Radio stations are taking to social media and live streaming their weekly shows on content delivery networks such as Facebook and YouTube to great effect. To learn more about how radio stations are live-streaming their once audio-only broadcasts, the team here at PTZOptics visited a local AM radio station to help them live stream an hour-long AM radio broadcast to Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The great thing about live streaming radio stations is the focus on the conversation and the radio hosts access to great guests and interesting topics that translate very well on social media. For many radio stations, live streaming on social media is a low hanging fruit when it comes to growing the station’s audience. Social media opens up new ways for viewers and listeners to share their favorite shows with their online networks of friends.

radio host live streaming with ptz camera

From a technology perspective, most radio stations already have everything they need to start live streaming their shows, except for cameras and possibly some affordable studio lighting. For the AM radio station we worked, it was very easy to add a few cameras and capture the audio system they already have in place. The guide above reviews some of our top ten tips for radio stations to consider when starting to live stream their radio broadcasts. Then the presentation reviews the technology used for live streaming and capturing the audio and video sources inside a radio station.

1. Camera-Ready Your studio. Remember that now you are going to be on camera. Lighting will be important. You may not have considered the backdrop for your studio. But you may want to consider hanging wallpaper, or sprucing up your space to be “camera-ready.”
2. Consider Your Advertisers. Alert advertisers that there will be a live stream. If this will be a one-time or occasional event, it can give advertisers a chance to run a special promotional campaign. Don’t forget to include video with your adrolls. Learn how to use a screen squeeze. You can now show double the ads and increase your advertisers’ exposure.
3. Alert Your Guests that they will be on camera. Radio is not a visual medium, so you will have to make sure your guest understands he or she will now appear on camera. If your guest is calling in remotely, request that call via Skype so they the audience can see them. 
4. Tag Your Guests and ask them to share your schedule live broadcast via social media so as to promote social media engagement and gain additional viewers.
5. Review the comments. Now that you are live streaming your show comments will start pouring in through social media. Remember to call out thoughtful comments and highlight your top viewers. 
6. Audio First is Ok. Audiences watching your radio show on Facebook or YouTube understand that your show is about the conversation. Don’t worry about talking to the camera, your viewers are more interested in seeing the studio and your guests’ facial expressions and reactions. 
7. Create a Show Intro. If your show has an audio only intro segment, consider creating video that you can play along with it for your viewers.
8. Use Your Email List. If you’re not already building one it’s time to start. You should be sending out live show notifications to your growing email list. Don’t forget to have a notification email subscription area on your website. Allow your show hosts to build their own email lists. 
9. Post the Live Stream to your Station’s Website. Because not everyone will be able to tune into your live stream, you can embed the video directly from YouTube to your website. You can also post each finished broadcast onto your blog for archiving.
10. Use Facebook Polls. You can post polls directly to Facebook and review the results during your show. Polls can be used to provide immediate feedback for your specials guests or advertisers.

Guess what? Radio is still very much alive!

• Radio station owners across the country can rejoice. The medium is far from dead. 
• According to a Nielsen Total Audience Report based on first-quarter 2019 data, 92 percent of U.S. adults listen to radio each week, the highest of any platform. 
• Accompanying radio’s resilience is the massive growth of live video streaming.
• Many traditional media outlets (including radio, TV and print outlets)  NOW incorporate live video streams as part of their day-to-day content.
• Live video streamers have grown into professional producers of content for outlets such as YouTube and Twitch.
• According to research compiled by Inside Radio ,”the new data also validates the growth of streaming audio with half of all adults now also using use their smartphones to stream audio.”
• From this information, we can make a strong case that radio is certainly positioned to offer the best of both worlds, and with an existing audience in place, stations now have the ability to live stream their broadcasts, too. 
• Live streams also can help stations tap into another advertising revenue stream, as live video allows advertisers to reach not just listeners but also viewers. Stations can target local and national companies to invest their advertising dollars into this medium that has multiple ways of reaching potential customers.

Learn more about live streaming radio and podcasting stations

• See how we WCHE 1520 AM radio starting live streaming on Facebook and YouTube here.
• Check out our technical guide on live streaming radio shows here.
• 5 things to consider before live-streaming a radio show here.
• The StreamGeeks review live streaming a radio station here.