How To Setup Your Own Video Streaming Server In 5 Steps?
Schools use live video broadcasting for many things, including remote learning for students, and live streaming sporting events and theater productions.
Since the coronavirus outbreak, students, high schools, and universities have been forced to step into a “new normal”. That meant most teaching happened over a zoom call, and students maintained social distance over the past academic year. Still, schools tried to give graduating seniors and their family members the commencement ceremonies they’ve worked hard for. One way institutions can do that is with virtual celebrations such as a virtual commencement ceremony, online graduation ceremony, or even a hybrid graduation.
Mslive and other professional streaming platforms provide the tools schools need to produce high-quality virtual graduation ceremonies live streams. Virtual events hold just as much importance now that we’re in 2023, helping remote students join in and contribute to the diversity of any institute.
Today, we’re going to discuss the ins and outs of how to host a live stream graduation ceremony virtually. We’ll introduce you to the basics of streaming live video online, including the broadcasting platform and equipment you’ll need, technical requirements, and how to promote your live stream graduation.
We will wrap things up by discussing the role of professional streaming software in hosting a top-notch virtual graduation ceremony. We will also cover 10 top streaming solutions for hosting your online ceremony.
What is Graduation Live Streaming?
Hybrid graduation ceremonies allow prospective graduates to celebrate their success from anywhere with the internet.
Students work hard for several years to earn their degrees, and a graduation ceremony is used to commemorate this magnificent accomplishment.
Unfortunately, many 2023 graduating students cannot walk across the stage to receive their diplomas because of travel restrictions or long distances. High schools and universities are making significant efforts to transition from entirely in-person graduation ceremonies to blended and virtual graduation ceremonies for students.
A virtual graduation ceremony comes in a few forms, but it’s simply a graduation live stream broadcast over the internet. This form of a hybrid graduation ceremony is an alternative or supplement to an in-person event when students can’t attend. The real-time component makes live streaming the graduation ceremony feel more “real” than simply recording the ceremony for the students later viewing.
A major perk of live streaming graduation ceremonies is that it allows students, family members, or friends of the graduating class who wouldn’t have been able to attend the ceremony in person to see it on the screen in real-time. This stands true even when social distancing is not required like it was in 2020 and 2021.
Be it a graduation parade, commencement ceremony, or hybrid graduation. Hosting virtual and hybrid events means loved ones of international students also get to become part of the online event and favorite memories.
How Do Virtual Graduations Work?
Planning graduation is a major feat in and of itself, but making it virtual is not overly demanding.
As we mentioned, virtual graduations work by recording the different parts of the graduation and live streaming them to students and their loved ones.
Some schools opt to have graduates’ names projected in a fashion similar to the ending credits of a movie. Others announce each name individually with photos of the students. A handful of schools invite students to submit a slide or short videos to be played after their names have been announced. Regardless, tossing that graduation cap after finishing senior year is a moment all students look forward to, even if all classes happened over a zoom call over the past year.
In addition to the announcement of the graduating students and honor graduates, there are typical addresses given by students, deans, presidents, trustees, and other guest speakers. With the proper planning and setup, all these elements that make up successful graduation ceremonies and commencement ceremonies can be carried into the making of a virtual ceremony or hybrid graduation.
The official social media page is a great tool to hype students up for graduation day. Get creative students to design a special landing page for the website with messages from former students, alma mater, or students doing well in their respective fields.
Social media pages can be used in addition to the institution’s official website to invite attendees. Senior photos or pictures from the photo booth from graduation day and clips from the talks delivered by the guest speakers make great content for social media channels.
Blended events allow some students and guests to attend while still making it available online as a live stream. It’s becoming more popular as COVID restrictions loosen up in some places. It allows attendees to choose in-person or remote attendance.
How to Live Stream a Graduation: The Basics
Planning graduation is a major feat in and of itself, but making it virtual is not overly demanding.
You can easily broadcast your virtual graduation or commencement ceremony as long as you have the right equipment and software for professional live streaming.
You can set the stream to pre-record and view the graduation video at a later date. Or, high school graduates can choose to share clips or group photos on their social media wall or Instagram stories.
Just like an in-person ceremony, there is a lot of preparation involved. You’ll want to plan the sequence of the important event and organize your speakers. For simplicity’s sake, some parts of your video may be pre-recorded, especially if you have speakers or students conferenced in from different locations.
The streaming solution you choose will depend on how you plan to set up your virtual graduation in terms of the number of cameras you will use, whether or not you’ll use pre-recorded content, etc. It will also depend on how many viewers you anticipate.
