How to Live Stream on Dailymotion: Setup Guide
Dailymotion live streaming is a plan feature, not a default switch. Here's how to get it enabled, create a live stream in Dailymotion Studio, find the Stream URL and key or SRT address, choose encoder settings, and embed the player on your site.
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To live stream on Dailymotion, your account first needs live streaming enabled, which Dailymotion treats as a plan feature set up through its sales or support team. Then you create a live stream in Dailymotion Studio, copy the Stream URL and Stream key into your encoder, and start sending video.
Dailymotion's live tools are aimed at publishers, media companies and brands rather than casual streamers, which is why that first step surprises people. This guide covers access, setup, settings and embedding, plus how to run the stream without a dedicated computer.
Key takeaways
- Live streaming on Dailymotion is a plan feature you ask Dailymotion to enable.
- Each live stream you create in Dailymotion Studio comes with its own ingest credentials.
- Dailymotion accepts RTMP and SRT, so pick the protocol that suits your encoder and route.
- Live streams can be embedded with Dailymotion's player on your own website.
Who can live stream on Dailymotion
Unlike platforms where any account can press a button and go live, Dailymotion reserves live streaming for accounts where it has been switched on. At the time of writing, its help center describes live as a plan feature: you contact your account manager, or Dailymotion's support or sales team, to subscribe and have it set up. Third-party streaming tools also note that a paid plan is required.
Before you ask, have these ready:
- A Dailymotion channel in good standing, under the name you publish as.
- A short description of what you'll stream and how often, such as weekly briefings or coverage of events you hold rights to.
- Whether you need embedding on your own site, geo-restrictions or ads, since those can depend on your plan.
Plans and features change, so confirm the details with Dailymotion directly.
Creating a Dailymotion live stream and finding the key
Once the feature is active, you create live streams in Dailymotion Studio, the dashboard for your channel. Labels change, but the flow generally runs:
- Open the live streams area and create a new live stream.
- Enter the basics: title, category and language, plus visibility and whether it's made for kids.
- For a scheduled event, set start and end times so it can be announced in advance.
- Continue to the encoder information and copy the Stream URL and Stream key into your encoder's server and key fields.
Dailymotion also offers SRT ingest, which copes better with packet loss on long or unstable routes; see SRT vs RTMP to decide. Copy fresh values for each new live stream, since they belong to that entry. Treat the key as sensitive, too: Dailymotion's help center warns that a leaked key could compromise your channel.
Encoder settings for a Dailymotion live stream
Dailymotion publishes an encoding parameters page in its help center, so check it before a major event. Settings that fit common guidance and most other platforms:
- Video: H.264, High profile, constant bitrate.
- Resolution and frame rate: 1280×720 or 1920×1080 in 16:9, at 30 fps, or 60 fps for sports and fast motion.
- Bitrate: roughly 3,000–4,000 kbps for 720p30, 4,500–6,000 kbps for 1080p30 and 6,000–9,000 kbps for 1080p60.
- Keyframe interval: 2 seconds.
- Audio: AAC at 128–160 kbps, or higher for music-led streams, at 44.1 or 48 kHz.
For publishers, consistency matters more than peak quality. A steady 720p through a two-hour event serves an embedded audience better than a 1080p feed that buffers. Our guide to encoding settings for 24/7 streaming explains the trade-offs.
Embedding your Dailymotion live stream on a website
For many publishers, the embed is the point. A Dailymotion live stream can be placed on your own pages with Dailymotion's player, much like a regular Dailymotion video, and player options such as autoplay behavior and ads are managed on the Dailymotion side depending on your setup. Test the embed on desktop and mobile before announcing the event.
Common uses include:
- Newsrooms and media sites streaming press conferences or live coverage onto article pages.
- Sports clubs and leagues airing matches, draws or media days they hold rights to.
- Brands and event organizers showing launches, keynotes or trade-show sessions.
- Regional broadcasters simulcasting a program to an online audience.
In every case, rights come first: only stream content you own or have licensed for online distribution.
Running your Dailymotion live stream from StreamHouse
A live event shouldn't depend on one laptop staying awake. StreamHouse sends the feed to Dailymotion from the cloud:
- Create the live stream in Dailymotion Studio and copy the Stream URL and key.
- Add a Dailymotion destination in StreamHouse and paste both values.
- Choose a source: a playlist of segments, trailers or replays you own, or a live OBS feed relayed through StreamHouse.
- Pick a horizontal 16:9 output preset at 720p or 1080p.
- Use the scheduler to start at the time you set on Dailymotion, or press Start.
StreamHouse reconnects automatically after network hiccups, and you can add YouTube or other destinations without using another stream slot. Team roles let a producer run the stream without seeing billing. StreamHouse doesn't host a website player or enable Dailymotion's live feature; you still embed with Dailymotion and need live on your account.
Frequently asked questions
Is live streaming available on every Dailymotion account?
No. At the time of writing, Dailymotion treats live streaming as a plan feature that has to be enabled on your account, usually by contacting your account manager, sales or support. Once it's active, you create and manage live streams in Dailymotion Studio.
Does Dailymotion support SRT for live streams?
Yes. Alongside RTMP, Dailymotion offers SRT ingest, which tends to handle packet loss and long-distance routes better. Your encoder or streaming service must support SRT output, and you copy the SRT address from the live stream's encoder information instead of the RTMP URL and key.
Can I embed a Dailymotion live stream on my website?
Yes. Live streams can be embedded with Dailymotion's player much like regular videos, which is one of the main reasons publishers choose it. Player options and ad settings depend on your Dailymotion setup, so test the embed on desktop and mobile before the event goes public.
Can I stream to Dailymotion and YouTube at the same time?
Yes, with a multistreaming service. Send one feed and add Dailymotion and YouTube as separate destinations, each with its own credentials. Make sure you hold rights to distribute the content on both, and set titles and visibility on each platform separately.
