Live streaming your services is a great way to connect with those inside and outside your church. Using social media can make the process easier and more accessible.
Typical church livestreaming setup
Notes – a video capture card is used to compress a large video and audio file to a smaller size for processing by a laptop and then streamed. Try to sync your audio to the video file (i.e. ideally audio will go directly into your camera at the earliest opportunity in the setup because long cables can cause a lag. A webcam signal is not required to go through a video capture card as the data is much smaller because the video signal is already compressed. A church mixing desk can be involved in the setup but not necessarily.
Using a Smartphone
Notes – a mobile phone does not require a video capture card as video and audio signals are automatically compressed. A separate audio feed is likely to be needed rather than use the built in mic. and there are various solutions for this such as the Rode Go Transmitter/Receiver system.
YouTube
To live stream from YouTube, you need to have a channel that has been verified. Then, simply go to YouTube, then click Create > Go live. You can live stream from your computer or mobile, but you must have at least 50 subscribers to stream from a mobile if you are over 17. Those under 17 must have at least 1000 subscribers.
All content in live streams must adhere to YouTube’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. You can read more about how to live stream from YouTube.
Facebook Live
From Facebook, you can live stream to your Page, group, profile or event. On mobile, go to the page where you want your live stream to appear and press the Live button at the bottom of the post composer. If you want to go live from a desktop computer or laptop, you will need to use Live Producer.
You can read more about how to live stream from Facebook.
Instagram Live
As well as being a great place for you to share photos of what is going on in your church, Instagram also allows you to live stream to your followers for up to an hour at a time. Swipe right from your feed on your phone to open the Stories camera, then tap Live, then Start Live Video.
You can read more about how to live stream from Instagram.
Important considerations
Online copyright and licensing
Churches need to think carefully about any copyright or licencing issues that may arise from live-streamed services or events.
Copyright considerations
You must always make sure you have the correct permissions to use any copyrighted materials on your website or in your videos or streams, including music, images and literature. This includes materials found through Google, such as images.
Licences for churches
Each church that uses copyrighted material such as music in a live-streamed event must have a licence. CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) supplies copyright and streaming licences as well as other products and services to make this process easier and simpler for churches.
Visit CCLI licensing or contact them to make sure you have the right licence for your church.
GDPR and permissions
Images and videos of people count as sensitive personal data under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Therefore, you must only use them with permission.
Read more about image permissions in the Safer Environment and Activities guidance issued by the Church of England.