The Great Innovation in the Area of Live Outside Broadcast

Technological advancements in the field of broadcasting had been in the doldrums for several decades. The broadcasting people had been very satisfied with the status quo for a long time, so little innovations had happened along the way. However, with the onset of the World Wide Web, and the innovations brought about by open-source platforms that enable software engineers to create better software for broadcasting, the broadcasting industry has been greatly revolutionized.

Understanding The Old Broadcasting System

The old broadcasting tools and equipment definitely looked crude as compared to contemporary broadcasting tools and equipment. Before, there was a need for complicated equipment and systems that have to be prepared beforehand prior to outside broadcasting transmission. A retinue of dozens of crews usually assisted the directors who direct all the necessary preparations and setup of outside broadcast equipment. The live outside broadcast then started after all the wires of equipment were already in place, while the outside broadcast units were always on a standby mode. Then, the heavy cameras moved around to get footages of the live broadcast. Afterwards, the footages are edited and sent via the satellite truck transmission. This outside broadcasting process was very laborious and required meticulous planning and attention. The abovementioned process likewise was usually repeated in every outside live broadcasting in the past, and you would surely feel that what they were doing were very crude and obsolete.  

On the other hand, the process of live broadcasting nowadays is already different from the old system. Those who engage in live broadcasting, nowadays, no longer use those tons of wires, heavy cameras, and those burdensome equipment. Some broadcasters nowadays make use of miniature tools that can readily fit into a backpack. They use streaming devices that can stream video footages anywhere there is internet connectivity.

Streaming outdoor events usually presents a great challenge to most streamers of videos. It usually also presents great opportunities for those who engage in this activity. Additionally, there is a big difference between outdoor streaming and indoor streaming. One big difference is that people are more excited to watch outdoor streaming of videos that indoor streaming of videos.

Concomitant Concerns Regarding Outside Broadcasting

There are some great concerns that need to be addressed if you want to stream live. First, there is the concern of bandwidth. There is usually a required bandwidth for perfect streaming without latency or delay, and this bandwidth requirement has to be complied with if you need to be successful in streaming live videos. Second, there is also the problem of getting internet connection in outside location wherein you are going to stream videos. Hence, you got to stay connected online if you want to make a successful online streaming of videos.

There are also the natural factors such as the wind and rain that can interfere with your streaming live videos. A strong gust of winds can greatly affect the audio of your video and may make it inaudible to your excited audience. Lastly, there is the overhanging problem of losing your power supply or source during the streaming process. If you would be streaming long events, you definitely need more batteries or access to a continuous power supply.

Streaming Technology Makes Outside Live Broadcasting Cool and Easy

If you are going to look at the unprecedented technological developments in the various fields of endeavors nowadays, you will surely be amazed at how the pace of technological advancements is feverishly going on. A century ago, for example, the Wright brothers—both bicycle mechanics and enthusiasts—had just experimented on “heavier-than-air flight,” and they were successful in flying their own ragtag airplane. Fifty years afterwards, humans were able to fly spacecraft to the moon; and at present, human-made spacecraft are now teetering on the edge of the Solar System. It seems that with this unprecedented pace of technological advancement, it is very clear that humans are already at the threshold of even greater technological advancements.

On the ground level, people are fervently excited about how technological developments have made their lives cozy and cool. If you take the case of mobile technology, for example, barely twenty years ago, Bill Gates predicted that humans will soon be using wireless smart devices in doing their everyday business. Nowadays, Bill Gates’ prediction is already a reality. Most of us are now doing our banking and most business transactions using smart mobile devices.

The Impact of this Unprecedented Technological Advancements on Live Broadcasting

Even the broadcasting industry is not spared from the trickling effects of these unprecedented technological advancements. Several decades ago, broadcasting live was only left into the great broadcasting corporations who got the resources and the manpower to do so. Nowadays, even the ordinary guys out there can stream live videos right at their very homes or anywhere they want to broadcast. Gone were the days when live outside broadcast would necessitate highly specialized outside broadcast equipment, lots of tools and instruments, tons of cords connecting those equipment, and outside broadcast transmission. Nowadays, using highly specialized compact equipment with transmitter, one can broadcast live without much snag and latency anywhere and anytime in the world.  

