Telestream has released Wirecast 6.0, the latest version of its live streaming software for Mac OS X and Windows that enables capture, live production and encoding of live streams for broadcast to multiple servers and platforms simultaneously.

Version 6.0 "offers the capabilities of more expensive hardware solutions with the flexibility and affordability of a software application," says Barbara DeHart, vice president of Desktop Business at Telestream. The software is designed for broadcasting professional-looking live web shows, news, online gaming, sporting events, concerts, church services, corporate meetings, lectures and much more. With Wirecast, users can stream multiple live cameras while dynamically mixing in other media such as movies, images and sounds, and adding production features such as transitions, built-in titles, chroma key, virtual sets and live scoreboards.

The new Replay function in version 6.0 enables the capture and replay of clips during live production, allowing users to switch in important captured segments right from the interface. Using Replay, users can slow down, speed up or scrub across a clip and find the exact moment to show.

The new Playlist feature in Wirecast 6.0 allows users to create playlists on the fly: they can drag-and-drop the queuing of multiple videos, images, audio or live shots to automate broadcasts, add commercial breaks, or stream archived content during off hours. Playlists can also be used to rotate live camera views.

Wirecast 6.0 is designed to make it easy to add social media feeds to live broadcasts with Twitter messages overlaid directly onto the broadcast. To maintain control of what is being displayed, operators can search and select only the Tweets they wish to share. Also new in version 6.0 is the ability to send content from Wirecast to Microsoft Azure Media Services and Microsoft Azure.

Wirecast 6.0 is available immediately from the Telestream store (www.telestream.net). Wirecast Studio is priced at US$495. Wirecast Pro, which adds support for more advanced production features and additional input sources, is priced at $995. Customers who currently own Wirecast 5.x can upgrade to Wirecast Studio 6.0 for $149 and to Wirecast Pro 6.0 for $295.