Webex & Webex Events

How to add a Webex webinar to a Webex Event using RTMP

Daniel Murphey avatar
Written by Daniel Murphey
Updated over a week ago

About Webex

Webex is a leading innovator in modern enterprise video communications, used by 95% of Fortune 500 companies. Webex provides video and audio meetings and webinars that include chat, polling via Slido, and a multitude of apps to enrich your interactions across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems.

Access Webex Events from Control Hub

If you're already a Webex Suite Enterprise customer, your Cisco partner can provision Webex Events for you through Control Hub. Read our Enable Webex Events for your Webex organization article for more information.

How Webex integrates with Webex Events

Two features

Webex Events provides two places to host a Webex Meeting or Webinar — the Live Stream feature, and in each Session. If you're not sure which one is right for your event, read our Live Stream feature and Agenda Session comparison article to help you decide.

Two methods

Whether you choose a Live Stream feature or Session for meeting or webinar access, there are two options for integrating Webex with your Webex Events App:

  • Insert a Webex link - Inserting a link instantly launches the Webex Meeting or Webinar externally when attendees click the Live Stream feature or the 'Join Live Stream' button in an Agenda Session. Where the attendees are directed depends on whether they're on a computer or a mobile device, and if they have Webex installed on their device. Refer to the instructions below for details on inserting a Webex link.

  • Stream Webex with RTMP - When you set up your Webex Meeting or Webinar with the Webex Events RTMP Player, attendees can join the meeting right inside your Event App without being redirected! Attendees simply click the Live Stream feature or the 'Join Live Stream' button in an Agenda Session to launch the stream right away. Refer to the instructions below for details on streaming Webex with RTMP.

Insert a Webex link

Add the Live Stream feature or a Session to your Event App and select Webex in the Stream provider drop-down. Enter the meeting or webinar URL and save.

💡 Keep in mind, Webex links currently only open outside your Webex Events App, so the 'Open in external browser' box can't be unchecked.

That's it! If you're using the Live Stream feature, attendees can click the feature at any time. If you're using an Agenda Session, the 'Join Live Stream' button will appear 15 minutes before the Session's scheduled start time.

Stream Webex with RTMP

💡 Keep in mind, Webex only allows live streaming via RTMP for paid plans.

RTMP setup

  1. Follow the instructions in Webex's Enable live streaming in Webex Meetings and Webex Events article to enable live streaming for your Webex site and users.

  2. Follow the instructions in Activate RTMP and copy the Stream Key and RTMP URL to find the RTMP URL and Stream Key for your Live Stream feature or Session.

  3. Once you have the RTMP URL and Stream Key for the Live Stream or Session to which you'll be streaming Webex, follow the instructions in Webex's Live stream your Webex meetings, webinars, or events article to enter them into your meeting or webinar and start your live stream.

  4. The most important step is testing! 🧪 It's a simple way to avoid surprises, technical issues, and awkward silences on the day of your stream.

That's it! If you're using the Live Stream feature, attendees can click the feature at any time. If you're using an Agenda Session, the 'Join Live Stream' button will appear 15 minutes before the Session's scheduled start time.

RTMP streaming best practices

When streaming a Webex Webinar to a Webex Events App, follow these best practices to give your webinar attendees the best possible experience.

  • Always select the Stage streaming layout so you can move people and content onto or off the stage as needed. This ensures that speakers and shared content appear to attendees in the largest space possible and without distractions.

  • When sharing your screen:

    • Share an application or window, not the entire screen. This hides your desktop notifications from attendees and keeps the focus on the content. 🔎

    • When sharing audio, mute your microphone to prevent echo.

    • Never share from a Webex Device (Webex Board, Desk Pro, etc.).

FAQs

Can I use Webex's Slido polls, Q&A, chat, and breakout rooms in Webex Events when streaming a meeting with RTMP?

Attendees can't interact with Webex features like polling, chat, breakout rooms, and Q&A when streaming a meeting with RTMP. However, you can still use the Q&A, Chat, and Polling features, or embed Slido into your Webex Events App using a Custom Tab.

When you create a Session or Live Stream feature, turn on the Custom Tab option and then paste in a Slido link to embed Slido into the Event App. Attendees using the web version can then interact with Slido without leaving the live stream!

My Webex RTMP stream shows the Webex logo/watermark. How do I remove it?

Providers like Webex and Zoom automatically include their logo as a watermark in the stream. Since this is a provider-specific setting, reach out to your streaming or meeting provider to discuss removal. For Webex Meetings or Webinars, contact your Webex Customer Success Manager (CSM). Read the Webex article about configuring branding for your Cisco Webex site in Control Hub for more information.

Questions? Chat with us, email support@socio.events, or attend a Face to Face session.

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