Streaming protocols play a key role in how your live stream reaches its audience, and understanding the difference between RTMP and RSP can have a big impact on the reliability and quality of your broadcasts. Here’s what you need to know to ensure smooth, uninterrupted streams for your worship services, whether they’re being live-streamed or shared across multi-site campuses.

RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) has been the go-to for streaming for years. It sends a continuous stream of video data from your source to the destination, like a cloud or a specific endpoint. The downside is that RTMP doesn’t have built-in error correction, so if something interrupts the data flow—such as network congestion or a power hiccup—you could experience packet loss. Once the data is lost, it’s gone, which often results in buffering or video glitches that can drive viewers away.

RSP (Resilient Streaming Protocol) is a game changer. Unlike RTMP, RSP features built-in error correction that makes your stream much more reliable, even in less-than-ideal network conditions. If there’s a hiccup in transmission, RSP allows the encoder to retrieve the missing data and resend it to the cloud, ensuring your viewers get a smooth, uninterrupted experience. This error-correction happens in real-time, with a 90-second glass-to-glass delay, meaning your content reaches its destination perfectly corrected every time.

One of the best things about RSP is its ability to handle low bandwidth situations. With its caching mechanism and error-correction capabilities, RSP can send higher-quality video even when bandwidth is limited. This makes it ideal for churches in areas with unstable internet connections or when bandwidth resources are stretched thin. The protocol helps maintain video quality while reducing the risk of interruptions, giving your congregation a seamless viewing experience no matter the circumstances.

Using RSP allows for reliable, high-quality live streams that keep viewers engaged—without the interruptions that can hurt your service’s online presence.