Jake Ludington's Digital Lifestyle

"I would like to find out how I can broadcast a live video stream on the Internet and what kind of software I need for this to be a success."

If you asked this question a few years ago, the answer to how to stream live video would have been extremely complicated and fairly expensive to implement. Today, if you're willing to put up with a few advertisements on your video stream, you can get started broadcasting your own live video stream in just a few simple steps.

There are currently three places with live streaming solutions I recommend. Each has strengths, none is perfect, but all of them can get you going with a basic live video stream.

The three services I suggest looking at are UStream, Stickam, and Livestream. At the most basic level, you simply sign up for an account at one of these three places, configure your account to access a webcam connected to your computer and start streaming.

All three services require the same basic configuration steps:

1) Sign up for an account
2) Connect your webcam
3) Access the respective services software for streaming
4) Configure your stream
5) Broadcast

The differentiation comes with additional features and the ability to do things like turn off the ads by paying. I really like the LiveStream.com ability to switch to another computer on the fly during a broadcast, so if you want to stream for awhile, then handoff to your friend in another city, you can do that without disconnecting all your current viewers.