TikTok’s BHM Livestream Series

about.

TikTok is a video-sharing social networking service used to make a variety of short-form videos, with genres like dance, comedy and education. In October 2020, the company aimed to host a new month-long livestream series in honor of Black History Month with multiple presentations and events.
 
 

challenge.

While this event was always designed to be a virtual livestream series, it required the integration of many remote presenters located throughout Europe and the Middle East as well as the coordination of off-site location filming around the UK. This was also an entirely live broadcast, with segments lasting anywhere from 45 minutes to two days, with one day rehearsal and a 4-hour live show immediately following. With stream details continuing to evolve and change throughout the month, the timelines for adjusting to updates were sometimes as short as six hours.
 
 

solution.

Pixl provided full technical production management, broadcast services, studio locations and streaming facilities for the TikTok Black History Month series. The team brought the livestream series to life in the Pixl Virtual Studio at John Henry’s in London, filming most of the segments in Studio 7. The Black History Month celebration was also the inaugural event for the relaunched xR Studio 8 at John Henry’s.

In order to ensure seamless remote presentations, Pixl sent Quicklink ST55 or ST500 “Studio in a Box” packages to presenters across the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
 
 

results.

Pixl’s technical proficiency, combined with the ability to pivot at short notice and still deliver a high standard, ensured a successful multi-day livestream series.

All livestreams were broadcast from Pixl’s master control room, using a broadcast level PPU, through multiple streaming platforms: Live in App on TikTok, Vimeo, Hopin, Wowza, EventCube and Streamup Live. The livestreams were also pushed out through the TikTok UK account, which has 3.2 million followers.

Pixl is committed to the safety and health of their technicians and clients, following all COVID protocols and safety measures for social distancing. During the livestream segments, Pixl hosted up to six live presenters and up to 25 technicians safely, while following all social distancing and COVID protocols to ensure everyone’s safety and health.