To broadcast live, you simply need to have a camera that is hooked to the internet. You also need an online streaming host that would provide you with the needed bandwidth to broadcast. Hence, you need to subscribe to any hosting website that can provide you with the needed bandwidth. Subscribing means you need to make an account on one of these hosting websites, and sometimes you got to choose which streaming plans you want to avail of.  Once you have the necessary account and got this needed bandwidth, you can then engage in streaming live your videos. The process of streaming live is definitely that simple nowadays.

The Measurable Advantages of Streaming Live

Streaming live videos has definitely plenty of advantages; hence, more and more people are engaging in streaming live videos for the following reasons. First, it can generate a greater number of audience which you cannot generate when you are simply posting a video online. Second, streaming live can generate greater online interactions with your prospective audience and actual followers. Third, streaming live can also generate a sense of urgency for your audience to watch your video. Next, you can generate new revenues via streaming live videos. Lastly, streaming live can definitely make you popular and stand out from the rest of the crowd.

For more information about outside live broadcasting, visit: http://www.liveu.tv/lu500.

On Figuring Out the Ideal Media Streaming Devices to Avail of

Ever since the introduction of the television (TV) set to the general public, it has become one of the widely known sources of public information and entertainment. The traditional TV set has evolved from being a simple furniture—with its polished wooden body and rounded black and white CRT (cathode ray tube) screen—into a pure appliance with flat colored CRT screen. Thereafter, the TV sets became available with optional cable or satellite connection and VCD/DVD jack ports. The CRT screen was later on supplanted by plasma, and subsequently by the more efficient LCD or liquid crystal display. But the TV set’s technological development did not stop there, but went on with the creation of today’s internet TV and smart TV—a hybrid between a computer and television.

The fast-paced development in computer and communication technology has likewise led into the introduction of pocket-sized mobile devices which could be used as regular telephones, personal computers, video cameras, radios, and televisions at the same time. With on-demand access, people can watch live or previous TV programs anytime and anywhere. There is, however, one major drawback when watching using a mobile device—its small screen size—which makes the screen quite difficult to watch. Despite the introduction of touch screen which put away the space-consuming keypads, the mobile device’s screen still remains a bit small. For this reason, even if the huge TV screen is an immobile platform, the huge TV LCD’s screen still remains popular among consumers.

Media Streaming Device Varieties

With the recent introduction of smart TV and media streaming devices, people can now view streamed movies and other programs from media streaming services websites on-demand. Media streaming devices like the streaming box or stick can be easily plugged into the HDMI port of the TV to access the net, or even watch a media file that is saved on a personal computer PC, laptop, and/or mobile devices. A stored media content from a mobile device such as tablet or smartphone can be readily streamed to a streaming stick for instant viewing. Aside from having internet access, every media streaming device has Wi-Fi connectivity options.

Streaming devices comes are different from one another, not just in shape or size, but also in brands. Some brands of streaming devices have around hundred applications to choose from. Some media streaming brands come with remote control, leaving them free for other usage. Other brands offer their media streaming devices at very low prices.

Some media streaming devices act as live streaming video equipment as they can be used to show media files that are stored on other PCs, tablets, and laptops. Many streaming devices are preloaded with media streaming software in order to have easy independent access to the net, without using other devices such as a PC or laptop.  

While most TV sets nowadays offer 4K resolution with high dynamic range (HDR), not all media streaming devices have similar parameters. Some media streaming device are designed to be inexpensive, some are designed for PC gamers, and other media streamers are designed to be all-rounders.  Most media streaming devices today support HDR10 and 4K apps like Amazon, Netflix or YouTube. Lastly, it is important to figure out beforehand if your TV set and the media streaming device are compatible before availing of any media streaming device.   

Formal Television Studio Broadcasting and Outside Broadcasting

You would usually think of a production set as a hub that is quite busy and filled with people with their own expertise who are working together to pull off a live broadcasting of an event or news. Some of these people in your imagination would include a director that directs everything, plus those staff like cameramen and other production personnel. In fact, if you are going to give a free rein to your imagination, your imagination would likewise visualize various equipment included in a production set that make possible the broadcasting of an event. These equipment may include tons of cables, microphones, cameras, and other broadcasting equipment that make possible such broadcasting. These would surely be the nitty-gritties of the scenario in your imaginative exercise. 

Well, in actuality, these are indeed the typical scenario that you would see in a broadcasting studio.

