|
Answers to common streaming questions
Frequently
Asked
Questions
What is streaming
and how is streaming different from HTML and Flash audio and video content
that is currently on the Internet?
Streaming is the delivery of audio and/or video media from a server
originating on the internet. Media Webcasters puts your video on their
server. You “paste” a URL link address onto your webpage or into your
email. Your video message plays whenever a visitor enters your Webpage or
when a visitor requests to view your video. It’s your choice.
Streamed video begins instantly and there is no long waiting times for
media to download to your computer like HTML at most websites. Flash which
incorporates audio, animation or video also takes time to load and is
popular via "splash" pages when entering a website. HTML and flash
still have their place but is an aging technology.
There is no download or waiting penalty to view or listen to streamed
media. Streaming is the preferred marketing method to deliver high quality
video content without making visitors disgruntled about long download
waits and fears of virus's attached to downloads.
Why should a business or organization use streaming?
Because video allows you to present your product, service or
message in a motivating persuasive manner. Marketers and salespeople have
known for years that sales increase when a commodity is presented using
the power of color, motion, audio, animation and ultimately video. Plus
you only pay
10 cents a minute when
an interested prospects requests to view you company’s videos. Streamed
video is the best sales assistant an organization or company can have.
What must be done to add "immediate play" video and audio streaming to
my website or email?
To add streaming capability to a website or email you must have:
- Media - audio and/or video. You
may produce your own media or hire a commercial audio/video
production company or advertising agency. Many businesses already have
TV commercials or video that can be used as is or edited inexpensively.
- Upload formatted media - audio and/or video. When you sign up
with Media Webcasters, we give you an address to upload your media. This media must be
in a format that media players like Real Player, Windows Media Player or
QuickTime can play. Your production company or Media Webcasters, can
help with the routine formatting upon request.
- URL Handler - For each piece of media, we send you a
URL which is a link to the server containing your audio or video media.
This URL is placed on the webpage where you want the media to be viewed
by a visitor. Your web developer may recommend embedding the URL in a
special picture or window which may require a minor adjustment to an
existing webpage. Since many companies have more than one video, you may
have several links on a webpage to show different videos such as product
videos. In the same fashion you would embed a URL in an HTML email . . .
or . . . as a text hyperlink.
It is that easy! Plus . . . there is no fee incurred, unless a website
visitor or email recipient chooses to watch your video, other than the
small monthly charge for the plan you chose (with included minutes).
How much will it cost
to stream video?
We charge by the “click.” A
click charge is incurred when a viewer chooses to watch a streamed video.
Our standard charge is
10 cents per minute. So
a “click” charge for a
60 second video stream
is a dime. A 90 second video
would possess a 15 cent click charge when selected for viewing. See
getting started for more information.
Do I need more than one
video?
Some companies produce a
short video introduction to build company image and create interest. Other
webpage video links showcase products, services or present special
messages. Additional click charges are “not incurred” unless the viewer
chooses to view other expanded video segments.
For example, a
10 cent click charge
would be incurred for website visitors that view a standard company video
introduction. A separate
20 cent click charge for
a visitor viewing a two-minute product video is only incurred when the
viewer clicks to watch the product video.
There are separate monthly
charges for each separate piece of video media. This is cost effective for
firms that want separate presentations for products and services, special
offers or corporate messages from the president.
What if I don't have video or audio yet?
You may rent a video camera and shoot and edit the media you want to
show (stream) at your website. Most businesses will hire a local video
production company to help them write, film, produce and encode the media.
Local broadcasters often contract with these local companies to provide
professional audio voice. Your objective should be to present your
company, message or product in a professional, compelling visual manner.
Go to our Third Party Services page for a list
of professional production companies across the US.
Does the video have to be in a particular format to stream on my
website or email?
YES. Media players that came with your computers operating software -
Real Player, Windows Media Player or QuickTime - require a special digit
format. Media Webcasters or your production company or agency can easily
format your media. This formatting is similar to the formatting used to
view media on a DVD or CD-ROM.
What does it cost to stream video on my website or email?
Media Webcasters charges by the click. A click only occurs when your
media is selected to be viewed. Our rates are 10 cents per minute. For
example, a 60 second video would have a "click cost" of 10 cents. A two
minute video would have a 20 cent "click charge." The entire click charge
is incurred even if the viewer elects to terminate viewing before the end.
However, the viewer can pause the video and return later to continue
viewing provided the Internet connect to the video is not terminated.
Many businesses have one (1) introductory video that all Website visitors
view which invites visitors to view other videos. A click charge for more
lengthy videos is not incurred unless the visitor chooses to view these
other videos.
