TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Live Streaming Workflow Updates
  • Overview
• New Streaming Workflow
• Live Events Section Updates
• Media Source Types
• Creating Live Events
• Recommended Workflow: Batch Scheduling
• Batch Scheduling Workflow
• Broadcasting Selected Games
• Best Practices
• Stream Provisioning & Connection Timing
• Recommended Best Practice

Overview

We’ve updated the live streaming workflow to improve reliability and simplify stream management.

These Streaming Updates are rolling out to the CMS starting June 29, 2026.

Key Improvements

✅ Every live event now receives its own unique Stream URL and Stream Key
✅ Static pub points are no longer used for standard RTMP streams
✅ Stream conflicts caused by shared pub points have been eliminated
✅ Easier sharing of stream credentials through CSV export tools

Webinar

Missed our June 29th 2026 webinar about changes to the live streaming setup process? No worries! Use the link below to watch the recording anytime:

What's Changing in Streaming: Live Walkthrough, VOD Updates & Support Resources 

New Streaming Workflow

Previous Workflow

Previously, multiple events could share the same pub point.

This created the potential for issues when:

• Events ran long

• Games overlapped

• Multiple broadcasts attempted to use the same stream destination

New Workflow

Each live event created in the CMS now automatically generates:

• A unique Stream URL

• A unique Stream Key

Every event is now treated as its own independent stream.

Because stream credentials are unique to each event, stream conflicts caused by shared pub points are no longer possible.

Live Events Section Updates

New Available Actions

Several new tools and controls have been added to the Live Events area of the CMS.

Copy Stream URL / Stream Key

Each RTMP live event now includes:

• Copy Stream URL button

• Copy Stream Key button

These buttons allow you to quickly copy streaming credentials directly into your encoder setup.

NOTE: If Copy buttons are not clickable on your RTMP stream, please refresh the page.

END Button

The END button immediately stops the public stream experience for viewers.

This action is useful for removing streams once an event has concluded.

Important Notes

• This action cannot be undone

• Fans will immediately lose access to the stream

• Once a stream has been ended, the encoder can no longer broadcast to that event

• Any continued broadcasting after ending the stream will not be captured in the archive/VOD

• A new live event will need to be created if the stream is ended accidentally or after the event has concluded

• Any newly created live event will generate a new Stream URL and Stream Key

Your encoder may continue sending video/audio unless manually stopped, but that content will no longer be associated with the live event.

You must stop or disconnect the encoder separately on your side.

Additional Tip

If you need to remove a stream before it begins, use the Cancel Event button instead of the END button.

Export Table Feature

The Live Events table can now be exported as a CSV file.

Export Includes

• Event Title

• Sport

• Stream URL

• Stream Key

• Event Start Time

• Event End Time

Filtering Options

Before exporting, you may filter by:

• Sport

• School (conference users)

This is especially useful when sharing stream credentials with production staff.

Media Source Types

RTMP (Standard Streaming)

Choose this option for traditional live video or audio streaming using an encoder such as:

• OBS

• Wirecast

• vMix

• Production Truck

• TriCaster

• LiveU

• Hardware encoders

Available Tools

• Copy Stream URL

• Copy Stream Key

These values should be entered into your encoder settings.

External Media Source

Choose this option when using a third-party audio feed.

Examples include:

• Radio station streams

• Learfield feeds

• Network-provided audio streams

Supported Formats

External Media Sources must:

• Begin with https://

• Typically end in:

  • .mp3

  • .m3u8

Important Notes

External Media Sources:

• Do not use RTMP

• Do not accept encoder connections

• Require passthrough pub points

These are intended only for direct audio passthrough feeds.

Creating Live Events

Click Here for our Live Event Creation Guide

Standard RTMP Events

For normal RTMP streaming:

1. Create the live event

2. Set External Media Source to “No”

3. Copy the generated Stream URL and Stream Key

4. Paste them into your encoder

No pub point selection is required.

NOTE: If Copy buttons are not clickable on your RTMP stream, please refresh the page. 

External Audio Events

For third-party audio passthrough feeds:

1. Set External Media Source to “Yes”

2. Select a passthrough pub point

Important

These are passthrough-only audio feeds and:

• Are not RTMP-compatible

• Cannot accept encoder connections

Recommended Workflow: Batch Scheduling

Why Use Batch Scheduling?

If you already know which games your school plans to stream, batch scheduling can save significant setup time.

Instead of creating live events individually, you can create multiple live events at once directly from the Schedules section of the CMS.

Batch Scheduling Workflow

Step 1 — Open Schedules

Navigate to the Schedules section in the CMS backend.

Step 2 — Edit a Sport Schedule

Select Edit next to the desired sport.

Step 3 — Select Games

Use the checkboxes to select the games you plan to stream.

Step 4 — Batch Add to All-Access

From the Batch Operations dropdown, select:

Add to All-Access

Then click Go.

Broadcasting Selected Games

Required Event Information

When batch-creating events, complete the following fields:

• Event Start Time
  (When coverage begins — not game start time)

• Event Length
  (Estimated stream runtime)

• Event Type

• Poster Image

• External Media Source (Yes/No)

• Category

• Archive Category

• Contact Information

• Stream Type

Once complete, click:

Batch Add Events

Best Practices

Click Here to view Best Practices for Successfully Streaming to SIDEARM

Sharing Stream Credentials

After creating events, use the Export Table feature to generate a CSV containing all Stream URLs and Stream Keys.

This allows streaming credentials to be easily shared with:

• Production teams

• Broadcasters

• Freelancers

• Campus video staff

Stream Provisioning & Connection Timing

Important Timing Information

Live events require approximately 6 minutes of provisioning time before encoder connections become available.

Because of this, the Event Start Time must always be set at least 6 minutes in the future from the current time.

Until provisioning is completed, encoder connections may fail.

Example

If you begin creating a live event at:

12:00 PM

The earliest valid Event Start Time would be approximately:

12:06 PM

This allows enough time for the stream to provision before the encoder attempts to connect.

1. Attempting to connect before provisioning is complete may result in connection failures.
2. Additionally, the CMS will display an error message if an Event Start Time is selected within the 6-minute provisioning window.

Recommended Best Practice

Schedule Events Earlier Than Game Time

If you plan to stream pregame coverage, testing, or setup content, we strongly recommend setting your Event Start Time earlier than the actual game start time.

Example

If the game begins at:

3:00 PM

You may want to set the Event Start Time to:

2:30 PM

This allows time for:

• Encoder testing

• Audio/video verification

• Pregame coverage

• Graphics/slates

• Troubleshooting before the event begins

Important Note

Once the event start time has been reached and the encoder connects, the stream may become visible to fans on the frontend.

Using the example above:

• Connections made at 2:30 PM or later may be publicly visible to viewers

• Any testing or pregame content should be treated as live content