Real-time messaging protocol (RTMP) Streaming Support to Custom Endpoints rolled out to General Availability end of March 2022 (previously November 2021). This feature has been available from Zoom and Webex for some time.
With Real-time Messaging Protocol enabled (via PowerShell cmdlet only), Microsoft Teams will support the ability for your organization’s authorized users to stream their Teams meetings and webinars to large audiences via RTMP, including endpoints outside your organization (such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube).
In addition to setting this cmdlet, your Teams Admin will want to review the Live events policies to ensure this feature is available to the correct users.
What is Real-time Messaging Protocol (RTMP)?
RTMP makes live streaming possible. Originally developed by Macromedia (creators of Flash and Dreamweaver), RTMP was initially created to stream audio, video, and data over the Internet, between a Flash player and a server. Macromedia is no more (purchased in 2005 by their rival, Adobe), and while now we’re even seeing the end of Flash capabilities, RTMP remains the standard protocol for making your webinars and live events a smooth experience for hosts and attendees.
A chief advantage of having RTMP integrated with Microsoft Teams is the ability to stream to multiple endpoints (usually social media accounts like facebook and video platforms like YouTube or Vimeo). With this new feature in Teams, you no longer need to start a Teams meeting and record it to later share to LinkedIn, Youtube, etc — now you can stream it live.
RTMP is especially useful over other methods, like HTTP streaming, because RTMP works so well with low latency (something especially important to nonprofits that may be working in remote areas with slow internet, or with older equipment).
Take a look at these Pros and Cons of TRMP streaming from Vimeo:
Pros of RTMP streaming:
- Applauded for low latency streaming.
- Creates a reliable streaming experience by maintaining constant contact between the video player and server – an advancement over its predecessors.
- Provides secure, cloud-based streaming through RTMPS, which offers convenience and security for live streaming needs.
Cons of RTMP streaming:
- It doesn’t support high-resolution video and video compression methods like VP9, AV1, and more.
- RTMP live stream is no longer accepted for iOS, Android, most embedded players, and several browsers. What’s more, certain networks block the RTMP port by default, which requires special firewall modifications to allow passage to the blocked network. Again, this limits scalability.
- RTMP live streaming is vulnerable to data loss. In the case of network issues, it can quickly lose data over a few seconds, which can disrupt the stream.
Enable & Disable Feature Org-Wide or For Specific Users
To enable this for all users in your organization, toggle Global (Org-Wide default) “Live Events Scheduling” ON (as a best practice, we always recommend enabling Captions)
To enable this for only specific users, set Global(Org-Wide default) “Live Events Scheduling” OFF.
Create a New Policy and toggle “Live Events Scheduling” ON. Next, Manage users that have this ability by clicking “Manage Users” and assigning them individually. At this time you cannot assign this custom policy to M365 groups or mail-enabled security groups, though we hope to see this feature in the future (allowing you to, say, give your entire marketing team access without adding them individually).
To enable this for all users in your organization with some exceptions, set Global (Org-Wide default) “Live Events Scheduling” ON.
Create a New Policy and toggle “Live Events Scheduling” OFF. Next, click Manage users to add them to the list of users who are not allowed to stream.
PowerShell Instructions
Install MicrosoftTeams
Connect Microsoft Teams
>> Install-Module -Name PowerShellGet -AllowPrerelease -Force
>> Install-Module -Name MicrosoftTeams -Force -AllowClobber
>> Connect-MicrosoftTeams
Opens browser tab for login
>> Set-CsTeamsMeetingPolicy -LiveStreamingMode Enabled
To enable globally (all users)
Install Microsoft Teams PowerShell – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Docs
PowerShell Gallery | MicrosoftTeams 4.0.0
Microsoft 365 Message Summary
Microsoft Teams will support the ability for your users to stream their Teams meetings and webinars to large audiences through real-time messaging protocol (RTMP) including endpoints outside your organization.
This feature will rollout on desktop and Mac.
When this will happen:
Standard: We will begin rolling this out in mid-January (previously late November) and expect to complete rollout by late March (previously mid-February).
Government: We will begin rolling this out in mid-January (previously late November) and expect to complete rollout by late March (previously mid-February).
How this will affect your organization:
With this feature enabled, Microsoft Teams will support the ability for your users to stream their Teams meetings and webinars to large audiences via RTMP, including endpoints outside your organization (such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube).
What you need to do to prepare:
This feature will rollout default OFF. If you would like to enable this feature, you can do so by turning on LiveStreamingMode user-level policy with the following command in PowerShell:
- Set-CsTeamsMeetingPolicy -LiveStreamingMode Enabled
Related Resources
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 83562.
Broadcast audio and video from Teams with RTMP (microsoft.com)
Stream Teams meetings – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Docs
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