BGH1: House of Worship Livestreaming
By Jennifer P
Livestreaming has definitely been a game-changer for churches during the pandemic. It has allowed them to connect with their congregations and communities in new and innovative ways, and reach a wider audience beyond their physical locations. John Porterfield’s experience and expertise in the field of livestreaming is invaluable, especially for churches that are new to this technology or looking to improve their current livestreaming setup.
John Porterfield has turned his experience and passion for livestreaming into a business helping other churches and organizations. Social180Group’s focus on creating unique digital experiences through managed production services is a great way for churches to stand out and engage their audiences through livestreaming. It’s also great to see that Porterfield is sharing his knowledge and insights with others through his YouTube channel, JP’sChalkTalks. It’s important to have leaders in the industry who are willing to share their expertise and help others navigate the complex world of livestreaming.
Church Livestreaming Pre- and Post-Pandemic
Livestreaming solutions can be tailored to the specific needs and resources of different churches, depending on their size and budget. Small churches may face more challenges in setting up a livestreaming solution due to limited resources, but it’s still important for them to explore options and find ways to reach their congregation, especially during the pandemic. Large churches may have more resources to invest in a robust livestreaming production workflow, but they also need to ensure that they are using their resources efficiently and effectively. It’s great to see that John Porterfield is able to provide guidance and support to churches of different sizes, helping them navigate the challenges of livestreaming and create engaging digital experiences for their audiences.
When the pandemic hit, it changed the whole format structure of going completely online, which forced even the smaller churches to adopt a livestreaming solution for their environment. It was like the wild west, trying to get cameras, audio and PCs – whatever you needed to try and produce something. At Harvest, we had a plan in place, and we were fortunate that we already had a basic setup to support a fully online church and playback for live simulated live services for the church. Post-pandemic, I think most churches are working to fine-tune what was pulled together during the pandemic and transition everything to a more structured livestreaming platform.”
John Porterfield
Integrating the LUMIX BGH1
The LUMIX BGH1 camera is a great choice for broadcasting and livestreaming, as it is compact and lightweight, yet still delivers high-quality video. It’s impressive that John Porterfield was able to remotely set up the camera and configure it for the livestream using LUMIX Tether and Splashtop. This is a testament to the power of technology and how it can enable collaboration and support across distances. Knowing there would be no camera operator, Porterfield chose the LUMIX G X Vario PZ 45-175mm f/4-5.6 lens. With the BGH1, Jesus City Church’s livestream was broadcast in 1080 on its YouTube channel, which is standard for most churches. Porterfield shot at 59.94-fps, although it was streamed at 29.97.
BGH1 Versatility
Porterfield found the LUMIX DC-BGH1 camera to be flexible and versatile for livestreaming, with the ability to be used as a single camera solution for small churches, or for specialty shots and unique angles in larger churches. The fact that the camera can be directly streamed from without the need for a production switcher is also a valuable feature for churches looking to simplify their livestreaming setup. This feature allows for the stream to be easily transported and managed remotely, enabling more churches to expand their reach and connect with their congregation in new and innovative ways.
“You can also stream directly out of the camera since it is on the network, which is a value add for churches in providing another way to livestream without a production switcher. I can take that stream out of the camera via RTMP, or another process, and transport the livestream where I can produce it remotely through a managed production element.”
John Porterfield
Read the full article from Panasonic LUMIX HERE
Learn more about LUMIX BGH1 HERE
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