Due to the changes announced by Facebook that their platform architecture is changing (including deprecating some features), this release is designed to meet those new requirements.
What are Facebook Paired Templates?
These templates are a new way to stream directly to Facebook live, available as of ClearCaster encoder release 2.3.9.00 (released June 30, 2021). This workflow will be replacing the ClearCaster Facebook Manager method of streaming to Facebook Live.
Why should I use Facebook Paired Templates over the normal Facebook Template that requires a stream URL and stream key?
These new Facebook Paired Templates are deeply integrated within the Facebook Live Video API and allow you to easily set up redundancy, optimize the path to Facebook, and set a countdown clock to ensure a frame-accurate start. The Facebook Paired templates also allow users to share management of their broadcasts securely without needing to share Facebook credentials or inputting a stream key. This workflow also allows you completely set up, start and stop, and Facebook Live stream from the ClearCaster UI, without switching back and forth between ClearCaster and Facebook Live Producer.
If you do not need any of those features, the normal Facebook templates are a perfectly valid way to continue streaming to Facebook live.
Why is the Facebook Manager going away?
Facebook is deprecating the original API that powered ClearCaster’s Facebook Manager. Wowza has worked closely with Facebook over the past several months to design a new integrated Facebook Live streaming experience into ClearCaster’s Universal Manager, utilizing our reusable and customizable templates. Facebook is turning off its original API on July 23, 2021.
What happens if I don’t upgrade my encoder to 2.3.9.00?
If you don’t upgrade to 2.3.9.00 you will NOT be able to use the new Facebook Paired templates. You will continue to be able to use Facebook Manager for a limited time, until July 23, 2021, when Facebook completely deprecates their old API that is powering it.
What happens if I don't have a ClearCaster Cloud Orchestration Subscription?
The new Facebook Paired Templates are only available to ClearCasters with a ClearCaster Cloud Orchestration Subscription or an active Maintenance and Support contract. If you are in Subscription Expired Mode, you will not have access to the Facebook Paired Templates. See our FAQ for more details about Subscription Expired Mode.
Where can I learn more?
You can watch our tutorial video to get a run-through of the feature:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA175w7ZmEQ
Read the documentation to find out how to:
- Create Wowza ClearCaster Broadcasts
- Share Management of a Broadcast Using Wowza ClearCaster
- Manage a Facebook Paired Broadcast
Check out our release notes to see what else is new: