnTheFly is a high-level web-based live streaming platform with easy steps to simulcast. It offers multiple benefits to streamers and broadcasters, with key features like recording, overlays, unlimited chat, and branding logos addition.

You can change the theme and color, live chat, and invite multiple guests to host your live streaming.
Embed URL is a supreme feature that enables you to showcase your content in different internet spaces.

Best for:

  • Multistreaming
  • Business branding
  • Live stream recording
  • Cloud storage
  • Viewership building

ii. LiveReacting

LiveReacting offers streaming to multiple platforms simultaneously, which can significantly broaden your audience reach. It makes the streaming process simple, efficient, and interactive, eliminating any technical hassles involved in the process.

Its interactive elements like polls or games engage the audience in real-time, and can also be multicasted, enhancing the viewer experience.

The platform allows the incorporation of pre-recorded videos into live sessions, providing the ultimate convenience and control over your content.

As such, LiveReacting offers robust, user-friendly solutions that make livestreaming a much more enjoyable and productive experience.

iii. Restream

Restream is one of the popular multistreaming platforms that offers custom RTMP, video stream analytics, live recordings, and to embed live stream URLs.

Restream’s unique approach to pricing paved the way for three distinctive pricing plans focusing on beginners for free of cost, a standard plan for entrepreneurs, and a professional plan for pro streamers.

iv. Streamyard

Streamyard is a simple web-based live-streaming platform with features that boost the streaming experience for educational content instructors and institutions.

Branding, content repurposing, multistreaming, and webinar hosting are some of its key features.

v. OneStreamLive

Are you looking for a robust live streaming solution for simulcasting? Look no further, OneStream Live is here to make live streaming easy for you.

OneStream Live is a cloud-based live streaming solution that lets you go live directly from your browser with guests and branding using OneStream Live Studio, you can live stream using any third-party app such as Zoom, OBS, XSplit, Ecamm, etc., and also live broadcast pre-recorded videos, on 45+ social media platforms and the web at the same time.

Key Features:

  • Multistreaming
  • Embed Player
  • Unified Live Chat
  • Playlist Streaming
  • Recording

4. Invite guests and participants

Most of the top-tier simulcasting and multistreaming platforms have an invite guest feature to conduct webinars, interviews, and other business-related activities.

Inviting guests will boost the performance of the live content and keep the audience engaged.

5. Engage viewers in the streaming

Chat communication, live user analysis, and chat support will enhance the viewer experience, showcasing a productive interactive session with the content provider.

6. Monitor the data

Once you communicate and engage with your audience, analyze the data within the simulcasting platform’s live dashboard.

A proper analysis will improve the quality of your streaming.

7. Generate leads

Lead generation and expansion should be your goals in simulcasting. Once you follow the above steps, lead generation becomes  an outcome of the process, generating more progress.

Successful simulcasting also involves using the right technical equipment that produces quality content.

Conclusion

The terminology may differ, but simulcasting and multistreaming are the same, offering huge benefits to those who effectively make use of them. The right time to market through live streaming never arrives, it’s in the hands of one who takes initiative to be seen in the competitive world. 

OnTheFly is a great option for streamers to podcast, express themselves, and enhance their businesses on all social media platforms simultaneously.  Their futuristic tools and features helped businesses achieve profitable business outcomes and outreach, Learn more about their key features.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. What Simulcasting Software Should I use?

OnTheFly should be the first choice if you are looking for a simulcasting software, it has features to multi stream your content in the most effective way.

2. What is the best way to simulcast?

The best way to simulcast, is to go for a simulcasting platform like OnTheFly, restream and streamyard.

3. Can I simulcast with OBS?

Yes OBS is a free source streaming platform where you can easily simulcast and record your streaming.

4. Is a simulcast the same as a live stream?

Simulcasting and live streaming are two different processes, streaming is watching live events and simulcasting is broadcasting content into multiple locations all at once.

5. What is the difference between simulcasting,multicasting and standard streaming?

Simulcasting and multicasting refers to broadcasting content into multiple locations at once but standard streaming is where you live stream a content through a platform to a specific destination.

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