Live streaming has become a crucial component of modern digital events, requiring scalable real-time chat solutions to manage tens of thousands of concurrent users effectively. Traditional platforms like YouTube Live chat can fall short due to issues like account requirements and authentication flows, driving the need for custom solutions that cater to anonymous users while supporting extensive customization and moderation capabilities. Ably's collaboration with a creative software company highlighted key challenges, such as moderation, browser performance, and handling late joiners, which they addressed using Ably's managed infrastructure. This approach combined global WebSocket infrastructure, AI-powered moderation, and token authentication to provide a seamless user experience. The project demonstrated the importance of managed infrastructure in accelerating deployment timelines, allowing teams to focus on user experience and community engagement without getting bogged down by the complexities of self-hosting and scalability issues. The case study emphasizes that live chat is more than just a feature; it is an essential tool for community building and enhancing viewer engagement, with reliable infrastructure and strategic moderation playing a critical role in its success.