What do I need to do to add streaming to my website or email?|
A. Open an account with us.
B. Upload or mail us your video.
C. We provide you with a web URL address to our server containing your
media.
D. Paste this URL address onto a webpage or into an email. You may choose
to have the video play immediately when a visitor enters the webpage or
opens and email . . . or . . . only when "selected."
Your Webmaster may elect to incorporate a placeholder or graphic element
on Webpages where streamed video will be viewed.
How do I send Media Webcasters my files that I wish to stream?
When you open an account with us, you are given access to the Customer
Webpage at this site. At the UPLOAD window you browse your hard drive and
find the media file and choose UPLOAD. We receive your media file(s),.send
you a URL address for each file which you place into a webpage or email
for viewing. If your media is not properly coded we will inform you and
offer to format your media file for a nominal charge.
Do I have to sign long-term contracts to add streaming to my website or
email?
NO. You only commit for 1 month. Our plans begin at $20 per month which
includes 200 free minutes of streamed video.
Does true streaming video require special servers?
Yes. Streaming video requires special server software that enables the
server to actually communicate with the viewer's video player in order to
determine what is the best speed in which to stream the video. A
progressive download video file can be served from a standard web server.
What's the difference between "streaming" video and "progressive
download" video?
Streaming video arrives to the viewer in "real time", without the viewer
having to wait for it to download somewhere on their computer before being
able to view it.. Also, streaming video dynamically adjusts to Internet conditions
along the journey from server to viewer.
Progressive downloads are video files that must be downloaded somewhere on
the viewer's computer in order to play. For high-speed Internet users
(cable modem or DSL), the video will usually start playing as it's
downloading, giving the viewer the illusion of streaming.
Can a viewer "save" a streaming video on their computer?
No. A streaming video, unlike a progressive download, cannot be saved on
the viewer's computer. A viewer can save a link to the video, however
embedding the player using javascript can prevent the viewer from doing
that as well.
Can people with 56k dial-up modems watch streaming video?
Yes, but the viewing experience is, by necessity, usually of low quality.
A streaming video optimized for 56k viewers should have a small viewing
area (160x120 pixels), and a reduced frame rate (15 frames per second or
less). A progressive download video for 56k users can be of higher
quality, but requires a larger file that may require a long time to
download.
Why are videos for 56k dial-up users usually so low quality?
In order to stream to 56k users, the video file must be kept as small as
possible. An important rule of thumb: the higher the quality a video, the
larger the file. In general, 56k phone lines don't handle large files
well.
How much better is the streaming video experience for broadband users
than for 56k users?
Broadband users have a much higher capacity to receive large video files,
therefore videos designed for broadband users should have larger viewing
areas (at least 240x180), higher frame rates (up to 30 frames per second),
and higher audio bit rates. No broadband user wants to have a 56k video
experience
Are there different Internet speeds across the broadband spectrum?
Most definitely. Some broadband users have single ISDN lines capable of no
more than 64k. Other broadband users have lines ranging anywhere from 100k
to 500k and above.
How do I reach the widest possible audience with the videos on my web
site?
The best way is to create video files and associated links separately for
56k viewers and broadband viewers. By necessity, the 56k files would be
smaller and of lower quality than the files created for broadband users.
To reach the widest possible spectrum of broadband users, you can create
separate files and links for different broadband speeds (100k, 250k, etc),
or create multiple tracks within a single broadband file.
What is a multi-tracked video file for broadband viewers?
A characteristic of true streaming video is that multiple bandwidth
receipt configurations can be
created within a single multimedia file. This is called "Sure Stream
©". Each track is encoded for a
specific broadband speed (100k, 250k, 350k, etc). The video server will
stream the appropriate track by communicating with the video player on the
viewer's computer. The track that will stream will be based on the
viewer's Internet connection speed and the general Internet conditions at
the time of streaming. If there is an Internet slow-down while the track
is streaming, the server will automatically stream a more appropriate
track until there is less Internet congestion. This helps ensure a smooth
streaming experience for the viewer.
Can video files stream through corporate firewalls?
Yes, however changes in configurations of the player is sometimes
necessary. For the "Real Video" format, comprehensive information may be
found at
http://www.service.real.com/firewall/index.html
Can video players be embedded into a web site?
Yes. While the viewer still has to have a player installed on their
computer, custom elements can be created by the web site designer.
Information on embedding the RealPlayer can be found by clicking
here. You can find Information on embedding the QuickTime player by
clicking
here.
|
