Welcome to the Virtue Broadcasting chat. Today we'll be discussing streaming Media and Internet Webcasting. feel free to submit your questions.
Julian: What is streaming media?
->Virtue replies: Streaming media is the title used to describe the transfer of sound and video that has been converted into an electronic format, between computers positioned around the world over the Internet. The data is transmitted from a single point and travels over the Internet until it eventually arrives, generally at your request, on your computer. Your computer takes in the digital information and translates it into sound or video.
Jonathan: Why is the Internet the delivery system of choice for audio and video?
->Virtue replies: The Internet is the ideal delivery system as it was designed specifically to transfer data between users on a global basis. Other networks such, as that used for voice are not optimised for data. Originally text alone or email as it is now know was transferred. In the early nineties the World Wide Web was invented and later featured illustrations and graphics. In the mid nineties technology made a further leap and allowed both sound and video to be passed over the Internet. This is what we now call streaming media. This advance has allowed truly global broadcasting to become accessible to an entirely new market. There is an additional advantage in using the Internet in that the programs used allow you to gather information on the viewing habits of your audience, so that you can learn what they like and so offer them more of related or similar material. The audience can feed back to you and let you know what they think of the service, which should mean an improvement in standards. The Internet also allows you to create interactive broadcasts. Here viewers can join in and ask questions or vote in polls, even during live events. These systems also allow you to create pay per view or protected areas, so that only registered or paying viewers can gain access to your premium content. In short it is only Streaming Media and the Internet that allows you full freedom to exploit your content and to meet your customers needs in the manner that today�s businesses and projects demand.
Mary: What is the difference between streaming and download?
->Virtue replies: Streaming plays the video/audio clip on your computer as a real time data transfer so you do not have to have downloaded the whole clip onto your computer�s hard disc before you view it. Streaming provides the ability for live Internet broadcasting. A download means that the data has to actually be taken onto your computer thereby occupying disc space. If you want to reuse that space you need to erase the download.
Andre: Does Broadband offer me better video quality?
->Virtue replies: The quality of the connection over which you are is directly proportional to the quality of the video. Watching video over a 28kbps phone line is approximately half as good as the quality over a 56k ISDN connection. Broadband offers the ability to watch near VHS video quality over the Internet. Although the usage of broadband to the home is still limited within the UK the rest of Europe and other parts of the world and many businesses are broadband enabled.
Catherine: Can I watch Internet video over my home phone line?
->Virtue replies: Yes you can but visual material takes higher bandwidth than voice and so unless you have an ISDN line (56K) the video quality will be poor. For low bandwidth users (less than 56K) audio is a very effective use of streaming either by itself or with slide presentations.
justin_99: What is a Content Delivery Network or CDN?
->Virtue replies: A CDN provides the network needed to deliver streaming media reliably and cost effectively. Generally the bandwidth used is much higher than for other applications. The expertise needed to run such a network is costly even when compared to the network required for serving web pages.
Ross: How will I know my content is always available to my viewers and listeners?
->Virtue replies: To do this you will need access to real-time statistics. This service can be provided via the web using the Virtue Inktomi Broadcast Management software.
Llinos: Can you view video through firewalls?
->Virtue replies: Firewalls may cause problems if they are configured not to allow streamed video. Equally, if your systems administrator has disabled the Windows Media or Real Player Plug-ins on you computer you will be unable to watch video on demand. A firewall can be easily configured to allow video through without causing security risks. If there is some over-riding problem with external security then Virtue is able to broadcast the video using http streaming which overcomes many of the firewall issues.
Nik: Will there be any broadcasting issues when streaming over my companies Intranet?
->Virtue replies: If there is a live broadcast being streamed to many employees with a company over an Internet Broadcast there maybe some bandwidth issues to contend with. If this is an issue Virtue can place a temporary server on the companies intranet and broadcast a multicast stream around the Intranet.
Danny_B: Is the video going to be secure?
->Virtue replies: Virtue is able to provide a number of applications that enable video to be distributed securely to one person or many people through a sophisticated digital rights management system.
Adrien: How do I know if this streaming media system is making me money?
->Virtue replies: Access to timely and accurate log analysis is vital. Without this you will never know who is watching and when. Only a global automated log analysis system can provide this service. Since a CDN has servers across the globe a system is needed to compile the statistics from all these servers and then to present the information in a usable and easily digested format.
James: Is a CDN all I need?
->Virtue replies: Sometimes it is, but if you are new to streaming or regard streaming as outside your core competencies then maybe you need to outsource everything including filming and web design to another company.
Ashley: Can anyone film content for streaming?
->Virtue replies: To ensure high quality results you need a production team that understands the techniques needed for high quality streaming. The methodologies used by streaming production teams differ considerably from those employed by traditional broadcasters and in some cases content produced using these older methodologies is unusable. You need to ensure that the team understands what is required for streaming media.
Jamie: How do I integrate this streaming content into my website?
->Virtue replies: All websites with a little alteration can benefit from streaming media. Since the CDN looks after the infrastructure, all that is needed is for a simple html link to be placed onto your site. The video is broadcast seamlessly with no knowledge that there is a 3rd party CDN existence.
Gillian: What is encoding?
->Virtue replies: To stream content it needs to be in a digital format recognised by a media player. Encoding converts this content from broadcast and consumer grade media into this recognisable digital format. Quality is of paramount importance in encoding and only through encoding via contribution grade MPEG2 format can a high quality result be obtained in a timely manner. To ensure that both quality and responsiveness are maintained a high level of investment is needed.
Paul: Why does the picture look better in my office than it does at home?
->Virtue replies: There are many different ways of connecting to the Internet and watching streaming content. Each method supplies a different amount of bandwidth, the more bandwidth you have, the better. Office users share large bandwidth connections to the Internet, these allow large amounts of information to flow to your PC, therefore the picture quality is better. At home you may use a telephone line this has a lower bandwidth and therefore the quality is not as good. People with ADSL or Cable based broadband access can see TV quality images even when at home.
Kate: I try to view the content, but it just won�t work. It mentions something about and unknown file type. What�s the problem?
->Virtue replies: To view any streaming media you need a media player. There are many types out there, but the main two are Real Player and Windows Media Player. If you do not have either of these you will need to download them for free from http://www.real.com or http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia.
Selim: I have Real Player, but there is still some content I cannot view. What�s wrong now?
->Virtue replies: Windows Media content will not play back in Real Player and Real Media content will not play back in Windows Media Player. To view both types you need both players.
Daisy: I can see the video, but there�s no sound. Why�s that?
->Virtue replies: You need to have the correct hardware to view and listen to clips. Are you sure you have a soundcard and speakers? Many older PCs do not have these. Also are you sure that you PC has the correct amount of memory or a powerful enough processor? If not then visit the two sites above and check out the Support section for the technical specification of the recommended systems?
Jane: I have a Mac. Can I watch all of this content?
->Virtue replies: Both Windows Media Player and Real Player are available for Apple machines.
Glen: Why is the picture small?
->Virtue replies: Streaming Media is very different to television. Traditional TV uses delivery systems that can supply huge amounts of information in a short amount of time. Telephone wires and the Internet were not designed to do this, but through clever software and compression it is possible to deliver high quality, interactive content with even a home telephone line. �Broadband� content supplies a quality, which is similar to that on your TV.