Webcasting FAQs

How do I plan a Webcast ?
Determine your expected audience size (number of expected viewers & whether they use dial-up or high-speed connections).
Determine the location and the duration of the live event.
Establish your communication goals (i.e. do you want to disseminate info, recruit members, get viewer feedback?...).
Decide if video is needed (strong visual but high-bandwidth), or if audio is adequate.
Decide if you want the video or audio clip to be available on-demand after the Webcast.
Decide if you want special features such as online webcast registration, synchronized slides, Q&A...

How much does a webcast cost?
Each webcast is unique and costed based on its specific features. Features affecting costs include:

Format:
Will your event be live, or stored for subsequent on-demand viewing, or both?

Event complexity:
Will content be captured simultaneously from one or multiple sources (for example a bilingual presentation), is high-speed internet access already hooked up to the event location?

Event duration:
How long does the event last?

Web services:
Do you need to incorporate the Webcast in an already existing site?

Special features:
Do you need online registration, authentication upon login, someone on call for questions during the Webcast?

How much advance notice does Contenta need to produce a webcast?
Depending on the complexity of the live event, three weeks is an appropriate time to effectively plan a webcast. Contenta also handles urgent request on a case-by-case basis

Does the webcast play from my server?
Streamlogics' Network facilites are world-class and fully equipped to handle all streaming requirements. The webpage loading the Video may reside on your server but for maximum quality of audio/video, we recommend using Streamlogic's Network to stream content. Typically a client would log on to your site and would not be aware that the video is being streamed from another location equipped for optimal web broadcasting.

How is the success of a Webcast measured?
Streamlogics captures numerous statistics pertaining to its Webcasts. See a sample of statistical reports available.

What is the difference between webcasting and on-demand streaming?
For webcasting, what the viewer sees is a live dissemination of an event in real-time. For on-demand streaming, the viewer sees a replay of a video previously recorded. A webcast is available for a set period of time (during the event) whereas the on-demand streaming version may be accessed anytime after the event is terminated.

What tools are needed to view the webcast on my computer?
Streamlogics' Webcasts are done using either Windows Media, REALMedia and Quick-Time technology. The Windows Media player is available free of charge from Microsoft's website. The player must be installed on the user's computer to allow the Webcast to work. A help file with commonly asked questions for PC and MAC configuration is available during webcasts and we recommend having someone at an "online helpdesk" to further assist viewers who may be experiencing system problems.

How clear is the video of the live event?
Depending on the user's connection speed, the quality of the video ranges from good to excellent. Slow connections may experience some lagging.

Does Contenta offer the complete webcast?
To produce top-quality Webcasts, Contenta Inc. has partnered with Streamlogics Corporation, a leading webcasting company serving Canada, the US, Europe and Australia.

What experience does Contenta have in producing Webcasts?
From 1997-1999, Contenta participated in the creation of approximately twenty five webcasts, many in association with OCRI. Contenta was successful in integrating numerous innovative web features such as online polling with results in real-time, event registration, Q&A, chat, synchronized slide switching...