Posted by Admin on Jul 29, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
There was a time when Groucho Marx said, “I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” Everyone laughed at the comment because television didn’t seem very applicable to the way people lived their lives – it was not portable and did not seem practical.
At the time it was believed that television stole the imaginations of people because on the small screens in the corners of rooms across America no one had to listen to the radio and wonder what the world was like that was being described in the ‘theater of the mind’.
Well, times have changed and the growth of video is huge while the statement made by Groucho Marx is laughed at because television has indeed changed the way we view our world.
MTV took the notion of finding meaning in a song to an unusual place where the association you might have with a song was no longer based on a set of personal experiences tied to the song, but rather the video released in support of the single.
Ann Landers once said, “Television has proved that people will look at anything rather than each other.”
Together a generation lamented the passing of imagination as a new generation seemed ill equipped to understand the lamentation song. This new generation not only approved of the entertainment value of video they began demanding the video be portable. From home video to DVD players in vehicles and then to portable devices with on demand video streaming the former lamentation has been inculcated into the very fabric of portable life in the 21st century.
Paddy Chayevsky may have understood this shift when these words were penned, “[Television is] the menace that everyone loves to hate but can’t seem to live without.”
Just try managing a trip with the family renting a motel room that does not have a TV. This would be thought of as the ultimate punishment.
For this generation on demand video streaming has made its way to computers and portable devices. They can get caught up on sports highlights, news stories the latest real life videos from YouTube or similar video streaming site, visitors can watch music videos and receive video messages from friends and family fully streamed to they downloadable device for viewing whenever they want to watch.
In 1929 the New York Times reported, “TV will never be a serious competitor for radio because people must sit and keep their eyes glued on a screen; the average American family hasn’t time for it.”
This sentiment is proof that we can never really adequately explain the power of certain dynamics that fluctuate from one generation to the next. What we believe is either impossible or impractical today may be the next big thing for a new generation.
Video streaming is a growing phenomenon that seems to be the logical extension of television for an on demand and highly mobile world.
Video streaming is taking us places and in the words of Bill Gates, “Where do you want to go today?”
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Posted by Admin on Jul 25, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
Three years ago, adding streaming video for your website would definitely give it the wow factor that could distinguish your pages from their competition. It would give your regular visitors something to be excited about, and it would provide for your website enough buzz that could potentially generate a lot of traffic.
Nowadays, the rules of the ballgame have changed. People, in general, have become accustomed to streaming video, live or pre-recorded. It just doesn’t have the umph effect that it once possessed, partly because the method has been overused, and partly because the technology behind it has become rather stale.
This shouldn’t be taken to mean that videos are totally useless for your website, however.
They’re not. They still remain as amazing tools that could stir up a lot of fun for your visitors, only, the traditional ways of creating and implementing them have become old.
Nonetheless, if you want to create streaming video the old fashioned way, the only thing you have to do is to prepare a video file. This video file must have either .wmv, .avi, .mpeg, .mov, or .rm extension. Thereafter, you’d only need to upload it to your web hosting server and provide a link for the same. Every time your visitors would click on the link, the appropriate viewing program would automatically start and they’d be able to view your presentation.
If you desire true streaming, then you’d have to upload your video file in a dedicated streaming server. This would allow your visitors to view the feeds as they arrive, and is perfect for live events.
Another method is progressive streaming. This means that your visitors can immediately watch your video file while they are downloading the same. This is the most popular approach these days. Websites like www.youtube.com are implementing it. You’d also need a dedicated streaming server for this.
Here are some dedicated streaming servers you could avail of:
http://www.realnetworks.com/products/mas
www.macromedia.com/software/flashcom />
Bob Bastian is a successful online marketer and he will teach you how to get enormous passive income using a system (non-MLM) that so powerful, it recently featured on two national television networks: www.Wealth-O-Matic.com
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Posted by Admin on Jul 21, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
The internet has opened up vast new worlds for local unsigned bands that previously were reserved to the very fortunate, sometimes less talented bands that had the great fortune to be seen by a record executive an signed to a distribution and touring contract. With the popularity of the Internet many of those things have changed. Advancements in home recording have allowed unsigned bands the ability to put out professional quality recording that used to be reserved for those lucky few. Websites have allowed bands the ability to grow massive online fan bases that rival some of the biggest bands in the world.
