1. What is Social Media Multistream?

Bambuser’s Social Media Multistream feature allows clients to go live on multiple platforms at once. The feature enables multistreaming of live-video content to Facebook and YouTube: as well as via custom RTMP to any platform that provides a stream URL and stream key. Only the “raw” live video will be forwarded i.e., no chat, no product highlights, no likes, etc.                    

2. Where can I stream to?

Bambuser allows you to stream your live events from your website to your social pages simultaneously. Connect your account with an easy to use plug-and-play feature to stream across:

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Or RTMP directly to whatever platform that supports RTMP streaming, like LinkedIn, Twitter, & more!

4. Connect & stream to Facebook

Let's start with Facebook and how to connect a page or multiple. Go to settings, and click Facebook.

1. Click the "Connect" button to the left
2. Select your Facebook account, which has admin or editor access to the Facebook page(s) you would like to stream to
3. Select the pages you wish to grant Bambuser access to
4. Allow all permissions requested in the dialog
5. After finishing the flow on Facebook, you will be redirected back to the Bambuser dashboard

This is the expected result, as the three pages are now linked!

How to stream to Facebook

Once you have connected the chosen account, it's time to connect the page/pages to your show. 

1. Navigate to the show setup page
2. Beneath the label ‘Stream to other platforms, click the "Choose Platform" button
3. Select the platform you would like to stream to. In this case, it is Facebook.
4. Fill in all the fields
5. Embed URL: Add the URL to where the player is embedded. When you enter the URL, we will include it in the Facebook stream to make sure the viewer can navigate to the main show. The Embed URL will be appended to the description.
6. Title: This will be the title of the Facebook stream
7. Description: This will be the description of the Facebook stream
8. Use the switch to toggle the feature on or off for the particular show

Please note: It is important to provide the correct embed URL during setup. This is to ensure that Facebook viewers can find the main live show on your website and to enable data tracking. Otherwise, they will lose some of the perks of the real live video shopping experience like being able to shop directly through the player and interact with the host(s). See the example above!

To optimize the traffic acquisition data classification, we have “reserved” the following url parameters shareLiveShopping and socialMediaLiveshopping. If the URL to live show contains both shareLiveShopping and socialMediaLiveshopping, the socialMediaLiveshopping parameter will trump the shareLiveShopping one, which means that that particular click/viewer will be classified as Multistreaming traffic in the Traffic Acquisition data in the Dashboard/public API 

5. Connect & stream to YouTube

Before setting up your connection you must verify your YouTube account by visiting www.youtube.com/verify and then make sure you have enabled “Features that require phone verification”, it takes 24 hours for YouTube to approve this request, see below:

Let's explore how to connect a channel:

1. Click the "Connect" button to the left
2. Grant Bambuser access to your YouTube channel that you want to multistream
3. After finishing the YouTube flow you will be redirected back to the Bambuser dashboard
4. You should now be connected and your channel name is shown under 'Stream settings'

How to stream to YouTube

Navigate to the show setup page

1. Beneath the label ‘Stream to other platforms’, click the "Choose Platform" button
2. Select the platform you would like to stream to. In this case, it is YouTube.
3. Fill in all the fields
4. Embed URL: Add the URL to where the player is embedded. When you enter the URL, we will include it in the YouTube stream to make sure the viewer can navigate to the main show. The Embed URL will be appended to the description.
5. Privacy status: This determines the visibility of the stream on YouTube
6. Title: This will be the title of the YouTube stream
7. Description: This will be the description of the YouTube stream
8. Use the switch to toggle the feature on or off for the particular show, it is turned on by default

Please note: It is important to provide the correct embed URL during setup. This is to ensure that YouTube viewers can find the main live show on your website and to enable data tracking. Otherwise, they will lose some of the perks of the real live video shopping experience like being able to shop directly through the player and interact with the host(s). See the example above!

