Facebook, Wowza team on livestreaming appliance for broadcasters

Facebook and Wowza are looking to streamline the livestreaming process by launching ClearCaster, a new appliance for broadcasters and streamers using Facebook Live.

The companies said that ClearCaster monitors real-time stream health and automatically adjusts stream settings to optimize uptime and quality. ClearCaster supports 1080p and up to 4K UHD when supported, and will connect to cameras, editing bays and live production studios. Users can start and stop streams through the Facebook Live user interface, and can control the device through the Wowza web app.

“Broadcasters and professional streamers are looking to engage with their audiences on Facebook Live, and they need a reliable and high-quality way to contribute broadcast-quality streams on the platform,” said Charlie Good, CTO and co-founder at Wowza Media Systems, in a statement. “ClearCaster is the most advanced and easiest solution to deliver stable, professional-quality content to Facebook Live, better connecting broadcasters with their followers on Facebook. Just plug in to ClearCaster and we’ll take it from there.”

The platform will allow Facebook Live streamers to see live reactions and provides a countdown clock that lets streamers know when the feed goes live.

RELATED: Facebook Live broadcasts up 4X since May

Facebook Live has become another tool for local broadcasters hoping to get content in front of audiences that may be outside of the traditional broadcast and pay-TV environments.

On the other side of that, Facebook is testing products to help users find more local news on its platform.

According to Poynter, one product serves more local news to users in community-linked Facebook groups, another lets commenters be recognized as local if they make their city of residence public and a third helps people find local groups.

“We're looking to establish baseline metrics for the availability and discoverability of news and identify the levers that move users to consume, share, comment and form community around local news,” a Facebook spokesperson told the publication.