Webcasting is the live or delayed distribution of video or audio content online. It can be used for broadcasting, education, interviews, and sporting events. Anyone can do a webcast with the right technology, but it takes planning and editing. Webcasting has become more popular due to the increase in content available online and the introduction of broadband internet.
Webcasting is simply the live or delayed distribution of video or audio content online. The term was coined in the 1990s when media outlets began making their programming available on the Internet. Many websites use some form of webcasting to attract audiences, which appear to be responding positively to the increase in content available online and more flexibility in when they can view or listen to that content. The introduction of broadband Internet has also facilitated webcasting, allowing for the transmission of large amounts of data.
While webcasting is a popular method of distributing multimedia content that has traditionally been broadcast over the airwaves and television, it can be used for other purposes as well. Universities and colleges have recorded lectures to support online or traditional courses. Artisans created how-to videos to share with the public, while others created online interviews or call-in shows to talk about recent developments in their fields. Some organizations have used webcasting instead of in-person meetings and conferences. Online broadcasting of sporting events has also become popular as fans can purchase access to view matches of their favorite sport over the internet.
Anyone can do a webcast with the right technology, but it takes some planning. Simple webcasting can be done from home by recording an activity using a digital camera or even the camera installed on a computer, uploading the file and posting it online. Other projects may be more complex and involve more equipment. For example, if a couple wants to set up a wedding webcast so their aging grandparents can watch the proceedings from home, they should bring digital video recorders, tripods, good lights and microphones to the event. The videographer would have to create a live feed from the digital recorder to the website where the content would be streamed. To do this, the videographer would need the appropriate software, wireless Internet access and at least one laptop.
For some events, the webcast may be more effective if the content has been edited first. In this case, the webcaster will need to purchase appropriate editorial software to make changes to the quality of the visual and sound elements of the video or audio file. Since these files tend to be very large, the webcaster must compress the file before uploading the content online. These files may be stored on content distribution networks for later retrieval by site guests.
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