Bulid Your Own Web Cast

Updated May 1, 2012

Have you ever thought about starting your own radio or TV show? If your answer is yes then you do not need to go to a radio station or a television studio to make that dream come true. 

In Teaching‘N Technology, a technology site used to give web technology advice, they mentioned that all you need to start a web cast is a web camera and a microphone.

You might be thinking, “Why you would want to start your own web broadcast?” Web broadcasting provides a variety of benefits for businesses and individuals who might not have the cost to use regular radio or video broadcasting. In the blog, Talk Point, it provides five reasons to why it is a good idea to use a web broadcast. An increase in attendance is the number one reason from talk point. A broadcast can reach a wide variety of people. If a fan is not able to attend your event or make your live cast; the web allows you to store your cast in archives. This way your fans are able to watch your cast on their own time.

Whether you are interested in making a career out of web broadcast or using it to voice your opinion, it can be a successful venture. Lex and Terry, a radio station I listen to, streams a web cast during their live shows. This gives listeners the opportunity to catch their shows at any time. The live stream also lets viewers watch the skits live.

One advantage to web casting is having less censorship on what you can say or can not say. As quoted in The Right to Freedom of Thought , “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

This statement sounds like web casting would be the best media to voice all types of issues, right? However, new laws like SOPA (Stop Online Privacy Act) are looking at stopping users from useing copyrighted material. In web broadcasting it can be easy to post a video on your stream or website. It is important to know that this law could close your site if the material is not your own.

Web broadcasting is a service that is beneficial to everyone from sports commentators who have their own shows to University television/radio shows. Web broadcasting is not a particularly new medium, but it is one that has potential and opportunities.

Web Casting

Video streaming has become an increasingly accessible way to view your favorite TV shows, music videos, and movies. Dish network has come out with a DVR that will allow you to record up to six shows during one slot. This allows users to watch their favorite shows at their own convenience. DVR’s can be a great thing for people that watch a lot of TV; however, when asked around campus, many students said that they did not have cable. Cable One offers these rates for internet and cable. Wi-Fi is available all over the NDSU campus, and many cell phones serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Web Streaming

Updated May 1, 2012

Figure from espn3.com

                Now you might be thinking, “Yes, there are advantages to services like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube, but how do I watch my favorite sports team play?” The answer is from webcasts or streaming live video. Outlets like ESPN3 allow you to watch a wide variety of sporting events from your mobile device, xbox360, and computer. It may seem like streaming video is a simple task, right? There are radio broadcasters turning streaming videos into career opportunities. John Wekkin, a sports broadcaster, has been working with a site called MN Sports Network. John covers multiple sports like football, basketball, volleyball, hockey and wrestling. This gives family and friends a chance to watch high school and college sports from the comfort of their own home. John’s service can range anywhere up to one thousand dollars. Schools usually end up paying for the service. You might think that’s a lot of money to cover a sporting event; however, the schools paying for the service also provide web broadcasting classes for high school kids looking to get into the profession.

                Streaming video is not only for watching your favorite videos or sports teams, but it can also do things like getting you in touch with a personal trainer. LouisianaState University has been streaming workout routines and healthy diet tips since 2008. This makes it possible for individuals, who do not have time to get to the gym, a chance to work out at home. The possibilities are endless when it comes to streaming video and web broadcasting. Is it possible that cable may become a thing of the past?