But things are changing in most sets of broadcasting networks. Since the onset of the World Wide Web and the use of internet as a means of transferring data, broadcasting, whether remotely or not, has radically changed. Since the introduction of third generation GPRS to the internet technology, the methods of transmitting information data has greatly changed. Moreover, with the greater use streaming videos, the transfers of data from any remote broadcasting set to the end points have become quite easy. 

Previously, it would be easy to broadcast something if you were broadcasting from a formal television studio. However, it was definitely troublesome and meticulously burdensome to make a video production outside of a formal studio.

A video production that is done outside of a formal studio is called electronic field production (EFP). Some examples of EFP include productions like concerts, interviews, and sporting events. EFP usually requires outside broadcast transmission, and EFP usually requires the use of production trucks for the covering of outside productions.

Streaming Media Makes Outside Broadcasting Easy

A decade or two ago, it is quite difficult to imagine how the technology involved in network production would evolve. However, nowadays, it is easy to see that the use of streaming technology is the way to go for outside productions. There are companies and developers that are pioneering in the production and manufacturing of tools and equipment that could further simplify outdoor broadcasting. The solutions provided by these companies allow broadcasting even from remote locations without the use of elaborate outdoor network setups that were once indispensable to an electronic field production.

These companies provide roaming solutions that allow broadcasters to make hassle-free coverage from almost all locations around the world. Moreover, these pioneering companies provide great solutions to scenarios that were once problematic to broadcasters. Using both satellite as well as cellular networks together with the solutions provided by these companies, broadcasters nowadays can readily relay video feeds to the expectant public from around the world. These companies likewise provide hybrid ENG vehicles that usually replace the use of traditional satellite trucks. Additionally, broadcasters can now easily make live broadcast even if they are highly mobile or even if they are in the middle of a harsh condition. Lastly, the works of broadcasters have been greatly enhanced and facilitated sans the cumbersome traditional cables and other broadcasting equipment which were once indispensable to outdoor network broadcasting.

For more information about outside broadcasting, visit: http://www.liveu.tv/lu500.

The Onset of Mobile Transmission

Less than a decade ago, outdoor or remote broadcasting used to be a massive undertaking. The broadcast network would usually field several people—the technical director, cameramen, anchors, technicians, production personnel, electricians, cable pullers, and utility men—in order to pull off a successful outdoor or remote broadcasting. Aside from these needed manpower, there were also those necessary equipment consisting of a number of cameras and microphones along with the kilometers of cablings and wirings, communications gear, lightings. Moreover, production and SNG or satellite trucks were needed to ensure that the broadcast of an event would be readily accomplished.

The satellite with its array of satellite dishes would then transmit the event to the network station via satellite for broadcast, and these outdoor or remote broadcast transmissions were done by means of satellite transmission using C-band and/or Ku-band radio frequencies. Another means of transmission before was by way of microwave transmission, and this was the most commonly employed means of transmission in the past. The third, but least common, was the transmission via fiber optic lines that employed the use of a prepared fiber optic line from the remote location to the studio. Although the third method of transmitting had the best quality of transmission, it wasn’t popular before because of the high cost of laying a dedicated fiber optics cabling.

The Radical Changes Brought about by the Onset of Internet

The advent of broadband internet has revolutionized, not only the means of communication, but also the transfer of information media to the appreciating public. The introduction of 3G or third generation GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) to the wireless network technology for public consumption has brought more opportunities for the expansion of broadcasting by means of the internet. During the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, the transmission using video streaming via UTMS or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (3G) was first introduced.

Using the cellphone signal like GSM’s HSDPA or CDMA’s 3G in the transmission, or specifically, in the streaming, streaming has eliminated the need for cumbersome cables and wires that run between camera units and the production vehicle. GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) have increasingly become the specifications and the standards for mobile communication. Transmission by media streaming only requires the acquisition of stable signal to be able to transmit to its home studio, dispensing the need for satellite trucks or microwave transmission that need to stay in the line of sight (LOS) of the receiving or relay antennas.

Mobile uplink via the 3G (or alike) wireless cellular transmission has likewise greatly innovated remote broadcasting. At 2008 Beijing Olympics, for example, the average uplink speed of 1Mbps with live standard definition videos was already good. At present, the bitrate is at about 20Mbs and the file transfer rate is at 80Mbps.