MySpace music and websites like Soundclick have really been advocates for local talent but they have all failed at one thing. Driving revenue into local concert venues. The one big plus for online bands is the massive fan base but the one big drawback to that is the fact that those fans are usually not local to the band or their touring circuit. So, this results in moderate CD sales but ends up in lack luster turn out on show night.
So how do you draw your Internet fans to your show? Asking them to drive a thousand miles to see if you is one option but in all seriousness, it will rarely happen. Most fans travel less than 75 miles to see their favorite bands let alone a band they like but has no really record label backing. The best way to grab the attention of those Internet fans is to set up an online pay per view via live event video streaming . It’s really the wave of the future for pay per view events and it’s relatively cost efficient. Best of all it’s the best way to reach every possible fan that you can reach.
It works easy enough. Just contact a provider and set up a time and date. They will almost always provide you with a crew equipped to handle your concert. You can go with a package that meets your needs. From one cameraman to several you’ll be able to give your fans what you want and what you can afford. You will be provided an access website so your fans can log on, make their payment and then view your show in the comfort of their computer rooms. It’s a win, win situation for your fans and for the band. It will allow them to view your concerts thus driving your internet revenue You’ll also receive payment for each pay per view buy so if your marketing is good enough, you’ll be able to cover the cost of the show and if you are really good, you’ll make a little cash. This obviously beats pay-to-pay environments you are likely to encounter in local venues.
Reaching your fan base has become easier with the Internet but driving that fan base to your show will prove to be a challenge for a long time to come. Maximizing your ability to get those fans exposure to your live performances is a key to your bands future success in the music business. Take advantage of programs like live event video streaming and you’ll have a leg up on other local talent!
K. Green has media experience and has had the pleasure of helping to set up live event video streaming for several musicians and bands.
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Posted by Admin on Jul 17, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
Many race fans live in areas where a live track is not available. For those that do live near a track, the urge to bet on the races oftentimes comes on occasions when a trip to the venue is inconvenient. Of course, not all racetracks are created equally and watching the action on the best tracks would likely require travel for the vast majority of race fans. Live video of races has largely negated the problem associated with access to tracks. Broadcast over the Internet, such video is available to everyone and anyone.
Internet streaming technology, combined with a broadband connection, is advanced enough to handle the demands of a sport where split-second action is as important to the results as they are in horseracing. There are live video streams available of all types of racing and many tracks routinely offer the broadcasts to providers. Internet sites that specialize in bringing horseracing lovers and the horse races themselves together offer these services, a great enhancement to the technology of any site.
Live streaming may make use of several different types of media. Some players are imbedded into a web page and require no separate technology to play, other than the web browser or a plug-in. Other streams are made to be watched on any number of various free media players. Live video can usually be resized to accommodate the preferences of the viewer. Generally, the larger video sizes require more bandwidth; meaning a faster Internet connection. The fastest frame rate also depends on a high-speed Internet connection. The good news is that broadband Internet is widely available and costs about the same per month as an average visit to one horserace. It’s far worth the price for those who like their racing action throughout the day.
Some live video services even allow race fans to watch more than one race at a time. Because these videos are live, it’s a great way to make certain that one never misses out on the performance of a favored horse. Even if one is not betting on a particular race, most race fans like to be informed about the results of matchups where, even if they didn’t have a horse in the race, they have an interest in keeping apprised of the best performing animals. Live racing video services are surprisingly inexpensive and present a great new way to place a bet.
Simon Skinner has worked in the online gambling industry since 2000. He has worked for some of the top online sportsbooks and now runs internet marketing for BetAmerica – the top online US horse racing website.
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Posted by Admin on Jul 13, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
Justin admits that without co-founders Emmett Shear, Michael Seibel and Kyle Vogt, he doesn’t think he would have had the willpower to start such a company. Having a team that gets along so well and shares the same vision represent tangible success factors for which Justin is thankful. They step up and share the work with comforting reliability, even in the down-cycles of the company.
