Business Webcasting "Center"

[kfox]

I would like to throw this idea out for any suggestions anyone may have. I work for a video production company in VA. Recently, we were hired to videotape seminars for two different companies. They were both held at a local hotel banquet room (which provided the meal/refreshments). The purpose of these two (non related) events was to tape the event and distribute the disks to executives across the country who could not attend. Both events were several hours long. In both cases, I asked the IT coordinator for each company why they did not just stream the event live? In both cases, I was told that the logistics of setting up the stream were:

beyond their "comfort" level of expertise (regarding the video/audio part)

were too unpredictable regarding the setting up of the stream at an "off-site" location

too time consuming for the IT department who, "had other things to worry about"

Etc, Etc.

Their answers were pretty much the same. This leads me to an idea. We are located 50 miles from Washington DC and have a very good business climate in our town. Why not set up a center that is equipped to provide streaming for businesses. We could locate it near hotels and restaurants, provide catering from any number of establishments, install a "prep" kitchen for events that only need refreshments, etc.

The idea on the technical side would be to provide top notch professional video (multi-camera, logos, titles, EXCEPTIONAL AUDIO! (one of the biggest complaints I've heard about events), a customizable set (featuring the clients logos/colors), in-house projectors, remote site linking (2-way). In other words, to do it right by doing it every day, rather than hoping a "mobile" system will work from wherever it may need to be.

The big question is, will businesses be interested in this type of "turn-key" product? Would love to hear suggestions.

Best to all!

kfox

"Shoot for the moon, 'cuz if you miss, you're still among the stars!"

[tom_streeter]

You might want to contact the METS Center run by Northern KY University (http://www.usemets.org/) to see what proportion of the events they host are amenable to a pure webcast presentation mode. They are a full-service meeting facility, but I have4 a feeling they'll have insight you can use.

Devil's Advocate: Given the gear and people you want to throw at this, could the client really save money going the webcast route over the less-tech-intensive route?

[kfox]

Thanx Tom. I looked at their site, and it looks like they have the idea refined. Maybe in several years we could be at that level.

Good point on the "Devil". Actually, what we are hoping to find is that the immediacy of live streaming and our ability to provide it "turnkey" from a "comfortable, well equipped" site will create our "niche". As far as being less costly that what they could do in-house.....doubtful. Can we do it better and therefore be a better solution than DIY.......hopefully!

Best,

Kfox

[Michael Grant]

Kfox,

You said: "The purpose of these two (non related) events was to tape the event and distribute the disks to executives across the country who could not attend."

If you are simply replacing disks as a delivery system, why not simply digitize the tapes and make the content available for streaming on-demand? That would almost have to be cheaper than burning and shipping DVDs.

As for your idea, it is a good idea but I do not know if it can scale. There are already a number of studios in the DC area that are set up with the proper gear and connectivity for live streaming, but they typically are not designed to accommodate a live audience. So you are limited to events that are designed for a web-only audience.

I think the real growth opportunity is re-purposing live content for internet viewing - either live or on-demand. If you invested in a high end capture card to take the audio directly from the audio mixer at a live conference (to solve your audio issues), and worked with several of the top hotels in the DC area and convention centers to make certain you have access to one or more dedicated T1s (to ensure adequate connectivity for live broadcasts) you could bring solve the issues you cited without investing in a building, equipment and a monthly rent.

All you need to the means to plug into the audio feed and the video switcher, webcasting software to manage the live web event, Windows Media or Flash encoding software, good internet connectivity at the live site, and a CDN.

Michael Grant
Director of Sales, Eastern Region
IVT, Inc.
mgrant@ivtweb.com -- +1-646.666.0483 p -- +1.646.246.2994 m
http://www.ivtweb.com

[kfox]

Michael:

You do bring up some good points. We have actually reached the level where we have a facility with the connectivity to the web and are getting ready to start some beta testing. The reason for the "live" aspect is to put ourselves in a position to provide other types of events in the near future. I think you are correct that centering just on business webcasting would be too narrow of a focus.

Thanks for the ideas. It's always to hear opinions from every side.

Best,

kfox

[meast]

Already been done in the DC area... Check out TV Worldwide's new facility.

Cheers.
MEast

[kfox]

Thanks meast. Appreciate the "heads up"!

Best,

kfox

[cata12]

Hello:

I am already doing LIVE HD streaming on a website and want to show you some demos if you are interested. You don't need all that equipment for a live broadcast. I am using a broadcasting software installed on my computer, a HD video camera and that's it.
The software allows me to stream LIVE and pre-recorded shows and the best part is that the video quality is HD.

Let me know if you need more details about it and I will reply to you shortly.
Thank you

[kfox]

Thanks for the reply cata12. Yes, I would be interested in seeing what you are doing. All ideas are welcome!

Thanks again,

kfox

[StreamCO]

What software are you using? Do you use a special internet connection for the HD quality?

Thanks,
StreamCO