Broadcaster Guide

Getting started on Sideline is quick and free. Visit sideline.fm/register and create your account with an email address, username, and password. Once registered, you can immediately start broadcasting.

Your username becomes your unique streaming URL — for example, sideline.fm/yourusername — so choose something memorable that represents your brand.

A complete profile helps listeners find and trust your broadcasts. Head to your Profile page to customise your presence:

• Display Name — The name shown to listeners during your streams
• Avatar — Upload a profile image (square format recommended)
• Bio — Tell listeners about yourself and what sports you cover
• Location — Help local fans discover your streams

Great audio quality keeps listeners engaged. Here's what you need at each level:

• Basic (Free) — Your phone or laptop's built-in microphone. Works fine to get started.
• Better — A USB microphone like the Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica AT2020. Significant quality improvement.
• Professional — XLR microphone with an audio interface. Studio-quality sound for dedicated broadcasters.

Tip: A quiet environment matters more than expensive gear. Close windows, turn off fans, and find a room with soft furnishings to reduce echo.

Ready to go live? Click the "Go Live" or "Start Broadcasting" button from any page. You'll be prompted to:

1. Enter a stream title (e.g., "Arsenal vs Chelsea — Live Commentary")
2. Select your sport category
3. Add relevant tags for discoverability
4. Grant microphone access when your browser prompts

Once you click Start, you're live immediately. Your stream appears in the Live Now section on the homepage and on your profile for anyone to tune in.

Optimising your stream details helps listeners find you:

• Title — Be specific. Include team names, league, and match details. "AFL Round 5: Collingwood vs Carlton" is better than "Footy Stream".
• Category — Select the sport you're covering so listeners browsing by sport can find you.
• Tags — Add tags for teams, leagues, and topics. These improve search visibility.

If you have multiple microphones connected, Sideline lets you choose which one to use. Before going live, check your browser's microphone permission settings to select the correct input device.

Tip: Do a quick test by starting a private stream to check your audio levels before a big match.

To receive payments, you need to connect your Stripe account. Go to your Profile → Monetization Settings and click "Connect with Stripe". This is a one-time setup that enables donations, subscriptions, and cheers payouts.

Stripe handles all payment processing securely. You'll need to provide your bank details and verify your identity as required by financial regulations.

Listeners can send one-time donations during your streams. Donations trigger an on-stream alert so you can thank supporters in real-time. There's no minimum amount, making it easy for listeners to show appreciation.

Monthly subscriptions provide recurring revenue from your most dedicated listeners. Subscribers get special recognition in chat and exclusive perks. Set your subscription price and promote it during streams to build a stable income base.

Cheers are Sideline's virtual currency. Listeners purchase Cheers and spend them during streams to trigger text-to-speech messages and sound effects. It's fun, interactive, and earns you revenue with every interaction.

Cheers pricing: listeners buy cheers at $0.025 each, and broadcasters earn $0.01 per cheer spent (40% broadcaster share).

Sideline offers competitive broadcaster payouts:

• Donations — 75% broadcaster / 25% platform
• Subscriptions — 75% broadcaster / 25% platform
• Cheers — $0.01 per cheer to broadcaster (40%)

These rates are among the most generous in the live streaming industry.

Earnings are accumulated in your Sideline wallet. Payouts are processed weekly through Stripe Connect once you reach the minimum settlement threshold. Funds are transferred directly to your connected bank account.

You can view your earnings breakdown, pending balance, and payout history in your broadcaster dashboard.

As a broadcaster, you have full control over your stream's chat:

• Timeout — Temporarily mute a user for a set duration
• Delete Messages — Remove individual messages from chat
• Ban — Permanently remove a user from your stream's chat

Click on a user's name in chat to access moderation controls. Keep your chat welcoming and on-topic to build a great community.

Engage your audience with live polls. Create a poll during your stream to get real-time opinions on match predictions, player performance, or anything else. Listeners vote directly in chat, and results update live.

Bring guests onto your stream for multi-person commentary. Listeners can request to join as a co-host, and you control who gets approved. Co-hosts can speak directly on your stream, making for dynamic discussions and debates.

To manage co-host requests, look for the co-host panel in your broadcaster dashboard during a live stream.

Display live scores and match timers on your stream. Select from sport-specific templates (football, AFL, rugby, cricket, etc.) and update scores as the match progresses. Listeners see the score overlay, keeping everyone in sync with the action.

Reward your listeners with live drops — surprise cheers giveaways during your stream. Drop cheers to active listeners to boost engagement and create excitement. You can configure the amount per drop and how frequently drops occur.

After every stream, you'll receive a summary showing key metrics: peak listeners, total unique listeners, stream duration, chat activity, and earnings. Use these insights to understand what's working and grow your audience.

Your broadcaster dashboard provides a detailed breakdown of your earnings across all revenue streams — donations, subscriptions, and cheers. Track daily, weekly, and monthly trends, and monitor your payout history.

Understand your audience with listener analytics. See where your listeners are coming from, how long they stay, and which streams attract the most engagement. Use this data to optimise your streaming schedule and content.

Share your live stream on external websites and blogs using Sideline's embed player. Copy the embed code from your stream settings and paste it into any webpage. The embedded player lets visitors listen without leaving the site.

Embed codes support customisation options for size and appearance to match your website's design.

Capture memorable moments from your streams with clips. During or after a broadcast, create short audio clips that can be shared on social media, embedded on websites, or saved for your portfolio. Clips are a great way to promote your streams and attract new listeners.

Your streams are automatically archived so listeners can catch up on broadcasts they missed. Archives are accessible from your profile page and can be listened to at any time. This extends the life of your content well beyond the live broadcast.