Live news brings audiences directly into the action, allowing them to experience events in real time. Whether it’s an on-the-spot report or a live event, broadcasters are always on the lookout for new ways to engage viewers with raw, unfiltered content. Investing in high-quality mobile connectivity and rugged, portable cameras are essential tools for on-the-go streaming.
Live shots are an integral part of most newscasts. However, the live capability of social media is changing how journalists work.
Taking a live shot is not easy. It requires audio, video, and IFB (Interruptible Feedback). IFB is the signal a station sends back to the reporter or camera operator through a wireless box they wear or a cellphone and into an earpiece so that they know when to begin speaking on the air. If a reporter doesn’t have IFB on a live shot, they can’t answer an anchor’s question or even know when it is their turn to speak.
In addition to delivering live news, most major networks provide free online versions of their television shows. The ad-supported streaming service Pluto TV, for example, has a number of news channels including local NBC and Fox affiliates. The cable-satellite public affairs network C-SPAN also provides a selection of its live streams for free on its website and YouTube channel.
Live video is transmitted over a data network, which can be prone to latency. When Alice presses record on her smartphone, it takes a few seconds for the encoded, compressed video to be sent over the internet and uploaded to the app’s CDN. Then, when Bob watches the live stream on his phone, he might experience some latency due to the distance between the CDN server and his location.
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