Today, people worldwide use their portable mobile devices like Smartphones and tablets, not only to call or text a friend or anybody, but also to watch the news and other TV programs. Mobile devices, like the Smartphones, have already supplanted the older systems like the portable satellite tv for good reasons. Smartphones, for example, combine the different functions of a cell phone, media player, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer, calculator, digital camera with video, and television into one. Lastly, anyone can watch a movie, news, or any TV program on a portable mobile device like the Smartphone anytime and anywhere. 

For more information about mobile transmission, visit: http://www.liveu.tv/the-liveu-advantage.

How to Do Away with Many Broadcast Equipment?

The world has slowly become a global village wherein each part of the world is connected to each other via modern modes of communications and transportation. Information and news from around the world are readily available to anyone who wants to see them via the internet. Moreover, events from around the world can be readily watched and seen via live broadcasting anywhere in the world. Hence, it is reasonably right to claim that the world has really become a global village.

How Live Broadcasting Evolved throughout the History?

Broadcasting refers to the distribution of any video or audio content to various audience who are not located in a single place. The means of transmission of these contents is usually via electronic transmission. The old form of broadcasting was that of the radio broadcasting which was quite popular in the early 20th century. In 1930s, television broadcasting also became popular. Furthermore, in the 1960s, satellite broadcasting likewise became popular, and during the onset of the World Wide Web, live broadcasting or web broadcasting has been greatly enhanced and became popular in the 1990s.

Broadcasting were previously done from a television studio. In the broadcasting studio, there are equipment that make possible the broadcasting process. However, not all broadcasting are done in the studios. Often, newscasters and productions are done outside of the television studios, away from the necessary equipment that make possible the broadcasting of contents. Outside studio broadcasting is made possible by bringing in the production trucks anywhere there is a need for outside broadcasting. The broadcast truck usually contains all the necessary equipment to enable a broadcaster to make broadcasting outside of the studio.

The old production trucks were usually run by many crews. This is to make sure that the remote broadcast of anything would be running smoothly.  The usual video broadcast equipment of a production truck included video monitor, vision mixer, frame synchronizer, video tape recorder, intercom, video router, microphones, and many more. There were also various designated crews that included:

• ·         Camera operator
• ·         Technical director
• ·         Video technician
• ·         Video tape operator
• ·         Audio mix engineer
• ·         Graphics operator
• ·         Audio Assistant
• ·         Stage manager,
• ·         Utilities

The advent of different software that allow easy remote broadcasting has clearly enhanced and facilitated the process of broadcasting nowadays. Moreover, with the development of remote transmission software, the process of broadcasting has been greatly improved.

Live streaming and web broadcasting can never be possible without the great improvements in the digital networks and the advancements in computer technology. Streaming via the web allows broadcasters to stream video contents directly to a multitude of computers around the world.

With the onset of live streaming software and applications, anyone who has the software can stream anywhere there is an internet connection. Sans the production trucks and the numerous crews that make the running of the production smooth, anyone can stream live video footages to different devices around the world.

The benefits of live broadcast software are aplenty. First, it facilitates the live broadcasting of sporting events around the globe. Churches likewise have utilized live streaming technology to expand their religious reach. Lastly, streaming videos also facilitates live broadcasting for newscasters and broadcasters, making their jobs less cumbersome.  

For more information visit: http://www.liveu.tv/broadcast.

The Concomitant Benefits of Video Streaming Software

People are usually amazed at the power of a gifted person who can perform telekinesis or telepathy. Telekinesis, for example, is the ability to mentally cause an object to move even if the object is distant. Telepathy, on the other hand, is the ability to mentally transmit information to another person even if the person is faraway. Both of these mental powers seem to be aberrations from what is normal, and for this reason, the exercise of these powers are greatly astounding to most people. However, science and technology seem to be slowly discovering the secrets behind these two seemingly supernatural gifts.

Not many among us are amazed at the findings of science and the development of technology that seemingly mimic the powers of telekinesis and telepathy. Through wireless transmission, for example, pieces of information can now be transmitted to another person, even if that person is situated in a distant country. Yet, most of us are not amazed simply because the use of wireless transmission is scientifically explained; though telekinesis and telepathy and wireless transmission seem to follow the same modes of transmission.