6. Connect & stream using custom RTMP

Bambuser does support multistreaming via custom RTMP connections. Any platform that provides a stream URL and stream key you can go live to. This means that you can stream to platforms that Bambuser does not yet (or cannot) support. However, it also does mean that there is a bit more manual setup required.

To add a custom RTMP destination you need:

• a stream URL
• a stream key

Most commonly they appear as you set up your stream on a platform. Note that many platforms provide the possibility to enable (if they do not already have it as default) “persistent stream keys”, which means that the stream key will not change the next time you want to start a stream on that platform.

By using persistent stream keys you do not have to go into the platform’s settings on the Bambuser dashboard and update the stream key for every new show. If you are unsure, simply visit the Bambuser dashboard → Settings → Integrations → on your RTMP platform and press the edit button (pencil symbol), and verify that the stream key is correct. Keep in mind that you still need to provide the title, description, and link to your main stream yourself each time.

1. Make sure the service or platform supports custom RTMP streaming
2. Go to "Settings" → "Integrations" → "Custom RTMP" on the Bambuser dashboard
3. Press the "Add" button to the left
4. Paste the RTMP URL that you found at your desired platform or service
5. Paste the RTMP key
6. Select a display name by choosing one of the options. If your platform is not present, select Other
7. Optionally add a custom display name to differentiate between different connections to the same platform
8. Click the "Add" button

How to stream using your custom RTMP

1. Navigate to the show setup page
2. Beneath the label ‘Stream to other platforms’, click the "Choose Platform" button
3. Select the Custom RTMP platform you would like to stream to
4. Add the URL to where the player of that show is embedded
5. Click the "Generate URL" button
6. Copy the generated URL and paste it as part of the description on your chosen platform's stream setup page. This will ensure that people can navigate to the main live show and that data tracking is enabled for your chosen platform.
7. Use the switch to toggle the feature on or off for the particular show

How to edit an existing Custom RTMP connection

1. Select the "Stream Settings" tab on this page ("Settings" → "Integrations" → your RTMP connection)
2. Click the edit button (pencil) to the right within the "Stream to" section
3. Update the desired values and click "Save"
4. If you wish to remove the connection entirely, press the 'X' mark to the right of the 'Stream to' window

7. Other social media platforms

LinkedIn

Currently, we only support broadcasting to LinkedIn via custom RTMP. It’s worth noting that you must be approved to become a “LinkedIn Live Broadcaster” before you can go live.

Instagram

Instagram is a highly requested platform. Unfortunately, Instagram does not allow live-forwarding to their platform, whether through an API or RTMP. Hopefully, we will see some change here in the future.

Twitch

While it is possible to live-forward video to Twitch without any technical difficulties there are some legal agreements that might or might not be applicable to you as a user (https://www.twitch.tv/p/en/legal/affiliate-agreement/). In essence, most partners and affiliates of Twitch sign an agreement that they have 24 hours exclusive right to whatever content you stream; this means, that you might violate their terms of service. However, if you are confident you are not violating any terms of service your organization has with Twitch you could still go live through custom RTMP.

TikTok

Please note that TikTok has been increasingly unpredictable in terms of its reliability as a custom RTMP destination. While it is possible for selected users on TikTok (typically US or U.K. based with 1000+ followers) to have the desktop live streaming feature enabled, the platform frequently rejects our attempts to live-forward content. Hence, until further notice please keep this is mind if you attempt to stream to this platform that success may not be guaranteed

• Download our step-by-step guide

8. Legal

By accessing or using this social media integration feature in any way, you warrant that you have the legal authority to amend any existing agreement between Bambuser and your company (herein referred as the “Customer”) for the provisioning of the Bambuser Solution with the following:

(i) Customer is fully liable for its use of the Bambuser Solution in relation to a social media platform;

(ii) Customer will be bound by the terms and conditions applicable for such platform; and

(ii) Customer understands that ownership of data, including any personal data, may transfer to the owner of the social media platform as further regulated in the terms and conditions applicable for such social media platform.

