Why You Should Use Facebook Live for Your Radio Station
Reach huge communities using Facebook live for your radio station. Interact with loyal listeners, grow a fanbase, and show what's going on behind the scenes.
Want listeners more involved in your shows? Use Facebook Live for your radio station, present what's going on behind the scenes, take questions, and grow your fanbase.
- Facebook Live videos are watched 3 times longer than regular videos.
- Users comment on live videos at 10x the rate of regular videos.
- In 8 months after launch, Facebook Live's popularity rose by over 330%.
We've started using Facebook Live ourselves. Every so often, we answer your questions during a live webinar - check us out in action.
So if you're looking to setup Facebook Live for your radio station, then here's a play by play of how we did it and what you need.
What You Need
Before starting, you need a few things:
- A computer with OBS installed.
- A Facebook page for your radio station.
- A stable internet connection, preferably wired that can handle 5-10mbps.
Once you've got all three sorted, run through OBS setup.
Setting Up OBS for Streaming
After installing OBS, you will be presented with the default view. To start adding your webcams and audio inputs, you'll first need to create a Scene.
A Scene is a collection of your video and audio. You can create multiple scenes for different angles and audio inputs. For these purposes, just create one scene for your broadcast. Add a video feed (your webcam) and the output from the mixing desk where you have a few microphones and a music source.
Create your first scene by adding Sources. First, click the + button in the Sources box. You will be given a list of options to pick. Choose Video Capture Device.
Name the device whatever you like, for example, "Radio Studio Webcam".
After clicking OK, choose your video device from the dropdown list and click OK.
The webcam has now been added to the video space. Resize this video and position it however you like by clicking and dragging it around.
Next up is the audio input. Much like the video input, we need to click the + button and then click Audio Input Capture.
On the next screen, select the audio device you wish to use. For example, this could be a built-in mic or external mic from a mixer. Click OK to add it to the Scene.
Inject some personality into your video. Add your station's logo in Image source from the + menu.
Now you're all set up. Head over to Facebook to start setting up your live video.
Creating Live Video on Your Facebook Page
If you've not already, create your Facebook page.
Select Publishing Tools in the top navigation bar. In the left menu, click on the Video Library option in the Videos Section.
Click the + Live button in the top right corner to start setting up your video. Two options will appear as Single Field and Separate Field. As you are using OBS, copy the text inside the Stream Key box under Separate Fields.
Important: The link you copy here can only be used for this live video. If you want to add another live stream, you will need to follow these steps again to get a new link to use in OBS.
Adding the Stream Key to OBS
With the stream key copied, head back to OBS. In the main window, click on "Settings" on the right-hand side. Then on the window that pops up, click Stream. Change the Service drop-down menu to "Facebook Live" and paste the key into the "Stream Key" field.
Click OK to save your changes. OBS is now set up and ready to go. Finally, you need to go back to your Facebook video to finish setting up before going live.
Finishing the Facebook Video Setup
If you have still got the window open with the Single and Separate Fields, click Next. You will then be given the option to add a title and tags to your video. In here you can set up Audience Restrictions to specify age ranges, locations, and languages.
When you are ready to connect, go back over to OBS and select "Start Streaming". OBS will then connect to Facebook after about 30 seconds depending on your connection's speed. You will then see a preview when you have connected.
Click the "Go Live" button on Facebook to get started or schedule the live video for later if you would like to prepare beforehand.
Broadcast to Facebook Live for Your Radio Station
After clicking "Go Live", your audience will be able to tune in and enjoy your broadcasts with you. During your show, listeners will be able to comment in real time, send reactions, and share your video. You will also be able to see how many people are watching.
When your video has finished, it will become available in your video library after it has finished processing. Share it with listeners that may have missed out on your live show.
Tried Facebook Live for your radio station? Let us know how it went in the comments. But if you need a hand, get in touch.