The Benefits of Video Streaming

Live broadcasting was once done only by those who had highly specialized broadcasting instruments. The crews of broadcasting studios—equipped with high-end video cameras connected to tons of wires and cables—were the only ones before that could afford to do live broadcasting of events. However, with the onset of the World Wide Web, and the development of highly specialized software that allow end-to-end internet live broadcast, live broadcasting becomes a possibility for all people.

The use of live streaming software greatly benefit many areas of human endeavors. The sporting industry, for example, benefits from live streaming technology. People from all over the world, for example, who are connected to the internet can now watch the unfolding of sporting events anywhere in the world in real-time. Likewise, streaming live sporting videos allows more revenue generation for sporting organizations. Moreover, with live streaming technology at hand, anyone can stream live footages of sporting events to different devices, allowing for a sizeable amount of audience across the globe to watch the footages. Lastly, newer streaming software allow broadcasters to easily engage with and reach out to the fan base of sports.

Churches can also now indulge themselves in live broadcasting of their religious activities, allowing their members from around the world to enjoy a real-time watching of their religious rites and activities. Live streaming of religious worships likewise allows them to expand the reach of their proselytization, helping them gain more adherents to their churches.

Broadcasting networks also benefit from the introduction of live streaming software. Nowadays, newscasters are no longer hampered by burdensome cables that have to be carried around whenever they engage in broadcasting. Sans the tons of cables that overload the crews of newscasters, newscasters can easily bring in live news and footages anywhere and anytime.

Lastly, gone were the days when people are dumbfounded at the sight of a person who is gifted with telekinesis and telepathy, for as science and technology progress, the consciousness of humanity also reaches a higher level of maturity; and the old ways of thinking are shrugged off in favor of new ways of thinking.

For more information visit: http://www.liveu.tv.

Outside Broadcast Transmission and Its Measurable Advantages

A couple of decades ago, it was quite difficult to broadcast live or do some live streaming if you didn’t have the expertise and the complicated tools and instruments to perform such live broadcasting. However, with the onset of the World Wide Web and the development of various technologies such as cloud technology and open-source platforms, the world of broadcasting has never been the same again. With the internet at hand and other technological advances, live outside broadcast has never been that easy. In fact, there are myriads of products from different vendors that are available for use by anyone who wants to engage in streaming anywhere in the world.

What is Live Broadcast?

The concept of live streaming may still remain a far-fetched idea to those who are living in some remote areas of the world. But with many commercial hardware and software, with greater bandwidth in network, and with the utilization of different standard protocols, live broadcast or live streaming is now easy to accomplish. Live streaming usually consists of the use of a platform through which producers can readily broadcast with the use of a computer and a workable camera via the internet. The end-users can then play and watch the streaming of video on their own end via the web without any significant delay. As the event occurs, the content is delivered in real-time.

How live broadcast was commercialized?

The commercialization of streaming will never be easy and possible without these several factors:

·        Expanded bandwidth of networks

·        The standardization of formats and protocols

·        The high commercialization of the World Wide Web

·        The ease and availability of internet anywhere in the world

·        The development of various apps that make streaming cool and easy

·        The advancement in the operating systems of home computers

The abovementioned factors make possible and facilitate the process of outside broadcasting anywhere in the world. Eventually, the commercialization of streaming becomes inevitable. There are many uses for streaming and there are many spheres of human endeavors that benefit from the commercialization of streaming technology. In the field of music, streaming readily allows anyone to broadcast their concerts and musical masterpieces and activities via the internet. Moreover, in the field of academics, lectures and presentations can now be easily performed and broadcast via the internet.

Benefits of Live Broadcast

There are myriads of benefits concomitant with live broadcast of multimedia contents. First, anyone can easily generate a larger number of audience if broadcasting is done live. Since the technology allows anybody to access multimedia contents in real-time anywhere in the world where there is internet, producers of content can surely garner more audience via live broadcast. Moreover, live broadcast can create urgency on the part of the prospective audience to view content from live broadcast. Audience often are compelled to watch multimedia content that they can no longer watch later on. Since producers of live broadcast can make their content available only at the moment, the prospective audience will surely anticipate these live broadcasts. Live broadcast or streaming can likewise generate for the producers additional revenue. Lastly, producers can structure their live broadcast in such a way that they are able to charge their prospective audience specific payment for watching their live broadcast.