Bambuser hereby disclaims any and all liability in relation to Customer’s use of the Bambuser Solution in relation to any social media platform and Customer further agrees to fully indemnify, defend and hold harmless Bambuser, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents of Bambuser and its affiliates, directly or indirectly caused by or incurred by reason of a third party allegation, lawsuit, claim or proceeding, penalty/administrative fine imposed by an authority arising out of or relating to Customers use of the Bambuser Solution in relation to any social media platform. Customers further acknowledge that any social media platform provider shall never be considered as a subcontractor to Bambuser. Any limited liability provision stipulated in an existing Agreement shall not apply to Customer indemnification obligation. The provisions contained in this clause shall supersede any conflicting provision in the existing agreement agreed between the parties.

9. Troubleshooting

Facebook

1. Start from a clean slate by visiting Settings —> Integrations —> Facebook and if applicable remove any existing connection by clicking on the 'X' next to the page name
2. Before you click 'CONNECT', Make sure the person setting up the connection has Admin or Editor access on the Facebook page
3. Make sure you approve all permissions requested from the Facebook dialog
4. As you are returned to the Bambuser dashboard, be patient and wait a few seconds perhaps a bit longer if your internet connection is poor. Navigating away from the loading screen might cancel the setup process.
5. Your chosen pages will now be connected, if you encounter any error here it is usually due to an insufficient role at Facebook or due to missing permissions (did not select all requested permissions)
6. If any issue still persists after following these steps, contact your account manager and make sure to provide detailed information about where something went wrong. Help us help you by providing a screen capture or a few screenshots 
   
   

YouTube

1. Start from a clean slate by visiting Settings —> Integrations —> YouTube and if applicable remove any existing connection by clicking on the 'X' next to the page name
2. Before you click 'CONNECT', Make sure the person setting up the connection is the owner of the channel
3. Make sure you approve all permissions requested from the YouTube/Google dialog
4. As you are returned to the Bambuser dashboard, be patient and wait a few seconds perhaps a bit longer if your internet connection is poor. Navigating away from the loading screen might cancel the setup process.
5. If any issue still persists after following these steps, contact your client manager and make sure to provide detailed information about where something went wrong. Help us help you by providing a screen capture or a few screenshots 

Multistream not appearing on Facebook or YouTube

1. Make sure your settings are configured before you create the show to ensure proper propagation of your connection
2. As you are setting up your show on the setup page on our dashboard, make sure you add the correct Facebook page/YouTube channel as destination(s) before you start broadcasting
3. Make sure the toggle/switch is on, this is the default
4. After you have started streaming, navigate to your Facebook page or YouTube channel, wait at least 45 seconds, and refresh the browser before giving up
5. As a last resort, redo your connection(s) from scratch, set up a new show, and try again. If the issue persists please contact your account manager

I cannot find my Youtube live show

1. First, you need to access YouTube Studio, either click your YouTube profile icon at the top right of your YouTube page and then select YouTube Studio or visit https://www.studio.youtube.com
2. Select the tab 'Content' from the sidebar to the left
3. Select the tab 'Live' next to 'Uploads' just right to the sidebar
4. Refresh the tab occasionally and the video should appear within 30 seconds
5. Hover over the video title to access more settings, statistics, comments, and additional options
   
   

Multistream not appearing on Custom RTMP platform

1. Make sure you have copied and entered the correct stream URL and stream key as you set up your connection
2. It might be the case that the platform you are using does not have 'persistent stream keys' as default, this means that you need to update the stream Key for every show. Most platforms allow you to enable this option (e.g. Facebook), but in the majority of cases 'persistent stream keys' is enabled by default (e.g. YouTube).
3. As you are setting up your show on the setup page on our dashboard, make sure you add your Custom RTMP as a platform/stream before you start broadcasting
4. Make sure the toggle/switch is on, this is the default
5. After you have started streaming, navigate to your platform, wait at least 30 seconds, and refresh the browser before giving up
6. As a last resort, redo your custom RTMP connection, set up a new show, and try again

Frequently asked questions