What is Blackmagic ATEM?
Blackmagic ATEM is a range of professional hardware video switchers and mixers made by Blackmagic Design (Australian company). ATEM models range from the ATEM Mini (compact, USB-C based) to the ATEM Constellation (40-input broadcast standard), with popular models including the ATEM Mini Pro, ATEM Mini Pro ISO, ATEM Mini Extreme, and ATEM Television Studio.
ATEM switchers are the go-to hardware for multi-camera sports production — used by sports leagues, broadcast facilities, houses of worship, live events, and educational institutions. ATEM Mini Pro and above feature built-in RTMP streaming encoders, allowing direct streaming to external platforms without additional encoding hardware. The hardware-based design guarantees ultra-reliable, low-latency switching and output.
What You Will Need
- A Blackmagic ATEM switcher with RTMP streaming support (ATEM Mini Pro, ATEM Mini Pro ISO, ATEM Mini Extreme, ATEM Television Studio, or ATEM Constellation)
- ATEM Software Control for your ATEM model (free download from Blackmagic)
- A LIGR Live account — sign up free at ligr.live
- A match or event configured in LIGR (graphics theme, data source, sponsors)
- Stable internet connection (minimum 5 Mbps upload; 8-10 Mbps recommended for high-quality streaming)
Step-by-Step: Connecting Blackmagic ATEM to LIGR
Set Up Your Match in LIGR
Log in to LIGR Live and create a new match in your Control Room. Select your graphics theme, connect your data source (LIGR LiveScore for pitchside scoring, or an automated data feed), and configure sponsor overlays.
Enable GFX & Stream Mode
In your LIGR match settings, switch to GFX & Stream mode. This tells LIGR to accept an incoming RTMP video stream from your ATEM switcher as the base layer and overlay your configured graphics in real time.
Copy Your LIGR RTMP Credentials
LIGR generates a unique RTMP URL and Stream Key for this match. Copy both — you will paste these into the ATEM streaming configuration.
Open ATEM Software Control and Configure Streaming
Open ATEM Software Control on the machine connected to your ATEM switcher. Navigate to Output tab, then Streaming section. Select Custom as the streaming service.
Paste LIGR RTMP Server and Stream Key
In ATEM Software Control s streaming settings, paste your LIGR RTMP URL into the Server field and your Stream Key into the Stream Key field. Leave Service as Custom.
Set Streaming Quality
Configure your desired streaming bitrate and resolution. For best results with LIGR overlay processing, use the highest quality your venue bandwidth supports (typically 5000 kbps at 1080p).
Start Streaming
On your ATEM switcher panel (or in Software Control), press the On Air button in the Streaming section. Your ATEM programme output (picture-in-picture, graphics, transitions, and all) will stream directly to LIGR.
Operate Graphics or Automate with Game Plans
Once the ATEM feed lands in LIGR, operate graphics live from the LIGR Control Room — or use LIGR Game Plans to automate the entire broadcast: pre-game sequences, live scoring triggers, sponsor ad playlists, and post-match graphics, all running without an operator.
Stream Out to Any Platform
LIGR pushes the combined feed (ATEM switched video + LIGR graphics) to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, your league website, or any RTMP-compatible OTT platform. Multi-stream to several destinations simultaneously.
What LIGR Adds to Your ATEM Broadcast
Broadcast-Quality Graphics
Professional scoreboards, lower thirds, team lineups, and match clocks — fully customisable with LIGR Fuse and Rive design.
Live Scoring & Data Integration
Real-time scoring via the LIGR LiveScore mobile app or automated data feeds. Every event triggers instant graphic updates overlaid on your switched video.
Sponsor Monetisation
Automated sponsor ad playlists with impression tracking and reporting. Turn every broadcast into a revenue opportunity without manual ad insertion.
Auto-Generated Highlights
LIGR creates highlight clips from key match moments — ready for social media, club channels, and post-match packages.
Multi-Platform Streaming
Stream simultaneously to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, your league distribution network, or any RTMP endpoint — all from one LIGR output.