More information about Outside broadcasting: http://www.liveu.tv/lu500

What are the 4 benefit of using wireless video transmission?

If you watch news channels everyday, then obviously you understand something about wireless video transmission, although it is a wide concept. Right from video streaming to live news in the media, the news channels make effective use of the wireless video transmitter for the live coverage of important events and new scoops. There are different high quality devices that can be connected to the main news station, and from there they can operate in multiple locations. They even manage various video feeds, which are the incoming feeds from different locations where the news and the events are covered.

There are many benefits of wireless video transmission:

• ·       With the help of a wireless video transmitter, there is no need to use wires for connectivity. Events and occurrences at a distant zone can effectively be managed and brought to the newsroom. At the same time, with wireless devices, the news and the event can have an easy telecast to all the sections of the same city or throughout the country.
• ·         The videos can be streamed according to one’s convenience. With live video streaming and wireless video transmitters sending signals and connecting to the main station, the whole process of video streaming becomes convenient. One can access the video at any place and at any time. Now there are multiple platforms on which live video streaming of a cricket match, a movie, a tele serial or even an international political speech can be accessed from anywhere in the world. These can even be connected with the home theatre and the computer or laptop systems in one’s home. With this, people have developed their habit of watching their favorite movies or videos through online streaming. In fact the whole video can also be watched from anywhere in the world at the same time, and even from more than one rooms at a time.
• ·         With the help of live video streaming, the whole idea of using compact discs or DVDs are gradually on the decline. Right from downloading music to movies, to games, the whole process of wireless video transmission has done away with the purchase of CDs and DVDs. With the advantage of connecting these videos to the computer or to the laptop, the whole process of using CDs has become quite obsolete now.
• ·         Wireless video transmission is more portable and mobile, and there are high definition devices that provide more clarity when a news or event is being telecast. They can also be distributed all over the world.

There are many companies that provide wireless video transmission services, and they have also invented numerous applications in this field. 

Know About Outside Broadcasting And Outside Broadcast Equipment

Outside broadcasting refers to news and event broadcasting through a live network. Outside broadcast transmission is done with the help of high definition and superior quality transmitters, that help in live streaming and constant broadcasting from anywhere in the world. Outside broadcasting comprises electronic field production of audio programs from the radio, or video programs for the television. This is done from a mobile remote broadcast TV studio. The event production is done in a room, which is known as the production truck or scanner, and it is also known as remote truck or live truck, which has different types of outside broadcast equipment for making the news or the event telecast easier.

There are different types of equipment that are used for outside broadcast transmission:

1. The OB vehicles or vans: These vans are considered very important for outside broadcast transmission. They come in varying sizes and are used depending on the event. For covering a movie shooting or for covering football matches and news, generally large vans are used, whereas for covering small news, small vans and mini vehicles are taken to the event ground, for the ease of transportation and broadcasting.

2. The event trailers: The event trailers are equipment that are towed behind those vehicles, which are taken for news collection. It is run with the help of power supply drawn from the streets on which the news event is covered and this equipment runs on a diesel generator, which is portable and this can be operated in a place, which lacks proper power supply. They are helpful for the regional, local and also for covering national news on a large scale.

3. The kits for the reporters: These comprise the digital recorders, the booms, the large and small microphones and headsets.

4. The field unit cameras: The new ultramodern field unit camera is an important outside broadcast equipment and now there are multiple advanced features that are available with the field unit, which makes it easier for the cameramen and reporter to carry them and to join them to their cameras. These have an advanced user interface solution, and they can be handled well by the reporters on field. The central management platform controls these devices and the live video performance can be enhanced from any part of the world.

With the help of these outside broadcasting devices, the news is telecast as part of the news supply network, and it is upgraded, received and channelized worldwide with the help of the control room devices. 

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Investing In A Streaming Live Video Provider

Many industry experts have dubbed the year 2016 as the year of live streaming”, the year when viewers will not only enjoy but expect media, organizations, and outfits of all sizes to be able to stream live video on their website and other media resources.  Several have even predicted that this will be the year when live broadcasting surpasses the growth of podcasting.

With such high expectations for streaming video broadcast services, it is surprising how few organizations have taken the initiative to provide real-time video seriously to their customers and clients.  Many have chosen the old way of recording videos and uploading them at a later time, and a handful of others are lowering expectations by using smartphone applications to stream inferior and choppy video to their videos.

