WEBCASTING/WEBCAST
A webcast is a media file distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand. Essentially, webcasting is “broadcasting” over the Internet.
The largest "webcasters" include existing radio and TV stations, who "simulcast" their output, as well as a multitude of Internet only "stations". The term webcasting usually refers to non-interactive linear streams or events. Rights and licensing bodies offer specific "webcasting licenses" to those wishing to carry out Internet broadcasting using copyrighted material.
Webcasting is also used extensively in the commercial sector for investor relations presentations (such as Annual General Meetings), in E-learning (to transmit seminars), and for related communications activities. However, webcasting does not bear much, if any, relationship to web conferencing, which is designed for many-to-many interaction.
The ability to webcast using cheap/accessible technology has allowed independent media to flourish. There are many notable independent shows that broadcast regularly online. Often produced by average citizens in their homes they cover many interests and topics. Webcasts relating to computers, technology, and news are particularly popular and many new shows are added regularly.
History / Origins
"Webcasting" was first publicly described and presented by Brian Raila of GTE Laboratories at InterTainment '89, 1989, held in New York City , USA
Raila was joined by James Paschetto of GTE Laboratories to further demonstrate the concept. Paschetto was singularly responsible for the first workable prototype of streaming media, which Raila presented and demonstrated at the Voice Mail Association of Europe 1995 Fall Meeting of October, 1995, in Montreux , Switzerland
On November 7, 1994, WXYC, the college radio station of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill became the first radio station in the world to broadcast its signal over the internet.
Virtually all the major broadcasters have a webcast of their output, from the BBC to CNN to Al Jazeera to UNTV in television to Radio China, Vatican Radio, United Nations Radio and the World Service in radio.
The earliest webcast equivalent of an online concert and one of the earliest examples of webcasting itself was by Apple Computer's Webcasting Group in partnership with the entrepreneurs Michael Dorf and Andrew Rasiej. Together with David B. Pakman from Apple, they launched the Macintosh New York Music Festival from July 17 - July 22, 1995. This event audio webcasted concerts from more than 15 clubs in New York City San Francisco
A notable webcast took place in September 1999 to launch NetAid, a project to promote Internet use in the world's poorest countries. Three high profile concerts were to be broadcast simultaneously on the BBC, MTV and over the Internet: a London concert at Wembley Stadium featuring the likes of Robbie Williams and George Michael; a New York concert featuring Bono of U2 and Wyclef Jean; and a Geneva concert.
More recently, Live8 (AOL) claimed around 170,000 concurrent viewers (up to 400 Kbit/s) and the BBC received about the same (10 Gbit/s) on the day of the 7 July 2005 bombings in London
The first free Sunday morning webcast of a live worship service in the United States was initiated in January 2005 at Wekiva Presbyterian Church of Longwood, FL; this webcast ministry is ongoing.
Connecting Media was one of the first companies to do live webcasting using a special IFP Van (Internet Field Production) dedicated to webcasting.
Today, webcasts are being used more frequently and by novice (beginner) users. Live webcasts enable the viewing of presentations, business meetings, and seminars etc. for those that telecommute rather than attend. Such sites offer live broadcasting as an affordable alternative to attending physical public speaking events expanding the viewing audience to anyone that has an internet connection. Other live webcasts are held completely online independent of any offline component. Webcast content network sites can enable users to find content that interests them by searching the site.
Private users can use social webcast forums (a medium in which the public may debate an issue or express opinions, e.g. a magazine or newspaper) such as YouTube or commercial webcast forums such as Bright TALK. Usually no sophisticated technical experience or equipment is required and content (usually limited to 10 or 30 minutes) can simply be uploaded.
Live sporting events, both local and national, have also quickly become frequent webcast subjects. With regard to smaller events such as Little League, amateur sports, small college sports, and high school sports, webcasting allows these events to have full audio or video coverage online when they may not be able to book standard radio or TV time. Websites like Meridix Webcast Network, Texas Sports Radio Network, SportsJuice, and others allow local schools, teams, and broadcasters to produce their own webcasts, which also have the advantage of being accessible to anyone with an internet connection (i.e. relatives several states away), unlike the range and market limitations of terrestrial radio and TV.
Wedcast
A wedcast is a webcast of a wedding. It allows family and friends of the couple to watch the wedding in real time on the Internet. It is sometimes used for weddings in exotic locations, such as Cancun and the Riviera Maya]] Hawaii or the Caribbean, for which it is very expensive or difficult for people to travel to see the wedding in person.
Webcasting a funeral is also a service provided by some funeral homes. Although it has been around for a decade, cheaper broadband, the financial strain of travel, and deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan
Webcasting
Webcasting is using the internet to broadcast delayed or real-time music or video programming. The US Copyright Act precisely defines a webcaster as a “person or entity that has obtained a compulsory license under section 112 or 114 [17 USCS § 112 or 114] and the implementing regulations therefore to make eligible non-subscription transmissions and ephemeral recordings.” A compulsory license, also referred to as a statutory license, is simply a license that can be obtained by a fixed fee. Ephemeral recordings are copies of works made for broadcasting purposes.
*Difference between podcasting and webcasting
Podcasting and webcasting are both ways of putting audio content on the internet, but the delivery methods of the audio are different. With podcasting a listener downloads the audio on to his or her computer, but with webcasting audio is streaming. Also, webcasting is more costly and requires a higher level of technical expertise than podcasting.
How does webcasting work?
Basically, audio or video content from an audio/visual system is transferred to "streaming media" software running on the host’s PC equipped with capture cards. The content is encoded, and then sent to a specialized server. This server distributes the webcast onto the Internet - either as a live broadcast, or as "on demand" content stored for later access. A user is able to view or listen to a webcast because a program on the user’s computer (RealPlayer or Windows Media
What you need:
- Computer with at least 166MHz processor
- Internet connection speed at least 28.8k for audio only, 56K for audio and video (Broadband obviously improves the experience)
- Web browser
- Media player (RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, etc.)
- Sound Card/Video Card
- Speakers/Headphones
Who can webcast?
Existing radio stations can simulcast—simultaneously provide their content over the internet along with their over the air broadcasts. Internet-only stations can also webcast. Anyone who wants to use copyrighted material in a webcast must meet the statutory requirements of the US Copyright Act. One of the first webcasters was Mark Cuban, who wanted to stream live basketball games over the internet. In the mid-1990s, he created Broadcast.com which was later bought by Yahoo!
Webcast perks:
- programming can be listened to in the comfort of your home or office.
- There is a wide variety of content to choose from.
- The cost is potentially less than those associated with satellite radio subscriptions and buying CDs.
- Webcasting provides for unlimited range in broadcasting whereas radio has limited signal strength.
Webcast drawbacks:
- Unlike subscription webcasting services, radio is free.
- There are security issues associated with downloading audio via the internet and paying for services.
- “Net congestion” may cause poor audio quality
Check out these webcasts:
One of professor Gasaway’s favorite webcasts is WCPE 89.7 FM, the classical station based out of North Carolina
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