Justin and Emmett grew up together in Seattle and maintained friendship through their college years at Yale. Upon graduation they started Kiko, a web calendar, working on it for about a year and receiving roughly $50,000 in investment capital when Google Calendar was released and took over the market. To exit that project, they did what most companies would never consider: putting it up for sale on eBay. “We had no idea at the time what would happen,” Justin admitted. While expecting to receive little more than the amount invested, they had $258,000 upon the auction’s end, and were ecstatic and surprised.
Justin’s interest in technology is a stretch from his education. He and Emmett had thought their web-calendar idea had potential as a company, but he admitted that they “had no idea how that process would even work.” An email from Y-Combinator-a current investor in justin.tv-about a boot camp-style program that taught techies about creating businesses online around technology found its way to Justin. “That experience was what enabled us to know that you could even have a start-up, and that we could do it.” Little did Justin know, that brief email would eventually change his career direction.
Justin.tv evolved from what started as an online reality-TV show they called a ‘lifecast,’ that consisted of Justin with a live broadcast camera strapped to his head. They started filming in October 2006 and launched the first version of their concept by March of 2007. Viewers flocked to this ‘lifecast’ and some even called it addictive. The website’s most prominent feedback was from viewers asking how to create their own shows and post live video content online. That is when the team decided they weren’t going to be as successful as producers of different shows as they would be as technologists. They went from content producers to creating a website that fosters a community with user contributions.
Live video streaming doesn’t literally mean ‘live,’ but refers to broadcasts that occur synchronously so that viewers are watching the same content at the same time. This creates interconnectivity that leads to a strong feeling of community with the use of a chat feature. The team created a platform to make live streaming of personal content available and easy to use, which the company continues to focus upon.
The funding for justin.tv came from three rounds, with seed money mostly from Y-Combinator, who was fairly easy to work with as they were already familiar with the team as they invested in Kiko. During the angel round, they had the advantage of a demo of Justin walking around the city, which stimulated investors’ interest. Venture capitalists came after they launched the justin.tv website while working on creating the platform. Their success in that round was partially due to the collaborative buzz about Justin-TV from the Today Show, MTV and countless written articles. The founders consider Paul Graham-among those initial investors and founder of Y-Combinator-an influential role model. Justin explains that every time they go to him for advice, they come away inspired to keep building the company and working hard to reach their goals.
Justin clearly recalls the exact moment he realized that the website might truly be successful: a Saturday in March of 2008 when the website received a million page-views. It wasn’t until then that they felt, “Wow, this is actually a significant amount of people on the site.” Justin.tv now receives over 25 million daily views and growing, yet the founders still worry that those numbers will start to plateau. They have gained significant experience and insight, such as discovering that they wasted much money on consultants. They also learned the hard way how to negotiate contracts successfully, and are still figuring out how to better work with people off-site; they find it difficult to communicate exactly what they want and need.
Justin is proud of the website’s breadth, sometimes pushing 177 gigabytes of video bandwidth. To put that into perspective, a single gigabyte can be compared to almost 900,000 pages of text. It’s extremely impressive to know that their team started just a few years out of college without much experience. Justin explains that the key was continually learning and having each member grow into their roles within the company. For any entrepreneur, he stresses, “Don’t give up. If you’re smart enough and keep trying things, eventually you’re going to make something work.” This is especially difficult for web-based companies because of the bipolar nature of the industry. Page hits often get an initial spike of traffic and then die down for a period, followed by unpredictable success or failure. Listening to users is critical for Internet success; Justin shares that they “just tried to figure out what people like and support it.”
Justin.tv is now one of the largest online video sites, with over 40 million unique visitors per month and more than 40,000 different broadcasts every day. Despite those numbers, the company is still fairly small, with only 16 people gradually added to the team. Justin’s ultimate vision for the company is to be “synonymous with live video online.”
This young Physics and Philosophy major is well on his way to achieving such a goal, with a simple email and a key website milestone served as aha moments that have changed his life.
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