The best way to choose the right streaming video broadcast provider for your needs is to ask yourself a series of questions which will reveal your budget, your intentions, and your ultimate goals.

What Are My Support Options And What Are Their Costs?

A free service may sound like the most attractive option, but they often offer little to no support.  This means that if you experience problems at a live event, you will have no number to call and all of the time, preparation and money you have spent advertising the event will go to waste.

As for the cost, users must look beyond the price tag.  What you should be looking into is what you get from the service when weighed against your needs.  Look at factors such as:

·         The amount of bandwidth you receive each month

·         The amount of viewer hours you receive each month

·         The storage space allotted to you on a monthly basis

·         How support is provided to you (some only offer email support for free or starter/basic packages)

What Is The User Experience?

Beyond your own branding, you will want to be able to customize the player so that it integrates nicely into the website you will be using to stream live broadcast media from.  This may mean that the vendor will allow you to offer DVR functionality, enable chat or comments, and enable access to social media. 

Do You Plan To Monetize Your Videos?

Some users may wish to monetize their videos in different ways.  Some will have a marketing company set-up to take over the monetization and advertising of other companies and vendors in the video or on the website while others will want to depend on third-party companies to offer them monetization opportunities.

How Important Is Picture And Audio Quality To You?

The answer to this question should be as much as you can afford.  Picture and sound quality is paramount in this area where so many small media outfits and enterprises are lacking.  Renting a unit quick provides a reliable and high quality wireless video uplink often delivers the best results rather than depending on a free service where you are ultimately at the mercy of their servers.

What You Need To Know Before Renting Production Trucks

Capturing and streaming events in real-time has become an expectation for viewers, forcing broadcasters of every level to try and keep up with that demand.  For many who are hitting the road and want to make a decent production, that requires the purchasing or renting of broadcasting equipment for yourself or your crew to use during the shoot.

Renting broadcast equipment can be daunting, but if you know what to look for, you'll enjoy a seamless production that your audience will enjoy.  First and most importantly:

Know What Equipment You Need

In order to choose the right rental company, you will need to have an idea of what equipment you will need.  Several experienced vendors will be able to rent out production trucks which come outfitted with everything you could possibly want to produce high quality live footage, but depending on the event and your budget, you may not need (or be able to afford) these items.

Ask About Rental Pricing

Not all vendors will have the same policy when it comes to renting their equipment.  Typically the vendor will price out each piece of equipment and it will have a daily rental fee attached to it (keep in mind that the fee is from when you pick up the equipment and not from when you begin using it).  After a certain point, they may begin to charge by the week.

·         Tip: A lot of rental houses are not open on the weekends, and so they count the entire weekend as one day.  This  means that if you pick up the equipment on Friday and return it on Monday, you would only need to pay to use the broadcast truck for one day.

Ask About Insurance Coverage

Imagine if the absolute worst happened and the truck loaded with equipment went missing.  There is a good chance that you would not have the capital necessary to replace all of the expensive equipment inside of the truck.

This is why insurance is incredibly important.  Reputable rental houses will require you to have that insurance on hand before they will release any equipment to you.  If you have never purchased this type of insurance before, be prepared for a bit of a shock as it can be pretty expensive.  Different companies will have different plans, so make sure what you are renting will be covered and be aware of what your deductible is.

Check The Equipment

If possible, take yourself and your crew to the vendor to check out the equipment.  This way you can be sure that the equipment is working properly before the shoot and it will go a long way in preventing any delays that can cost you time, money, and viewers.

Ask About Damaged Or Lost Equipment Policies

Finally, if a piece of equipment which is critical to your shoot becomes lost or damaged, you should be able to call the rental company and obtain a replacement.  Most of these companies will have an emergency number which you can call if you find yourself in a tough spot.

For more information on Production Trucks, visit: http://www.liveu.tv/broadcast

How The Satellite Truck Has Revolutionized The Broadcast Industry

The headlines which are shared with us during our favourite newscasts have mostly covered the same stories for the past fifty years: we receive breaking local information, news about new medical advancements, and stories about national and international political races.  But while the news may be similar, how that news is being shared today is drastically different and has been made better because of satellite trucks.