Full Automation with Game Plans
LIGR Game Plans run the entire broadcast autonomously — graphics, ads, highlights, and streaming — zero operators needed.
Why Stream from ATEM to LIGR?
Blackmagic ATEM is a professional-grade hardware switcher — the backbone of multi-camera sports production. It handles camera selection, transitions, picture-in-picture, upstream/downstream keyers, and audio mixing with ultra-low latency and rock-solid reliability.
But ATEM alone outputs only the switched video without broadcast graphics. It has no scoreboard layer, no sponsor overlays, no graphics automation, and no cloud-based distribution.
LIGR is the graphics and automation layer that transforms your ATEM programme output into a broadcast-ready stream. Together, ATEM + LIGR create a complete sports production pipeline — multi-camera switching at the hardware level, then professional graphics, scoring, sponsorships, and automated distribution in the cloud — with zero human operators required.
| Feature | ATEM + LIGR | ATEM Alone |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Camera Switching | ✓ Hardware-based, ultra-reliable | ✓ Hardware-based, ultra-reliable |
| Broadcast Graphics | ✓ Full TV-quality overlays | ✗ No overlay capability |
| Live Scoring | ✓ Real-time via LiveScore app | ✗ No scoring overlay |
| Sponsor Revenue | ✓ Automated ad playlists + tracking | ✗ No overlay capability |
| Highlight Clips | ✓ Auto-generated from events | ✗ Manual post-production |
| Multi-Platform Output | ✓ YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc. | ✗ Single RTMP or ATEM station only |
| Operator Required | ✓ Zero — fully automated | Partial — operator required for switching |
Tips and Troubleshooting
Network Stability
ATEM switches stream via ethernet or Wi-Fi. For the most reliable connection, use a wired ethernet connection from your ATEM to your network. This ensures consistent bitrate and minimal latency to LIGR.
RTMP Server Configuration
Make sure your venue network allows outbound RTMP connections (TCP port 1935 or custom ports). Some corporate/venue firewalls may block streaming. Work with your IT team to whitelist the LIGR streaming endpoint.
Stream Quality and Bandwidth
ATEM s built-in encoder supports variable bitrates. For sports production, aim for 4000-6000 kbps at 1080p/30fps. Monitor your upload bandwidth during rehearsal — if you see buffer warnings in ATEM Software Control, reduce bitrate or resolution.
Audio Mixing
ATEM handles audio mixing natively. Make sure your audio inputs are properly configured in ATEM Software Control before going live. LIGR passes through the audio from your ATEM feed untouched.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stream from Blackmagic ATEM to LIGR?
Create a match in LIGR, enable GFX & Stream mode, copy your RTMP credentials, and paste them into ATEM Software Control under Output > Streaming settings. Press On Air on your ATEM and the stream flows to LIGR automatically.
Can I add scoreboards and graphics to my ATEM broadcast?
Yes. LIGR overlays professional scoreboards, lower thirds, sponsor ads, and animated graphics on top of your ATEM switched feed in real time — either manually operated from the Control Room or fully automated with Game Plans.
Which Blackmagic ATEM models support RTMP streaming?
ATEM Mini Pro and higher models (ATEM Mini Pro ISO, ATEM Mini Extreme, ATEM Television Studio, ATEM Constellation) have built-in RTMP streaming encoders. ATEM Mini and earlier models do not support RTMP output natively.
How do I monetise my ATEM sports broadcast?
Connect your ATEM feed to LIGR and use automated sponsor overlay playlists with impression tracking. Generate revenue from every broadcast without manual ad insertion or additional operators.
Can I stream my ATEM feed to multiple platforms at once?
Yes. LIGR receives your ATEM feed via RTMP and pushes the graphics-enhanced output to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, your league website, or any RTMP-compatible platform simultaneously.
Turn Your ATEM into a Cloud-Based Broadcast Studio
Add professional graphics, automated scoring, sponsor revenue, and multi-platform distribution to every ATEM production — zero additional operators required.
Get Started Free at LIGR