Breaking Free from Corporate Streaming with Owncast

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share something I've been experimenting with that might interest other creators tired of platform dependency. So I've been diving deep into Owncast, which is basically self-hosted streaming. Think Twitch, but you actually own and control everything. No corporate overlords, no algorithm changes, no surprise policy updates. What's Owncast? Free, open-source live streaming software you host yourself. Works with OBS or any RTMP streaming setup. You control the rules, content, and customization completely. Why Consider It?

• No censorship concerns (your server, your rules),

• Integrates with Fediverse (Mastodon, etc.),

• Custom emotes without restrictions,

• Complete CSS customization,

• No revenue sharing with platforms,

Setup Reality Check Not gonna lie, this isn't for everyone. But it's way easier than you'd think. Hetzner has one-click installs that get you running in under 10 minutes for about $7.50/month. I was skeptical about performance, but I'm running dual streams (source + mobile quality) at only 30% CPU usage on their basic tier. The Honest Downsides

• Audience migration is tough (people are comfortable with Twitch),

• Zero discoverability unless you build it elsewhere first,

• Technical maintenance is on you,

• Starting from scratch on viewer count,

My Take This isn't about replacing Twitch entirely. It's about having a platform you control for your core audience. Use corporate platforms for discovery, Owncast for sustainability. Most successful indie creators I know diversify their platform presence anyway. Your most engaged viewers will follow you anywhere. Getting Started Start simple. Set up a basic instance, test stream with directory listing off, get comfortable with the interface. The community is helpful (Rocket Chat + GitHub for support). Anyone else experimenting with self-hosted alternatives? Or perfectly happy with the corporate ecosystem? Curious about other creators' platform strategies. The barriers keep getting lower and the tools keep improving. There's definitely room for different approaches to coexist. Links:

• Owncast: owncast.online,

• My test instance: two-ton-waffle.com,

Building sustainable creator infrastructure is what this indie thing is all about, right?