Back In The Days Of Black And White TVs

In the 1960s news broadcasts were still somewhat of a new concept.  The broadcasters would share information that they had gathered throughout the day or the week, but they were unable to provide real-time on-the-scene reporting.

Why It All Changed

News coverage is constantly evolving, and some events in the 1960s and 19702 forced newscasters to figure out a way to be able to deliver live coverage through a broadcast truck.  Some of the most important historical events include:

·         The Kennedy Assassination of 1963

·         The Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979

·         The Moon Landing in 1969

Television executives knew that their audience wanted live video rather than still photos, but it was not until the 1970s when the very first satellite productions began to role on air.  Commonly referred to as live microwave trucks, these production vehicles could be driven right up to where a particular event was happening.  Because videotape also replaced film, it was easier for broadcasters to “go-live” within seconds

Satellite Goes Mainstream

A lot of news outfits would attend light news events to justify the expense of purchasing their satellite equipment in the 1970s, but the demand for real-time news gathering grew which forced networks and several stations to add satellite news gathering fleets so that they could beam back news reports from across the world.

Today satellite news reporting is a must-have.  How viewers may receive news is rapidly changing (i.e. rather than turn on the television they may watch it in real-time from their smartphone or computer), but having a high quality satellite uplink is imperative if broadcasters want to deliver top quality and reliable footage.

How To Choose A Satellite Uplink Provider

Partnering with the right uplink provider is critical in ensuring a seamless transmission of your footage every time the cameras are rolling.  Experience is a top factor in determining whether or not the provider will be a good fit for your company.  Depending on the quality and importance of the footage, you want to make sure that the provider has the experience necessary to ensure that the transmission goes as flawlessly as possible.

Another feature to look for is if you have a dedicated line for carrying the video signal between the broadcaster and the facility which is providing you with the uplink.  This is typically done through a fiver connection, and though more expensive than other options, it is the best choice for mid- to large-scale broadcasters or those broadcasting in HD.

Lastly, ask about security.  Some providers may only encrypt the audio, while others will encrypt both the video and the audio. For motr information on Satellite Truck, visit: http://www.liveu.tv/vehicle-solutions

What To Expect From Your Streaming Video Software

If you are planning to live stream, then there are some decisions which you will need to make sooner or later.  One of the most important decisions: the streaming video software you will use.

With live streaming becoming increasingly popular it can be difficult to try and navigate your options.  But in this post will will break down exactly what you should be looking for in your video streaming software, starting with the most important of all: the cost.

Choosing A Cost Effective Option

If you are new to video streaming, then opting for a free option like Adobe's Flash Media Live Encoder (also known as FMLE) may seem incredibly attractive.  Adobe is a reputable so the product they have put out will be great – right?

Not so much.  FMLE support a number of popular codecs, bitrate encoding and plugins, all of which are important and are features you should expect from your media streaming software.  But the features which are included with this free software are significantly less than other devices, which takes us to our next point:

Choosing The Right Features

Cost is one thing, but unless the product has the features you need to produce captivating video footage, your efforts will result in very limited views. 

Let's say that you have a number of media streaming devices which include a mobile phone and tablet.  You will want to have a software which is able to work not only on your PC, but which is also supported on almost every iOS and Android device on the market today.  You also will want to choose a software which:

·         Can combine available networks so that a connection between it and a external MiFi can be supported

·         Takes and accepts footage in HD

·         Allows you to bond two cellular connections in a single smartphone

It is also beneficial to find a product which can bond a phones' internal 3G or 4G with an external 3G or 4G so you can enjoy a quick and efficient uplink.

A Focus On Reliability

As touched upon when we talked about Adobe's FMLE above, the software is not very reliable.  It is prone to crashes and users are often left disappointed with the results.

If what you want is to take live footage and to stream it online or on the television on a regular basis, then it is important to invest in a product which is known as being reliable.  When looking into your options, start off by seeing how long the vendor has been in business, what their goal is between the many different products they make and what qualifications they may have.

Once you have found what you believe to be a reliable vendor, do a quick background check (i.e. read reviews online and check in with the Better Business Bureau) and then delve deeper into their product line.  If everything checks out and the price is right, that is a good indication that you should invest in their product so that you can take superior live streaming video that will get you more views and attention online and elsewhere. For more information on Streaming Video Software, visit: http://www.liveu.tv/LU400