How to Promote Your Graduation Live Stream
Let students submit a list of loved ones they’d like you to invite.
Since virtual graduation is a special event with a limited audience, you’ll use unique promotion methods.
You’ll want to notify teachers, students, and their families. A great approach to this is to let the graduating students name and provide email addresses for a set number of people they’d like to invite.
The email you send to invite viewers to the virtual graduation ceremony should include a link to the website where the video will stream.
The invitation should be sent out at least a week before the graduation, with a final reminder the day before. A countdown timer on the website itself is also a good idea.
Top Streaming Software for Online Broadcasting
Mslive, JW Player, and Wowza are the top three streaming solutions for hosting virtual graduations.
While there are many video streaming software solutions on the market, you want one that offers the tools you need to host a virtual graduation event online.
Although graduation is hosted by a school and is related to students’ education, a streaming solution with an emphasis on virtual events is more valuable than one with an emphasis on education. Education-focused streaming solutions are designed to aid in the classroom or for remote learning.
With that in mind, let’s dive into a few top virtual graduation software solutions for live streaming graduations.
1. Mslive
Mslive offers special “events” pricing packages for live streaming graduation and private events.
Mslive is a powerful live streaming platform that offers grade-A security features, top-tier content delivery, white-label video players, customization with video and player APIs, and more.
It is the perfect solution for broadcasters who want to create a memorable virtual graduation experience for their soon-to-be alums and students.
Mslive offers advanced features that require little to no know-how.
Basic Functionality:
Mslive offers both live streaming and professional video hosting. You can purchase monthly plans for regular streaming, but we also offer special pricing for one-time events.
Key Features:
- Secure, global content delivery, including industry-best video hosting
- 24/7 tech support with all plans, including email and live chat
- Video security features, including password protection and encryption
- Player API access for 3rd party player integration
- Video API access on premium plans (scale and event)
- Multi-bitrate streaming
- Annual transcoding data included
- Real-time analytics
- Technical support
- Ad-free streaming
New!
- Multi-user access on Scale and Custom plans
- Zoom live streaming integration for meetings and live events in real-time
- Expo 2.0 galleries video portal for immersive video experiences
Pros:
- Live streaming and VOD packages on all pricing plans
- Unlimited viewers and live channels
- White label and branding control
- Embeddable HTML5 video player
- SVOD, AVOD, and Pay-per-view monetization options
- Mobile device support
- Live stream recording
- China Video Hosting
- Special event pricing for every budget
Cons:
- The large range of features can be overwhelming at first
2. Wowza
Wowza is a streaming solution with great features for customization.
Wowza is a video hosting platform dating back to 2005. This platform offers hosting for both live and on-demand video content.
This solution is great for smaller schools, high schools, and institutions because they have budget-friendly event plans.
Basic Functionality:
Wowza offers solutions for live streaming and VOD hosting.
Key Features:
- High-definition streaming
- Customization with APIs
- Live streaming and video on demand
Pros:
- Top-notch privacy
- Nearly universally supported on different devices
- Event live streaming
Cons:
- No multicasting (unable to stream to multiple places at once)
- Single-camera feeds
- No analytics tools
3. Livestream
Livestream is an excellent option for large-scale event streaming.
Livestream is a premium video streaming platform offered by Vimeo that is geared toward large organizations with great streaming needs.
This video solution includes powerful content management features for live streams and on-demand video hosting.
Basic Functionality:
Livestream offers support for large-scale VOD and live stream hosting.
Key Features:
- Reliable security features
- Audience interaction tools (perfect for virtual event hosting)
- Detailed video analytics
- Works with YouTube for multi-destination streaming
- Easy-to-use platform
Pros:
- Unlimited events and viewers
- Ad-free streaming
- Insightful viewer analytics
- Easy to use interface
- Supports PPV monetization
Cons:
- Does not support China video delivery
Conclusion
If you’re learning how to broadcast virtual graduation, this may be your first venture into live streaming video. Our best advice is to keep it simple, as things can get overwhelming once you complicate things.
In addition to preparing the tools we discussed before, we recommend running through your virtual ceremony time or two to identify any missing pieces.
While a successful graduation ceremony live stream takes a little equipment and know-how, it’s neither tremendously expensive nor difficult. A bit of practice and experimenting with live streaming basics should help you compose a professional-quality production for students and their loved ones.
Of course, this entire process is easier with a professional streaming platform. We at Mslive offer a full-featured online video platform with customizable features.
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