Connecting Streaming Platforms

Introduction

Destinations are where your live stream is broadcast. playout.video supports 20+ streaming platforms, from YouTube and Twitch to TikTok, Facebook, and any service that accepts RTMP. You can stream to a single platform or broadcast to multiple destinations simultaneously (multistreaming).

This guide covers how to connect platforms, manage destinations, and configure auto-start for hands-free streaming.

Supported Platforms

playout.video supports the following platforms with one-click OAuth connection:

• YouTube: the most popular platform for 24/7 streams

• Twitch: ideal for gaming and entertainment content

• Facebook: stream to pages, groups, or your personal profile

• LinkedIn: professional live streaming for businesses

Custom RTMP

For any platform not listed above, you can use Custom RTMP:

• Rumble

• TikTok

• Instagram

• Telegram

• Steam

• Amazon Live

• Kick

• DLive

• Restream.io

• Any service that provides an RTMP URL and stream key

Connecting a Platform via OAuth

OAuth-supported platforms (YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, LinkedIn) use a secure authorization flow, so you never need to share your password.

Step 1: Navigate to Channels

1. Go to Channels from the main sidebar navigation

2. Click Connect Channel

3. Select the platform you want to connect

Screenshot suggestion: Channels page showing the list of available platforms to connect.

Step 2: Authorize Access

1. You'll be redirected to the platform's login page

2. Sign in to your account (if not already signed in)

3. Grant playout.video permission to stream on your behalf

4. You'll be redirected back to playout.video

The connected channel will now appear in your Channels list with its name and profile picture.

Step 3: Add as a Destination

Once a channel is connected, you can add it as a destination to any live stream:

1. Open your live stream's management page

2. Click Destinations in the sidebar

3. Click Add Destination

4. Select your connected channel from the dropdown

5. Configure destination-specific settings (title, description, visibility)

6. Click Create Destination

Connecting via Custom RTMP

For platforms that don't support OAuth, use Custom RTMP:

Step 1: Get Your RTMP Credentials

From your streaming platform (e.g., Rumble, Kick, Telegram):

1. Navigate to your platform's live streaming settings

2. Find the RTMP Server URL (sometimes called "Stream URL" or "Ingest URL")

3. Copy the Stream Key

Step 2: Add Custom RTMP Destination

1. Open your live stream's management page

2. Click Destinations in the sidebar

3. Click Add Destination

4. Select Custom RTMP

5. Enter the RTMP URL (e.g., rtmp://live.example.com/live)

6. Enter the Stream Key

7. Give it a recognizable name (e.g., "My Rumble Channel")

8. Click Create Channel

Destination Settings

Each destination has configurable options:

Auto Start

When enabled, the destination automatically starts broadcasting when your stream starts. This is perfect for hands-free operation, just start your stream and all auto-start destinations go live simultaneously.

To enable:

1. Edit the destination

2. Toggle Auto Start on

3. Save

Platform-Specific Settings

Depending on the platform, you may be able to configure:

• Stream title: the title shown on the platform

• Description: stream description for viewers

• Visibility: public, unlisted, or private (YouTube)

• Category: content category for discoverability

Multistreaming

Multistreaming means broadcasting to multiple platforms at the same time from a single stream. This maximizes your reach without any extra effort.

How to Set Up Multistreaming

1. Connect all the platforms you want to stream to (see steps above)

2. Add each platform as a destination on your live stream

3. Enable Auto Start on each destination

4. Start your stream — all destinations go live simultaneously

Example setup:

• YouTube (Auto Start: On)

• Twitch (Auto Start: On)

• TikTok (Auto Start: On)

• Facebook Page (Auto Start: On)

When you click "Go Live", your content broadcasts to all four platforms at once.

Managing Individual Destinations

You can start and stop individual destinations independently:

• Start a destination while the stream is already running, useful for adding a platform mid-stream

• Stop a destination without stopping the entire stream, useful for ending on one platform while continuing on others

• Schedule destination start/stop, automate when specific platforms go live (see Scheduling Streams and Automated Actions)

Managing Connected Channels

Viewing Connected Channels

Navigate to Channels to see all your connected platforms:

• Channel name and profile picture

• Platform type (YouTube, Twitch, etc.)

• Connection status (active, expired, error)

Reconnecting a Channel

If a channel's authorization expires:

1. Go to Channels

2. Find the channel with an expired status

3. Click Reconnect

4. Complete the OAuth flow again

Removing a Channel

To disconnect a platform:

1. Go to Channels

2. Find the channel you want to remove

3. Click Remove or Disconnect

Removing a channel also removes it from any live stream destinations that use it.

Platform-Specific Tips

YouTube

• YouTube is the most popular platform for 24/7 streams

• Set your stream visibility to Unlisted while testing, then switch to Public when ready

• YouTube may take a few minutes to start showing your stream to viewers after going live

• Enable DVR in YouTube Studio for viewers to rewind your live stream

Twitch

• Twitch streams are always public

• Make sure your Twitch account is in good standing to avoid stream interruptions

• Consider setting a category and tags in Twitch for discoverability

Facebook

• You can stream to your personal profile, a Page, or a Group

• Facebook Pages are recommended for 24/7 streaming as they have better analytics

• Facebook may limit stream duration for personal profiles

TikTok

• TikTok Live has specific requirements (minimum follower count may apply)

• Vertical (9:16) aspect ratio works best for TikTok

• Consider using playout.video's aspect ratio settings to optimize for TikTok

Troubleshooting

Destination shows "Error" or "Disconnected"?

• The platform authorization may have expired — try reconnecting the channel

• Check that your platform account is in good standing

• For Custom RTMP, verify the URL and stream key are correct

Stream is live but not showing on the platform?

• Some platforms take 30-60 seconds to start displaying the stream

• Check the platform's live dashboard to confirm the stream is being received

• For YouTube, make sure the stream visibility is set to Public or Unlisted

Can't connect a platform?

• Make sure you're signed into the correct account on the platform

• Clear your browser cookies for the platform and try again

• Some platforms require your account to meet certain criteria (e.g., TikTok follower count)

Multistreaming quality issues?

• playout.video handles all encoding in the cloud, so multistreaming doesn't affect quality

• Each destination receives the same high-quality stream regardless of how many destinations are active

Next Steps

• Multistreaming to Multiple Platforms at Once — advanced multistreaming guide

• Custom RTMP Destinations — detailed RTMP setup

• Scheduling Streams and Automated Actions — automate destination start/stop

• How to Stream to YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok Simultaneously — step-by-step multistreaming tutorial