There are many places cropping up online where users can stream virtually whatever they want live, 24/7 and on-demand. These sites usually offer a free service that is compensated with advertisements by the host. While online channels are still a new concept many strong indicators are presently showing that as soon as 2015 the vast majority of video footage viewed will be viewed via the Internet from computers and mobile devices as oppose to television sets. In fact, many new television sets are being built with online capabilities with software systems like Google TV.
The world of film and television is moving and you should be too. But who are some of the major service providers and what do they offer users? Fear not, you have arrived at the right place. Below are a few resources which will allow you to get started with your own online channel so you too can broadcast live performances for dirt cheap. Who knows, you just might become the next story of industry pioneered success.
Livestream
Formerly Mogulus, Livestream, is currently one of the top 24/7 live streaming and on-demand platforms available online for free and paid service. Users can view usage reports for the channels that they create and can upgrade from a free account to a paid account. This allows users to monetize their channels with popular video content advertiser service ads such as Google Adsense for Video ads. There usually aren’t enough daily users to many of this service’s created channels, however, to usually warrant upgrading your account. Many popular television networks, celebrities and radio stations have opted to upgrade their account though and are finding some successes.
Livestream has plans to offer better scheduling modules for producers and pay-per-view services to paid accounts. This option is currently in beta though. Livestream has a certification process that on occasion can be difficult to get by for new users. Users need their own original content or at least they need to be able to prove that they have permission to air all of their programmed content and have a decent amount of materials available for viewing either in automatic live rotation or in their on-demand libraries. If these and a few other requirements are not met you cannot be certified, which means that your station will not be placed in the Livestream search engine. This can strongly hinder all of your attempts at gaining significant exposure through this site sadly.
UStream
While Ustream may not be the most popular service available for live broadcasting it has garnered a lot of attention from celebrities. One such superstar is Snoop Dogg. He has his own Ustream program that airs, usually, weekly on Ustream that is growing in popularity. Many other non-celebrities are making a name for themselves and their organizations. The best advantage over some of the other live streaming services that Ustream offers is instant indexing within its site. This does, however, leave it and its users substantially open to copyright infringement charges if unmonitored channel users were to begin to get famous and be found to be using copyrighted contents.
Ustream is free and does offer many social networking tools, including the ability to easily embed your channel player anywhere that allows Java scripting. Overall this service has some nice growing room and a lot to offer its many users and is well worth looking into if you are interested in broadcasting live from your office, living room or wherever.
IPTV is the Future, Grab on Early
There is no question in almost anyone’s mind that Internet television is the wave of the future. Major networks and studios are now commissioning tester web series and doing small skits and video ad campaigns online to determine which approach reaches the most amounts of individuals within their targeted demographics. So far no one channel or service provider has fully won out and been declared as the official spot for online television. But, cable and satellite providers for years have been testing Internet accessed systems and programs in an attempt to gain a commanding grasp of this budding market.
Though no one system has won out yet, one can be assured that in the near future at least one service will and with their success will surely come the successes of many of the top IPTV channels that helped by pioneering the industry along with those systems and services. They channel owners, online show creators, directors, casts and producers will then stand to make possibly untold fortunes. So it is to your advantage if you are interested in venturing into this market of 24/7 and on-demand streaming that you jump in while the waters are still very, very friendly. If not with one of the above mentioned services, at least with one of the other top services out (like Brightcove for instance), or maybe even your own self-hosted video channel service.
