Pay-Per-View Streaming with OBS Studio
Pay-per-view streaming platforms provide you with a professional way to monetize your content. Are you curious to try your hand at pay-per-view streaming but not sure where to start? If yes, there is good news for you. Today, it is easier and more affordable than ever to broadcast video content on a video streaming platform. This blog post will walk you through the most important aspects of setting up a pay-per-view event using OBS Studio and explain how you can stream your content to a specific audience and get paid for every view.
What Is Pay-Per-View Streaming?
Most streaming platforms support monetization by displaying advertisements or adding promotional banners to your videos. However, this approach doesn’t go well with broadcasters who do not want to compromise with the aesthetic and viewing experience of their audience. In such scenarios, the pay-per-view can be a great alternative.
Pay-per-view (PPV) streaming is a video monetization technique. As the name implies, your audience pays you for watching your content. You can take the help of a streaming platform especially crafted for hosting pay-per-view content. With these platforms, you get options to either sell your videos or give your videos on rent. When a user buys your video, they can watch it as many times as they want. If the user rents it, the video remains available for a limited time.
What Equipment Do You Need to Create Pay-Per-View Content?
To host a pay-per-view event you need to create an event and stream it in real-time. While hosting a video requires you to have a pre-produced video. In both cases, you will need the following components, in general.
-
Sources
Videos are created with recording equipment like a camera and microphone. While these two devices are the minimum requirement, you can use your computer’s screen, pre-stored music, and images as various sources to create seamless videos.
-
A Streaming Platform
YouTube and Facebook Live are seen as the first choice for streaming videos. However, these platforms are not recommended for pay-per-view live streams. You need a streaming platform that is designed with PPV streamers in mind. Muvi, Vimeo, and Uscreen are a few examples of pay-per-view streaming platforms.
Dedicated PPV live streaming platforms usually have built-in video monetization features. They allow you to not only stream your content for your audience but also sell tickets and subscriptions without the need for adding an event ticketing software.
-
Encoder
You need RTMP software to convert the raw input gathered from different sources into a digital video stream. While there are tons of software programs available, OBS Studio suits all budgets. This freeware accepts sources generated by webcams, DSLR cameras, microphones, computer screens, and more. It comes with a visual mixer that allows you to tweak different aspects of your videos.
Video recording, visual mixing, screen capture, and live broadcasting are among the most popular features of OBS Studio. It is an open-source program and supports a multi-camera setup, surround sound streaming, and grid view. OBS Studio allows you to stream in the public mode as well as private mode. This specialty of OBS Studio makes it an ideal choice for all platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and dedicated PPV platforms as well.
OBS Studio has a vast userbase that includes both video creators and streamers. You can be a part of the community and grab tons of video tutorials, settings walkthroughs, and add-on elements to create saleable videos.
-
A Stable Internet Connection
Internet connection delivers your live videos to any device connected to the internet, worldwide. If you use OBS Studio as an encoding software, you also get the ability to adjust stream quality to the user’s device, ensuring your videos keep playing under the varying bandwidth.
How to Stream Your Pay-Per-View Content?
Once you have a created a streaming kit by collecting the components mentioned above, it is quite simple to go live. You can start with recording your content using the available sources and deploying OBS Studio for encoding. Then you can connect your OBS Studio to the PPV platform you have chosen and start broadcasting.
Apps4Rent Can Host Streaming Applications on Virtual Machines
OBS Studio hands you the state-of-the-art tools to add value to your content before sending it to your audience. A dedicated OBS hosting plan can give you the flexibility to use OBS Studio on all devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers. Hosting OBS on a virtual machine ensures you can access it remotely. Reach out to our OBS hosting experts, available 24/7 via phone, chat, and email for hosting plan inquiries and assistance.